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  • Armenia 18/4/2016
  • Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
  • 2-3/4/2016 Trabzon to Batumi, Georgia
    • 21-27/3/2016 Atakent to Trabzon >
      • 12-21/3/2016 Cide to Akakent >
        • 6-11/3/2016 Eregli to Cide
  • 26/2-4/3/2016 Istanbul to Eregli
    • Istanbul 15-25/2/2016 >
      • London 30/1-15/2/2016 >
        • Istanbul 19-30/1/2016
  • Proposed Journey East from Istanbul, March 2016
  • Sth Africa 6-19/1/2016
    • South Africa 6/12/2015 to 6/1/2016
  • Namibia 24/10-5/12/2015
    • Namibia 1/10/2015 to 23/10/2015
  • Zambia 7-30/9/2015
  • 21/8/2015 Malawi
  • 30/7-20/8/2015 Kigoma to Malawi Border
    • 21-30/7/2015 Tanzanian border to Kigoma, Lake Tanganyika >
      • 18-20/7/2015 Kigali to Tanzanian border >
        • 12-15/7/2015 Gisenyi to Kigali >
          • 10-11/7/2015 Rwandan border to Gisenyi
          • 15th June to 8th July Uganda
  • Last days in Kenya
    • 1-6/6/2015 Meru to Nyahururu >
      • 28-31/05/2015 Kenol to Meru >
        • 2011-16 Map >
          • 12-18/10/2014 Beausejour to St Laurent do Maroni >
            • 7-11/10/2014 St Georges to Beausejour, French Guiana >
              • 3-7/10/2014 Amapá, Brazil to St Georges, French Guiana >
                • 1-2/10/2014 Porto Grande to Amapá, AP >
                  • 26-29/9/2014 Macapá to Porto Grande >
                    • 16-23/9/2014 Almeirim to Macapá >
                      • 11-16/9/2014 Rurópolis to Almeirim, PA,BR >
                        • New Page
                        • 13/8-10/9/2014 Rurópolis, BR to Christchurch, NZ, return >
                          • 2-12/8/2014 Altamira to Ruropolis >
                            • 1-4/8/2014 Pacajá to Altamira, PA >
                              • 29/7-1/8/2014 Marabá to Pacajá, PA, BR230
        • 21-28/5/2015 Ongata to Kenol >
          • 5-21/5/2015 Iten to Ongata Rongai, Nairobi >
            • 2-6/5/2015 Kitale to Iten >
              • 1-2/5/2015 Lodwar to Kitale, Kenya >
                • Kenya: Omorate to Lodwar 20/04- 1/05/2015
  • 12-18/4/2015 Abra Minche to Omorate, Ethiopia
    • 3-10/4/2015 Waliso to Abra Minch >
      • 16-30/3/2015 Dese to Waliso, Ethiopia >
        • Ethiopia 9-16/3/2015 Me'kele to Dese >
          • 19/2-8/3/2015 Ethiopia
  • 25/1-18/2/2015 Sudan
  • 16-17 Luxor to Aswan
    • 8-15/1/2015 Asyut to Luxor >
      • 7-10/1/2015 Giza to Asyut
  • 1-6/1/2015 Cairo
    • Proposed passage Cairo to Cape Town Jan 2015 >
      • 21/10-12/11/2014 Suriname and Guyana
  • Updated Gear List
  • Rodovia Transamazônica
  • 21- 25/7/2014 Redencáo to Marabá, PA
    • Pará: 17-22/7/2014 Confresa, MT to Redencao, PA >
      • 9-13/7/2014 Nova Xavantina to Confreza, MT >
        • 3-4/7/2014 Barra do Garcas to Nova Xavantina >
          • 26-31/6/2014 Rondonópolis to Barra Do Garcas, MT >
            • 20-23/6/2014 Rio Verde, MS to Rondonópolis, MT >
              • 13-17/6/2014 Bonito to Rio Verde de Mato Grosso >
                • 9-11/6/2014 Jardim to Bonito MS, BR >
                  • 7-9/6/2014 Pedro Juan Caballero, PY to Jardim,BR >
                    • 9,10,11/5/2014 Remanso to Concepción onboard MV Osmar >
                      • 6-7/5/2014 Remanso,PY >
                        • 6/5/2014 Asunción to Remanso, PY >
                          • 27/4-2/5/2014 Foz do Iguaco, BR to Asunción, PY >
                            • 24-26/4/2014 Andresito to Puerto Iguazu >
                              • 19-21/4/2014 El Soberbio to San Antonio, AR >
                                • 16-17/4/2014 El Progreso to El Soberbio, AR >
                                  • 13-15/4/2014 Apóstoles to El Progreso >
                                    • 28/3-1/4/2014 Buenos Aires,AR to Paysandu, UY >
                                      • Profile Paysandu to Brazil
                                    • 9-12/4/2014 Tapebicuá to Apóstoles, AR >
                                      • 8/4/2013 Sawmill, north of Bonpland to 3km sth of Tapebicuá
                    • 28-30/5/2014 Concepción to Pedro Juan Caballero PY >
