Trip through Panama

                                Dec 19 0730hrs

    We put Second Star in a marina so we could be plugged in to shore power while we were away. The trip with Don and Rita was sooo much fun. We took the water taxi across first thing Fri morning. The rental car was delivered (late of course) and we set out. The drive across the mountains was beautiful but a bit rainy. I think it was challenging driving for Don, but the rest of us got to sit back and enjoy the scenery. We had a quick lunch on the road and got into Volcan in the early afternoon. Don and Rita had planned the trip to share places they had gone 15 years ago. We stopped to look at a trout farm they had visited back then and then for some awesome strawberries and cream. The cabin we were headed for, to spend the first night, is just a little north of Cerro Punto. It’s at about 7500 ft. You have to do some serious four wheel driving to get to it and it doesn’t have electricity except one car battery that runs a power strip with a wi-fi router plugged into it. It has a wood stove for heat (and it was cold up there), a gas stove for cooking and propane lamps for light. We were surrounded by stunning rain forest with a big stream running just the other side of the “road” in front of the cabin. The water falling over the boulders was a wonderful sound. It rained over night, which was very loud on the roof, and between that, the altitude and a cocktail and wine with dinner (no, we really didn’t drink that much), Don, Rita and I had fierce headaches that made it difficult to sleep. But, in the morning, the sun came out, we had really good coffee, courtesy of Capt Johne, and some Advil, and we got to hike though the fresh, wet, shining forest. Rita had brought her fly rod and she was very excited when she actually caught a little trout.

                                1400hrs
    I took a break from writing to clean, put up the holiday decorations, and make, eat and clean up after lunch. Now back to the trip.
    We left the cabin, drove back down the mountain, and headed for Boquete. On the way we stopped in Volcan, at an archeological site. The lady who gave the tour was very interesting and very knowledgeable (although, Johne did some research later and some of what she told us was myth not fact). It was an amazing site both for the archeological history and the botany. The variety of plants was awesome and  we got quite an education on them.
    After that we had lunch and then hit the road again. When we got into Boquete we started looking for hotel having not made reservations in advance there. We drove though town and then back up into the mountains on the other side. We happened across the most interesting rock formation. It was a place where the lava had flowed and cool quickly in layers and then an earthquake had shifted the wall, so it looked like 6x6 lumber made of rock and not laid quite right. It was really cool looking.
    We went back into town, found a room, had dinner and made plans for the morning. ZIPLINING!!!
    Okay, let me just start by saying, if you’re not afraid of heights, and you have the opportunity, DO IT! We had sooo much fun. There was a miss communication about which office we were supposed to be at so we ended up waiting for an hour for them to show up in the morning. But that only put a small and temporary damper on the experience. We were the only ones signed up that morning so we got their undivided attention once they showed up. The ride up to the first platform in the truck was cool by it self. Don road up with us even though he didn’t want to do the zipline. He had a very nice walk back down while we did the ride. Rita and I giggled almost none stop until we got back to the lodge and probably for a while after that. It’s exhilarating and the view (though it went by fast) was amazing. This site was over a gorge with a stream and water falls. The lines go in and out of the jungle canopy. We did 12 lines and it took about half an hour. What a great experience.
    After that we had another strawberry fix then headed back down to David to do some shopping. That part of the trip was a little stressful but, after going to 4 big stores, 2 of them twice, it was time to get a room, have dinner, and get a little sleep before heading back to Bocas at 0-dark-30 the next morning.
    The drive back was even better than the drive over (no rain) and we made good time. But when we got back to Almirante the rental car place said they didn’t have anyone to come pick up the car, so Don and Rita drop us, with most of the stuff, off at the water taxi and drove the car back to Changuinola.
    We got the groceries and luggage back to the boats and spent the rest of the day putting stuff away and taking care of the needy cat.
    Yesterday and today we’ve been working on the new A/C project and getting the boat ready for the solstice party on Friday. We’ll be going back out on the anchor tomorrow…

Dec 3-12

Dec 3 2000hrs
From Dolphin bay.
We came here this morning just to pass through on our way back to anchor by town. But we were invited to dinner on Meow, a sailing cat, anchored out here, that was anchored next to us in town a couple of weeks ago. We’re not on a schedule, and in no hurry to get back, so we decided to stay out here for the day and over night tonight and head back in tomorrow.
This is another beautiful location. I’ve only seen one dolphin so far, but the water, the mangroves and the surrounding mountains are stunning. We went to BEN (Bocas Emergency Network, part of the VHF net here in Bocas) 63’s house this afternoon. We met them at  Rana Azul yesterday and they’d invited us to stop by. A very nice family from the UK that winter down here. It’s just on the other side of the mangroves and an easy dinghy ride from where we are currently anchored.
In the morning, Gino and Mel from Meow will be coming over for coffee and orange pinwheels. Then we’ll be heading back up to the anchorage off Bocas (probably).

