18,19/4/2011 Shelter Bay Marina
Departure day is tomorrow, Friday.
Yesterday was a day of total relaxation, sleeping and and few beers on the dock with Dave, talking about everything from the expected passage to life in our respective home towns.
We both came to the conclusion that this kind of life whether with a pushbike or a yacht is a great way to be for us. For me the the realization that one day in the not to distant future this existence will have to end with my return to normal life, but for how long???
The free bus to Colon was also caught to get a few more provisions.
I sprayed my cabin with mossy spray, my hands and feet were also sprayed.These mossys here are relentless, they especially love biting toes and fingers. An uninterrupted sleep was enjoyed.
We arose fairly early and started taking down the shade on Bijou and securing things for the 30 mile passage that will see us stop at Portabelo tomorrow night and depart for Santa Marta Monday, we have a favorable weather window with northerlies forecast.
Departure formalities were carried out by Dave, needing a copy of my passport and entry details into Panama.
Portabelo will be enjoyable , Dave is meeting old friends from Germany, a few other boats from here will be there so familiar faces will be in company.
Portabelo is where the Spanish shipped most of their plundered gold back to Spain.
Dismantling the bike took a couple of hours, the wheels are in my cabin, whilst the plastic wrapped frame is in the tender on the fore deck.
The passage from Portabelo to Santa Marta will see the tender overturned with the bike beneath it. This could be a rough sail if the winds dont stay in our favour. Strong winds often flow around the eastern tip on South America and around to Sant Marta.
Dave has been cruising the caribbean on and off for 40 years so comfortable would best describe my thoughts about the trip.
The wet cycle has started here with storms brewing, if rain during the day does not eventuate, the night seems to bring showers.
Its interesting how many young children are around the marina, many are french all are on long sailing trips.
The evening was spent at the restaurant chatting with an english couple about hteir adventures on the water in Colombian waters, hopefully the landward passage will be a little more predictable.
Departure day is tomorrow, Friday.
Yesterday was a day of total relaxation, sleeping and and few beers on the dock with Dave, talking about everything from the expected passage to life in our respective home towns.
We both came to the conclusion that this kind of life whether with a pushbike or a yacht is a great way to be for us. For me the the realization that one day in the not to distant future this existence will have to end with my return to normal life, but for how long???
The free bus to Colon was also caught to get a few more provisions.
I sprayed my cabin with mossy spray, my hands and feet were also sprayed.These mossys here are relentless, they especially love biting toes and fingers. An uninterrupted sleep was enjoyed.
We arose fairly early and started taking down the shade on Bijou and securing things for the 30 mile passage that will see us stop at Portabelo tomorrow night and depart for Santa Marta Monday, we have a favorable weather window with northerlies forecast.
Departure formalities were carried out by Dave, needing a copy of my passport and entry details into Panama.
Portabelo will be enjoyable , Dave is meeting old friends from Germany, a few other boats from here will be there so familiar faces will be in company.
Portabelo is where the Spanish shipped most of their plundered gold back to Spain.
Dismantling the bike took a couple of hours, the wheels are in my cabin, whilst the plastic wrapped frame is in the tender on the fore deck.
The passage from Portabelo to Santa Marta will see the tender overturned with the bike beneath it. This could be a rough sail if the winds dont stay in our favour. Strong winds often flow around the eastern tip on South America and around to Sant Marta.
Dave has been cruising the caribbean on and off for 40 years so comfortable would best describe my thoughts about the trip.
The wet cycle has started here with storms brewing, if rain during the day does not eventuate, the night seems to bring showers.
Its interesting how many young children are around the marina, many are french all are on long sailing trips.
The evening was spent at the restaurant chatting with an english couple about hteir adventures on the water in Colombian waters, hopefully the landward passage will be a little more predictable.
Bijou with shade covers off, new wind vein paddle, bike in foreground
70ft cat in for a short stay on her way through the canal and across the Pacific with great speed givin the right winds.
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Shelter Bay Marina , one could easily stop here for sometime. good meals and all facilities
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