                      • 23-25/5/2014 Aquidaban back to Concepción >
                        • 16-20/5/2014 Tres Gigantes Estación Biologica >
                          • 14-16/5/2014 Vallemi to Bahia Negra on the Aquidaban >
                            • 13/5/2014 Bus trip Concepción to Vallemi
                    • 1-6/6/2014, Pedro Juan Caballero
  • 25/1/2014 USHUAIA
    • 23-24/1/2014 Rio Grande to Rio Lasifashaj >
      • 22-23/1/2013 Punta Arenas, CL to Rio Grande, AR >
        • 16-19/1/2014 Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas >
          • 14-15/1/2014 Torres Del Paine National Park, CL >
            • 8-12/1/2014 El Calafate to Puerto Natales >
              • 1-7/1/2013 Villa O'Higgins, CL to El Calafate, AR >
                • 27-31/12/2013 Cochrane to Villa O'Higgins >
                  • 19-26/12/2013 Coyhaique to Cochrane >
                    • 12-18/12/2013 Rio Santiago Bastia to Coyhaique >
                      • 6-12/12/2013 La Piedra del Gato to Mañihuales >
                        • 5-9/12/2013 Quellón to La Junta, CL >
                          • 29/11/2013 5/12/2013 Castro to Quellón, Chiloe, CL >
                            • 24/11/2013 Puerto Montt to Castro >
                              • 16-23/11/2013, San Martín, AR to Puerto Montt, CL >
                                • 9-14/11/2013 Temuco, CL to San Martín de los Andes, AR
                                • Cunco to Temuco and Santiago by bus
                                • Untitled
                                • 20,21/10/2013 Malargue to Los Frisos,AR
                                • 22-29/10/2013 Las Frisas, AR to Cunco,CL
  • 13/3/2012 Penonomé to Playa Gorgona
    • 14/3/2011 Playa Gorgona to Panama City
    • 15,16/3/2011 Panama City >
      • 14/4/2012, Shelter bay & Gatun Locks >
        • 15,16/4/2012 Canal transit >
          • 17/4/2012 Shelter Bay Marina onboard SV Bijou >
            • Feb 2014, An account of a road trip in New Zealand
          • 18,19/4/2012 Shelter Bay Marina
      • 17.../3/2012 Onboard SV Moondance, Brisas de Amador >
        • 25 March to 9 April, Gorgona, PC,Las Bresas >
          • 11/4/2012, Shelter Bay Marina,SV Bijou
          • 12/4/2012, Shelter Bay, and a bit of exploring
        • 11/3/2012 Las Lajas to Santiago >
          • 12/3/2012, Santiago to Penonomé
  • 7/4/2013 Bella Unión, UY to north of Bonpland, AR
    • 4-6/4/2014 Salto to Bella Unión, UY >
      • 2-3/4/2014 Termas de Guaviyú to Salto
  • Overnight Stop Map
    • 20-27/4/2012 Passage Portobelo to Santa Marta, Colombia
    • 28-29/2012 Santa Marta
  • Chile to Argentina (click on this header for an entry)
    • 6/9/2013 59km up the road camping
    • 7/9/2013 the corner to Paso Jama, Argentina
    • 8/9/2013 Paso Jama to adobe ruins on Salar de Olaroz
    • 9/9/2013 Ruins to south of Susques
    • 10/9/2013 Sth of Susques to bottom of range, camping >
      • 11/9/2013 bottom of the range to Purmamarca
      • 12/9/2013 Purmamarca to Lake campground near Salta >
        • 13,14/9/2013 Dique Cobre Corral to Salta,AR >
          • Salta south >
            • 17/9/2013 Quebrada De Las Conchas to Cafayate
      • 19/9/2013 Cafayate to 15km to Rio El Tesaro, camping >
        • 20/9/2013 Rio El Tesaro to Rio Belén, sth of Hualfin
      • 21/9/2013 Rio Belén to Belén >
        • 22/9/2013 Belén to a creek bed 42km sth
        • 23/9/2013 creek bed to 10km nth of Pituil
        • 25/9/2013 north of Pituil to Chilecito
        • 25-30/9/2013 Chilecito, AR
        • 1-7/10/2013 Chilecito to Caucete, AR >
          • 9-12/10/2013 Caucete to Tunuyán, AR
      • 13-15/10/2013 Caucete to San Rafael, AR >
        • 17/10/2013 San Rafael to Malargue, AR
  • Chile from 28/8/2013
    • 29/8/2013 Ascotán to Chiu Chiu
    • 30/8/2013 Chiu Chiu to Calama, CL
    • 31/8,1/9/2013 Calama to San Pedro de Atacama, CL
  • 20/7/2013 Titicaca area to Bolivian border
    • 20/7/2013 Sicuani to Santa Rosa >
      • 21/7/2013 Santa Rosa to Juliaca >
        • 22/7/2013 Juliaca to 6km past Huancané >
          • 23/2013 Huancané to Conima, camping >
            • 24/7/2013 near Conima, Peru to Puerto Acosta, Bolivia >