Dec 12 1030hrs
Wow, I haven’t written anything in over a week. Gotta catch up.
It’s been a good week (for the most part). Lot of sun. Almost no rain. More good socializing. A swap meet (we sold a couple of things-less stuff, more money, woo hoo). The not-so-good part was the R/O springing another O-ring leak. We’d gotten complacent about checking on it very often because it’s been doing so well for quite a while. So we didn’t catch it right away. This was a bad one, filling the tool drawers with salt water, so we had to remove, clean and reorganize all of our large supply of tools before dealing with the water maker, which has now been moved to the engine room so when it leaks again it will go to the bilge and not ruin anything. It’s good to have that job done.
In the socializing category; We went to a BBQ at BEN 7’s house last Thursday. It was an interesting group of people, good conversation, good food and fun to get to know more of the community. We’ve spent more time with Don and Rita, and we have plans to go on a road trip with them this weekend. And today we’re going to a B-day party for Moe of BEN 63.
The only snorkeling I’ve been doing is in the mangroves right by the anchorage but there’s a little coral and some pretty fish here and I saw a small spotted eagle ray the last time I was in. Also, the mangrove roots are interesting to look at under the water and they house many very small fish.

I’ll try to stay on top of  writing about the trip this weekend and keeping more up to date…

Next Bocas update

Nov 22 2000hrs

It’s Thanksgiving evening. As is usual for the day, I’m sitting on the couch, feeling a little fuller than is most comfortable, enjoying the after glow of a nice day with good friends. I spent the morning baking, pies, bread and rolls. Don and Rita came for dinner at about 1300hrs and for the next four  hours we all talked and ate and laughed and ate and drank and ate and laughed some more. As I was finishing up the prep work an setting the table (tablecloth, 2 knifes, 2 forks, a spoon, a napkin and a wine glass at each place) I thought; this really feels like a holiday. Sometimes, with our lifestyle, holidays we use to celebrate get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes you get extra holidays you never knew about before. Just a few days ago was Bocas day. There were marching bands, and fireworks and miss Bocas was crowned. But this felt like Thanksgiving. Even though we didn’t have turkey, it felt right and we are very thankful.

Nov 24 1500hrs
Yesterday we took Second Star to Almirante, about 10 miles across the bay, to get fuel, which is $0.46 a gallon cheaper than here. Don and Rita came along for the ride and we had a very pleasant trip over and back. We put about 550 gallons aboard, which should last us about six months, if we don’t go very far. While living on anchor, our expenses are just fuel for the generator, food and play. We have a good supply of dry goods (rice, flour, sugar…) and now we’re well stocked on fuel, so we should be able to live very frugally for quite a while.
While we were on the mainland I was able to get an internet modem so we, once again, have internet onboard. It was a very productive day.
Today’s been pretty quiet. Capt. Johne’s a bit under the weather and it’s been raining most of the day. I just went for a swim to check that the anchor had set well after yesterdays  trip. They’re predicting strong winds tomorrow and we don’t want to be playing bumper boats in the anchorage.

Nov 26 0730hrs
Yesterday, in spite of the fact that we put the snake back in the mangroves, I was thinking we should be going out and collecting all the animals 2 by 2, and bring them aboard the boat. But it stopped raining last night, and this morning the sun is peeking through the clouds. The good news about all the rain is we’ve gotten lots of reading and baking time. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out today, without getting soaked.

Dec 2 0745hrs
We’ve had a couple of sunny days now. But they say Dec is just as rainy as Nov, so I don’t know how long it will last. This morning has dawned bright and beautiful. Today we’re planning to take an overnight trip to one of the outlying bays. This area of archipelagos is very spread out, with parts of the community on outlying islands, so there will be lots of over night adventures as we explore the area.
19145hrs
Well, we’ve gotten to know a few more people in the community now. There is a restaurant at the very end of a bay on the south-west side of Isla San Cristobal called Rana Azul (blue frog). They’re only accessible by boat and only open Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. Definitely a destination restaurant. You can’t just stumble across it. We’d heard about it on the VHF morning cruisers net, and our friend Capt Ray was going to be there today, so we made the 8 mile, hour-and-a-half trip in Second Star to anchor down here, see some new sights and meet some new people. Now, some of the people we met were people we were somewhat familiar with from the net. It was interesting to put faces with the voices from the radio. We’ve had invitations to come and anchor by some of their homes in other parts of the archipelago. We’re really looking forward to Dolphin Bay. Apparently the dolphins breed there and there are always families of them around. Anyway, today was lots of mojitos, beer, food and fun with very interesting people…