So what has been up since my last post. I think we were off to a lobster dinner held in
the home of a local Kuna who befriended us.
We had a lobster tail, with coconut rice and refried beans with
coleslaw. We sat in a hut with bamboo
walls that were 1 1/2 inch across bamboo standing vertical and lashed together.
The roof was a special kind of palm that they have to get on the mainland. I believe the meal was prepared for the 6 of
us by Nestor's wife. The next day was
involved doing boat repairs with Captain Rob and I getting to sail in Nestor's
dug out canoe around 4 PM. Rob
unfortunately on his second step into the canoe lost his balance and went
kersplash. Unfortunately we missed that
moment on camera but did get lots of photos of Rob and I in the dugout canoe
sailing. Nestor has a pole that goes
into a hole in the seat & then into a resting point carved into the bottom
of his dugout. The main sail has a boom
that has a point on one end and goes into a knot in the rope from the tiny
foresail He has a piece of rope to hold
the mast from falling over and a piece of rope on the end of the boom. Like the
Laser I used to sail on Glenmore Lake in Calgary you need to lean out so the
boat does not tip. Nestor steers with
his paddle for a rudder. The winds were
strong and we flew across the water. It
was a neat and exciting ride. The Kuna
in the area have a regatta in February and Nestor has apparently won the
sailing race 3 different times in a much faster dugout than the one we were
in. It was easy to see he was an expert
and handle the dugout canoe with it's sail with great skill.
Yesterday we got a few more boat chores done then sailed
30 nautical miles to BBQ island where we are now anchored. Today at noon we had a lunch for all the
boats on the BPO which included those that started in Martinique and those that
started in the Florida Keys. It was great to finally meet everyone and catch up
on their trip to this point in time.
Many stories were shared, new friendships were started and old
acquaintances were rekindled. The start
time was delayed by a rain shower but soon everyone arrived and the party began
in earnest. Fish, lobster and sausages where cooked and shared as was fruit and
baking. On our return aboard it was agreed it was a fabulous get together. A half hour later our weather buoy (that we
will deploy between Panama and Galapagos) arrived from Chapter 2 (another
sailing vessel). It is large and heavy and wrapped in plastic. More on the weather buoy on a future blog.
How idyllic! Enjoy your sail to Panama.
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