              • 25/7/2013 Puerto Acosta to Nth of Ancoraimes
  • 26/7/2013 Nth of Ancoraimes to Achacachi
    • 27/7/2013 Achacachi to Copacabana >
      • 28,29/7/2013 Copacabana BO, Kasani PE, Copa. BO
      • 30/7/2013 Copacabana, BO to Desaguadero, PE
      • 31/7/2013 Desaguadero, PE to El Alto, BO
      • 1,2/8/2013 El Alto to La Paz
      • 3,4,5/8/2013 La Paz
      • 8/08/2103 La Paz to Nth of Ayo Ayo, Camping
      • 9/8/2013 Nth of Ayo Ayo to south of Villa, camping >
        • 10/8/2013 Sth of Villa to just sth of Oruro, camping >
          • 11/8/2013 Sth of Ororo to Sth of Pazna, camping >
            • 12/8/2013 Sth of Poopo to Challapata >
              • 13,to17/8/2013 Challapata to Jirira 18-26/8 to Ollague,Chile
  • Peru 20/4/2013.....
    • 20-22/4/2013, Macará to Olmos, PE
    • 23-27/4/2013 Olmos to Chachapoyas,PE
    • 27/4/2013, Chachapoyas, PE
    • Chachapoyas to Cajamarca, PE >
      • 1/5/2013 Lejmebamba to Cerros de Calla-Calla >
        • 2/5/2013 Cerros de Calla-Calla to Balsas >
          • 3/4/2013 Balsas to a farm house overlooking Limon >
            • 4/5/2013 farm house campsite to south of Celendin >
              • 5,6/5/2013 Sth of Celendin to Cajamarca
    • 7/5/2013 Cajamarca to 9km before Cajabamba >
      • 8/5/2013, 9 km north of Cajabamba to Laguna Sousacocha >
        • 11/5/2013 Haumachuco to Trujillo
        • 9,10/5/2013 Laguna Sausacocha to Huamachuco
      • 18/5/2013 Lima
      • 23-25/5/2013 Trujillo to Caraz, PE >
        • 26,27/5/2013 Caraz to Huaraz, PE >
          • 28/5/2013 Huaraz to 34km south of Pachocoto,PE >
            • 29/5/2013 Farm 25km past Chacapoto to 12km on Huánuco Rd >
              • 30/5/2013,12km up Huanuco road to camp at 4600m >
                • 31/5/2013 near summit to La Union
    • 1/6/2013 Huánaco to camp near Acobamba >
      • 2,3/6/2013 Camping near Acobamba to Huánuco
    • 16/6/2013 Huancayo to Cuzco and Machu Picchu >
      • 16/6/2013 Huancayo to south of Mariscal Cáceres, camping >
        • 17/6/2013 sth Mariscal Cáceres 4km sthLa Esmeralda,camping >
          • 18/6/2013 Sth of La Esmaralda to Huanta >
            • 19/6/2013 Huanta to Ayacucho
  • 22/6/2013 Ayaucucho to top of pass before Ocros, 4200m
    • 23/6/2013 cerca la cumbre a 5km sur de Puente Pampas >
      • 23/6/2013 Sur de Puente Pampas a 5km este de Uripa >
        • 24/6/2013 above Uripa to Andahualas >
          • 25/6/2013 Andahuaylas to 10km below the summit >
            • 26/6/2013 near the summit to Puente Pachachaca >
              • 29/6/2013 Abancay to Curahuasi >
                • 30/6/2013 Curahuasi to a camp on the Rio Apurimac >
                  • 1/7/2013 Rio Apurimac to Izcuchaca >
                    • 2/7/2013 Izcuchaca and Cuzco >
                      • 4,5/7/2013 Izcuchaca to Cuzco >
                        • 9,10,11/7/2013 Cuzco to Machu Picchu >
                          • 11-16/7/2013 Cuzco >
                            • 17/7/2013 Cuzco to Quiquijana camping on el Rio Vilcanota
              • 27,28/6/2013 Puente Pachachaca to Abancay
  • 4/6/2013 Huánuco to just south of Huariaca
    • 5/6/2013 Huariaco to Cerro De Pasco >
      • 7,8/5/2013 Cerro De Pasco >
        • 8/6/2013 Cerro De Pasco to Junín >
          • 9/6/2013 Junín to 20km south of La Aroya, camping >
            • 10/6/2013 Sth of La Aroya to Huancayo
  • Medellín to Ushuaia, 2013 (april 2013 here,)
    • 31/1/13 Riosucio to Anserma >
      • 1/2/2013 Anserma to Cartago >
        • 6/12/2015 to 4/1/2016 South Africa
        • 2/2/2013 Cartago to Buga >
          • 3/2/2013 Buga all day >
            • 4,5/2/2013 Buga to Cali >
              • 6/2/2013 Cali to Piendamo
    • 27/1 Medellín to Bolombolo
    • 28/1 Bolombolo to La Pintada >
      • 29/1/13 La Pintada to Supia >
        • 30/1/13 Supía to Riosucio
      • 8/2/2013 Timbio to El Bordo >
        • 6/3/2013, San Clemente to Manta, EC >
          • 7/3/2013 Manta,EC all day >
            • 9/3/2013, Manta to Tena by bus >
              • 12,13,14,15 Tena to Limoncocha >
                • 16,17/3/2013 Manta >
                  • 18-23 Manta, Galapagos, Manta >
                    • 24,25/3/2013 Manta to Machalilla NP, EC >
                      • 26/3/2013 Machalillo NP to Machalillo >
                        • 27/3/2013 Machalilla to Puerto Lopez >
                          • 228,29,30/3/2013 Puerto Lopez, EC >
                            • Untitled
                            • 31/3/2013, Puerto Lopez to Ayungue, EC
      • 19/2/2013 Otavalo, Ecuador all day >
        • 20/2/2013 Otavalo to Sth of Otón, Ecuador >
          • 21/2/2013 Otón to Quito >
            • 22,23/2/2013 Quito, Hotel Húngaro >
              • 26/2/2013 Quito to Tandapi, EC
      • 27/2/2013 Tandapi to El Carmen, EC >
        • 28/2/2013, El Carmen to Pedernales, EC >
          • 2/3/2013 Pedernales to Tabuga >
            • 3/3/2013 Tabuga to Canoa >
              • 30/4/2012 Last day Santa Marta >
                • 1/5/2012 Santa Marta to Barranquilla
                • 2/5/2012 Barranquilla to Santa Veronica
                • 3/5/2012 Santa Veronica all day >
                  • 4-5/5/2012 Santa Veronica
              • 6-7/5/2012 Santa Veronica >
                • 8,9 &10/5/2012 Santa Veronica
              • 11/5/2012 Santa Veronica to Cartagena >
                • 12/5/2012 Cartagena all day >
                  • 13/5/2012 Cartagena to San Jacinto >
                    • 14/5/2012 San Jacinto to Sincelejo >
                      • 15/5/2012 Sincelejo to San Bernado >
                        • 16/5/2012 San Bernado to Puerto Escondido >
                          • 17,18/ 5 /2012, Puerto Escondido >
                            • 19/5/2012, Puerto Escondido to Planeta Rico >
                              • 20/5/2012 Planeta Rica to Caucasia >
                                • Untitled
                                • Untitled
                                • 21/5/2012, Caucasia to Tarazá >
                                  • 22/5/2012, Tarazá to Valdivia >
                                    • 23/5/2012, Valdivia to Yarumal >
                                      • 24/5/2012, Yarumal for the day >
                                        • 25/5/2012 Yarumal to Santa Rosa de Osos >
                                          • 26/5/2012, Santa Rosa de Osos >
                                            • 27/5/2012, Santa Rosa de Osos to Medellin >
                                              • 28/7 2011, Hannibal to Grafton
              • 5/3/2013, Canoa to San Clemente,EC
      • 9/2/2013 El Bordo to Tablon (April 2013 here) >
        • 1/4/2013 Ayungue to Salinas, EC >
          • 2/4/2013 Salinas to Posorjas,EC >
            • 3/4/2013 Posorja to San Carlos,EC >
              • 4/4/2013, San Carlos to Angas,EC >
                • 5/4/2013, Angas to Soldados, EC >
                  • 6/4/2013, Soldados to Cuenca >
                    • 7-9/4/2013, Cuenca, EC >
                      • 10-14/4/2013 Cuenca to Loja >
                        • 14-18/4/2013 Loja to Macará, EC >
                          • 7/2/2013 Piendamo to Timbio
      • 10,11/2/2013 Tablon to Chacahgui
      • 12/2/2013 Chachagui to Yucuanquer
      • 13,14,15/2/2013 Yucuanquer to Ipiales >
        • 16/2/2013 Ipiales to Bolivar, Ecuador >
          • 17/2/2013 Bolivar to nth of Ibarra, Ecuador >
            • 18/2/2013 Nth of Ibarra to Otavalo, Ecuador
    • Colombia 2012
  • Terrain Profiles
  • Nicaragua
  • Blog
  • Memphis to Venice, LA
  • Home and August entries
    • 8/8/2011 Sweetwater to Salida >
      • 9/8/2011 Salida to 3m North of Cripple Creek, CO >
        • 10/8/2011 Cripple Creek to Phantom Canyon >
          • 11/8/2011 Phantom Canyon to Pueblo >
            • 12/8/2011 Kansa to Warrensberg, MO >
              • 13/8/2011 Warrensberg to Clinton, MO >
                • 14/8/2011 Clinton to Sedalia >
                  • 15/8/2011 Sedalia to Tipton >
                    • 16/8/2011 Tipton all day >
                      • 17/8/2011 Tipton to Red Oak Park ,Lake of the Ozarks >
                        • 18/8/2011 Lake of the Ozarks all Day >
                          • 19/8/2011 Red Oak all day >
                            • 20/8/2011 Red Oak Park to Boonville >
                              • 21/8/2011 Boonville to Columbia >
                                • 22/8/2011 Columbia all day >
                                  • Untitled
                                  • 22/8/2011 Columbia to Portland >
                                    • 24/8/2011 Portland to Defiance >
                                      • 25/8/2011 Machens to Portage Des Sioux >
                                        • 26,27,28/8/2011Portage Des Sioux to Alton >
                                          • 29/8/2011 Alton to Columbia >
                                            • 30/8/2011 Columbia to Chester >
                                              • 31/8/2011 Chester to Grand Tower >
                                                • 1/9/2011 Grand Tower, IL to Wickliffe, KY >
                                                  • 2/9/2011 Wickliffe to Columbia, KY >
                                                    • 5/9/2011Tiptonville TN to Ripley TN
                                                    • Untitled
                                                    • 3-4/9/2011 Colmbus to Hickman, KY >
                                                      • 6/9/2011 Ripley Meeman- Shelby SP >
                                                        • Untitled
                                                        • 7/9/2011 Meeman-Shelby to Memphis
    • The proposed itinerary
    • A few words about the river
    • My Bike
    • Journal- Intro
    • Journal Entries late July early August >
      • 29/7/11 Grafton all day >
        • 30/7/2011 Grafton To Alton >
          • 31/7/11 Alton all day >
            • 1/8/2011 Alton all day >
              • 2,3/8/2011 Alton to Colarado Springs >
                • 3/8/2011 Colarado Springs >
                  • 4/8/2011, Colarado Springs >
                    • 5/8/2011 Colarado Springs Day 2
                  • 6/8/2011 Pueblo Dakota Springs >
                    • 7/8/2011 Dakota Hot Springs to Texas Creek >
                      • 7/8/2011 Dakota Hot springs to Texas Creek
    • The Gear list
  • Sydney to International Falls
    • IF to Northome >
      • Northome to Three Island Lake >
        • Three Island Lake to Itasca State Park >
          • Itasca Park full day 1 >
            • Itasca Park full day 2
  • Itasca to 4m north of Walker
    • 21/6/11 Walker to dare I say it Park Rapids
    • 22/6/11 Park Rapids all day >
      • 23/6/11 Park Rapids to sth of Walker
    • 24/6/11 Sth of Walker to Oak Haven Resort
    • 25/6/11 Oak Haven to Bena
    • 26/6/11 Bena for the day >
      • 27/6/11 Bena, from my tent to the shop and back
  • 28/6/11 Bena to Grand Rapids
  • 29/06/11 Grand Rapids to Pallisade
    • 30/06/11 Palisade to Crosby
    • 1/07/11 Crosby to Royalton
    • 2/07/2011 Royalton to St Cloud >
      • 3/07/2011 St Cloud to Monticello >
        • 4/7/2011 Monticello to Ham Lake >
          • Ham Lake all day >
            • 6/7/2011 Ham Lake to Prescott, WI >
              • 7/6/2011 Prescott to Pepin
          • 8/7/2011 Pepin to Perrot SP
    • 9/7/2011 Perrot SP to Wabasha, MN
  • 10/7/2011 Wabasha to Hastings
  • 16-17/1/2015 Luxor to Aswan
  • Zambia 7-30/9/2015
  • 11/7/2011 Hastings to Wabasha
    • 12/7/2011 Wabasha to Lansing,IA >
      • 13/7/2011 Lansing all day >
        • 14/7/2011 Lansing to Pikes Peak SP >
          • 15/7/2011 Pikes peak SP to Dubuque, IA >
            • 16/7/2011, Dubuque to Bellevue >
              • 17/7/2011, Pleasant Creek CG all day >
                • 18/7/2011, Pleasant Creek CG all day >
                  • 19/7/2011, Bellevue to Silvas, IL
          • 20/7/2011, Moline for the Day >
            • 21/7/2011, Moline to Loud Thunder Park >
              • 22/7/2011, Loud Thunder park to Keithsberg >
                • 23/07/2011, Keithbergs to Fort madison, IA >
                  • 24/7/2011, Fort Madison to Nauvoo
                • 25/7/2011, Nauvoo to Quincy >
                  • 26/7/2011 Quincy all day
    • Granada to Panama, Feb 27 >
      • 9, 10/3/2011 Servo to Playa Las Lajas
  • 8/5/2017 Tehran
17/3/2011

Brisas de Amador, causeway Isla Perico Panama City,


Having caught up with Warren at Brisas de Amador on causeway Isla Perico yesterday, it was decided to spend a couple of weeks on board his yacht Moondance, a 42 foot sloop anchored in the bay.
It is a great spot where the Bridge of the Americas can be seen, allowing passage of vehicles across the canal, on the other side of the causeway ships can be seen on their way to the Pacific having passed through the Miraflores Locks and on under the bridge.
The vibrant skyline of the city is always visible.
Many other cruisers are in the bay so it is a social affair here.

Warren and I get on well so it will be an enjoyable couple of weeks. I am so appreciative of him to have me aboard for this time.

An old boarding school friend from Nelson College, in NZ put me in touch with him, thanks so much Pete.

Everything, 9 bags and a pushbike were put in the cab and we headed for the causeway. Arriving there and catching up with Warren we put things in the tender and headed for Moondance at anchor in the bay.

She is a comfortable boat with plenty of room. It is nice to be back on a yacht.

The afternoon was easy and about 1800 we joined 2 other couples and headed to a bar in Clayton to celebrate St Pats day. It was a great night with just the most authentic Irish musicians and a guy on an electric violin, quite amazing he was. The bag pipes, always able to stir emotions, opened the evening.

It was a casual affair, with everyone given the words to some classic traditional irish songs. So sing along we did, Myself finding the courage to get up and sing along with another person. It was a fun night.

Warren and I managed to get the last taxi home about 0200, then into the tender, luckily we had both been in this situation before, thus getting home dry.

Good sleep was a given.

Picture
The Bridge of the Americas, ships are seen passing on the other side of the causeway. cane fires are leaving ash on the deck and contibuting to the haze
Picture
Happenings at the enterance to the complex, all this area was occupied by the US when the owned the canal, everything is quite new, a place where city dwellers like to come in the weekends
Picture
The view from the shoppette where we use the wifi
18,19,20/ 3 2012-03-21

Isla Perico on Moondance


Things are very relaxing in the company of Warren who knows his way around the causeway and environs, including much of the city.

Peter from La Esperanza flew in from Granada for a week, so we caught up and had a day enjoying the city. I camped in Petes $15 a night room on my air bed for the night.

The next day Warren came in and joined us, having breakfast we then headed for the old part of Panama city. Now finding  that Cinco de Mayo is a kind of focal point for transportation to and from the causeway. A cab from the causeway to Cinco de Mayo is one dollar if other people are in the cab.

Cinco de Mayo is a pedestrian precinct, walking up here leads one into the old part of town.

We had a great day wandering around the old part of town which is under going a huge redevelopment with many buildings either being restored or demolished, though the facades were always intact, this area will certainly become a focal point in this city.

We visited the Teatro Nacional, a beautiful old theatre with three stories of stalls or boxes, it is very much in use, often free recitals of the National orchestra can be seen.

Stopping at a few bars for refreshments it was an enjoyable day winding up at the Balboa yacht club, which offered great views of the Bridge of the Americas with large cargo ships passing just beyond vessels on swing moorings at the front of the bar. We  then  joined other cruisers for tea and then onto Flemenco Marina.

This marina was home to some rather large white boats, one particular power boat for fishing, of no more than 25-28 foot had 3x 350hp outboards on the transom, a lazy 1000 plus horsepower.

Pete spent the night onboard with us.

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Sunday dusk on the Causeway, Porches, Maseratis etc were like flies on a dead sheep, it was a vibrant place to be
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Pete and Warren old Panama
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Buena vista, Balboa Yacht Club, the ship is on its way to the Carribean, Miraflores locks are up from the bridge of the Americas
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The old and the renovated, with respect to the heritage of the area, to get here take any bus to Cinco de Mayo
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Warren and I finding ourselves at Cinco de Mayo again
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Teatro Nacional
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En el baño, Flemenco Marina
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On our way round to Balboa Yacht Club helping to slip a local yacht. The slipway wasn't organized so it ended up being a pleasant motor around the circumference of a very big sausage.
20,21,22,23/3/2012

Isla Perico, Panama City

Well it has been a week onboard Moondance, life is everso  relaxing and laid back to say the least, with a great cruising community from two anchorages. Our one and La Playita. it is easy to see how many yachts people come here for a month and stay a couple of years.

Life now consists of getting up making a coffee onboard, listening to the morning net for cruisers on channel 74 VHF. It’s great, offering advice and information to sailors about the canal, public transport, crew wanted or available and any other topic related to the needs of the cruising community. This community is represented by sailors from all over the world.

Many at the moment are getting ready to make the passage to NZ and Australia via the Galapagos. It now costs close to a thousand dollars to visit this unique location.  Most people heading through the canal to the Caribbean are heading north, often back to the US.

Myself hoping to find someone heading to Cartegena in Colombia.

Back onto our day, once we potter about, we come across, to the shoppette and do a bit of tapping, talking and generally taking it easy.
Getting to and from Moondance is always a bit of a dodgy affair as the walkway to the pontoon is broken so we have pull this small moulded dinghy across the gap from the pontoon where we tie up the tenders. With 15ft tides here no two crossings are the same. A few people have already fallen in. Casualness can lead to a drenching and often being with electronic gear, though in waterproof bags it could become more than a drenching. It is especially challenging when a wind and sea are present.

Thursday nights are pizza and $1 beer nights, Thursday saw us getting back onboard late in the evening. Warren and I now have a fairly competitive ongoing game of crib happening. It has been 30 years since  having  played this great card game.

Meeting people with interesting lives is normal here, with many sailors having just hung out in the Carribbean for a couple of years exploring anchorages.

My only complaint is with so many english speakers here, my Spanish has not progressed greatly in the last couple of weeks.

Meeting a vibrant, bubbly and capable 19 year old German girl at the pizza night and her telling me she has been travelling on her own for almost a year with minimal hassles. She was a great spirit. She was telling me about her ninja motorcycle at home and the speeds she travels at in the left lane on the Autobahn, maybe this for her is not such a big deal. Much of her accommodation had been with the couch surfing community, recommending this a great way to find a bed and meet people.

Due to the bike being in a marine environment for sometime, the point at where the spokes enter the rim was oiled so as to try and eliminate unseen corrosion  inside the rim.

The temperature at night here though, warm, for me it is always nice to have some form of bed clothes on, even if to stop the odd mozzy from feeding, it has been found a silk sleeping bag liner from Thailand has been perfect. It is light, packs super small and still keeps one cool whilst repelling a full body onslaught by mosquitos.

Warren and I really enjoy each others company, me saying to him it’s just like being on a yacht back in Australia with old friends, thats how easy things are here.

I have  told him and other Americans  that prior to my experiences on the Mississippii River and other parts of his country last year, I had three, in hindsight, uninformed  opinions  about the United States or more to the point it’s people.

Those being:

·         Few people had passports

·         People loosely described as rednecks were everywhere in the southern  midwest

·         American politicians tend to meddle in other peoples affairs, tragically wasting enormous amounts of money.( not so ill informed)

On the first point, that country, from what I saw,  from the seat of a pushbike offers the most varied and interesting scenery and environments . As soon as you leave the urban confines, the rural environment enchants, whether it be corn paddocks, woods ,lakes, rivers all inhabited  with wildlife,some being white tailed deer, praire dogs or squirrels. I can truly understand why many Americans can spend a life time travelling in their own country, Alaska included.

The people met on the way were as different and interesting as the landscape they occupied.

As to rednecks,  judging by some recent political policy by the US,  many people fitting this description would appear to reside on the east and west seaboards. I am of the opinion, their supposed presence is by no means restricted to the southern central states.
The term, when used always bought a few laughs as to the definition of this stereotypical description often related to the movie "Deliverance"

Some towns visited on the river were in tragic urban decline, not just in a business sense, but more in the chronic lack of maintenance to existing infrastructure.

Imagine turning up in a town with even a tenth of the weekly spending during the height of Middle East activities and saying “here use this to envigorate your community”, we are talking about 100 million here. Tens towns a week getting a hundred million, the mind boggles.

Saying this, though, however being aware a huge economy revolves around these far away persuits.

Oh for a perfect world.

In getting off some personal opinions of the big picture, for me Americans have been found to be some of the kindest, friendliest and hospitable people I have ever meet, this has been further reinforced with my experiences here in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Warren came up with a classic story about travelling the other day, describing an American, one that many ill informed people see as the stereo type representing people from the states.

An American guy irately abusing an attendant somewhere overseas in a Spanish speaking country, whilst in a line. Not knowing Spanish he put an o on the end of every word. To the extent, Whato iso goingo ono aroundo hereo?

The attendant in a voice everyone could hear said, “Look, I going to  speak in a language we both understand and loudly said, “Fucko youo”!!  To much hushed laughter from others in the vicinity.


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No two crossings are the same, often with water in the dinghy making things even more challenging
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Once to the shore, ever so slippery steps and rocks at low tide, requires due diligence especially with laptops onboard even if airtight bags.
24,25/3/2012

Passage on the Panama Canal


We had previously arranged with a guy Dave to help with lines on his yacht Beeshue, a 33 Hans Christian double ender, during his passage through the canal to the Shelter Bay Marina inside the port side of the sea wall prior to entering Carribean sea and on into the Atlantic Ocean.

His agent had arranged our transit to commence at 1545 with the boarding of a Canal Authority official to be onboard for the passage.

We were transiting in company of another family from Novia Scotia in their 45 foot wooden vessel. A vessel radiating the romanticism of sailing.

It was to be a night transit, which for yachts has only been offered for a couple of months.

It was an overcast kind of day with little wind and that from the north.

All yachts transiting the canal must have 4 line handlers, without us Dave would have had to pay his agent for line handlers. Dave, his partner, Anne and her daughter Amie made up the crew.

It was great, they fed us well and provided refreshments, breakfast and the fares back to the causeway. More importantly they were good company.

We entered the Miraflores Locks with a container ship, and formed a raft with Peters yacht, which was then secured to a 60ft tug boat also in transit. The tug was secured to the lock wall.

These locks lifted us 54 ft, there were 3 in total. Everything was well lit. It was quite amazing being in close contact with these large container vessels, later on in the evening would see many abeam in some cases no more than a 100 ft away.

From here we headed through the Gaillard cut, so named after the engineer in charge of this portion. Then onto Gamboa and on into Lago Gatún after the last locks.

The next set of locks, the Gatun locks also 3 in total, these locks saw us being lowered to the level of the Atlantic.

This time we were on our on and not rafted, the other yacht was tying alongside the tug.

Being solo meant we had to be secured to the walls of the lock on the port and starboard sides both fore and aft.

The canal staff threw a monkey fists too secure our lines, also supplied by the agent.We were secured and in position in the middle of the lock with a huge container ship to our stern and the tug with Peters yacht and his family foward.

Peter and his wife had three attractive blond headed daughters, at times looking around the sides of the locks and on the merchant ship within, all eyes of the canal workers and mariners were trained on the girls. Warren and I quickly figured they weren’t looking at us. It was amusing and obviously made this particular night shift more enjoyable for the owners of those eyes. Amie onboard our boat also added to the the attraction.

The lines were walked from lock to lock by canal staff on the shore. All we had to do was let out line as the water receeded. A simple process though happening very quick, tangles in our lines didn’t bear thinking about.

Crossing Lago Gatún we headed for Shelter Bay Marina and tied up for the night, or what was left of it, the time being 0430, it had been a night not to be forgotten, without incident. Astro our Canal adviser onboard was a great guy who helped make the experience more relaxing.

All this considering Dave had no reverse gear on the boat, the parts are no longer available. Well done Dave, it was never a problem.

A couple of hours sleep saw us shower and have a great breakfast prepared by Dave.

Warren and I caught a taxi to Colón and a bus back to Panama City.

Leaving a sign on the notice board at the marina in hope of a passage to somewhere in Colombia, ideally Cartagena around the 12th of April.

Warren mentioned a great yacht club where much fun was had in the past, the Panama yacht club at Colón had had their site taken over by a new container terminal 3 years ago. Many sailors used this a stop off either way through the canal. It was evidently a very social place.

Back onboard Moondance at 1600 we relaxed needing some rest, a nearby yacht dragged anchor colliding with another downwind vessel, minimal damage was sustained, there was nothing we could do. Other nearby sailors had already come to the help of the owners of the two vessels.
A night was spent in town with peter from Granada prior to his flight back on monday and on toLondon later in the week.
Peter had helped make time in Granada so much more enjoyable.
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Beeshue, a classic blue water sailboat, on her way to the Carribean, note plastic wrapped tryres used as fenders, supplied by the agent, A transit costs close to a thousand when all sorted.
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A new museum under construction on the causeway way, with a roof like this, it will undoubtedly become an iconic building in PC
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The bridge of the Americas with Balboa yacht club moorings to the left. Some moorings were resumed here by the canal authority due to the new locks under construction and the impending passage of the super ships that will use them
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On the way to Miraflores, Peters yacht ahead and the tug forward to starboard
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We remain rafted together through the 3 Miraflores Locks, Dave did bloody well without the ability to manouvre astern
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The gates
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It was quite an experience at night.
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Shelter bay Marina, good showers and all facilities, a cab here to Colon is $20 then a bus to PC is $3.50
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Canal Authority adviser Astro getting ready to board, he nearly fell in the drink on returning to the vessel at 0200 in Lago Gatún
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That skyline again, the spiralled building to the left is quite a sight, causeway in the foreground
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A busy bit of water, Amie and Anne, the white ship astern joined us in Miraflores.
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Our raft, Miraflores
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Miraflores visitor centre, there is a live cam here visit panamacanal.com I think to see live transits.
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Through Miraflores
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Nearing the bottom of the Gatún locks that lowered us to the Atlantic
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A ferry trip across the canal on our way back to PC. Looking towards the PC end. The canal and lakes were incredibly well marked with navigation bouyage, we kept well to the starboard side of the canal at all times, for port to port meetings, always under the direction of Astro
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