Pacific Sail

Where is Mike now?

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Slow Going


Slow Going
Originally uploaded by mlingswiler.
Well…we successfully sailed from Bocas to Colon and now we are and at anchor at Islas Grande (That’s Big Island for all my gringo friends) on our way to the San Blas Islands.

We will then go back to Colon to transit the Panama Canal on Feb 22nd.



Colon borders the canal on the Atlantic side, and is appropriately named. If you ever have a chance to visit……don’t. It does have a yacht club of sorts for small boats transiting the canal. There are all sorts of colorful characters from all corners of the globe hanging around. It’s somewhat like an international Jimbo’s.



We went through the paper work to get through the Canal and were given the date of Feb 22nd. This and the lack of appeal of Colon has us heading for San Blas Islands. Hopefully I’ll get some pictures worth posting. The one here is of Rob not catching fish (Maury we need some tips!!). To my BK friends; the GPS is working great. We haven’t found any bottom! Somebody tell Kelly-Ann that the Ramen noodles were great. Did she get the idea from Jerry-with-a-G.



I do have an “only Mike” Story:



In Bocas we were staying in a small marina. Every day this particular sailboat would leave the dock sail around the bay and sail perfectly back into it’s slip. I was talking to the marina owner and up walks a blind man. It turns out he was the owner of the boat and sails it with the help of his Chilean friend.



Later the next day I was working on something for the boat at the workbench which is at the end of the marina dock across from the shower. I saw the blind man leaving the shower and attempting to negotiate his way down the dock toward his boat. I asked him if he would like me to show him the way. He replied “Either that or take a swim”. I showed him the way and where to grab to board the boat. I’ll admit he seemed perplexed, but he was a blind man that sailed so I returned to my work.



A few minutes later I hear yelling in Spanish between him and his Chilean friend who was walking toward the boat. As it turns out …..I showed him to the wrong boat. The next day he kindly asked me if next time I would show him to the boat with the women!



I want to return a few comments. Nobody leaves there name so I’m only guessing on the authors.



Roger-- Only you could write a comment regarding my content that I need a Webster’s dictionary to figure out!!!!!



Frank—No el pop tarts in Panama you As$%ole!



WeWe(Ron)—I look good in a grass skirt.



Steve—Beer is only a buck in Panama….Come on down!



Who wanted more frequent updates? I’m on a boat.



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6 Comments:

At 11:03 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

International Jimbo's???! Was there anything there to eat that wouldn't make you sick or was that why your friend was trying to fish???

- Madeline

 
At 9:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike,

You should have been blonde! We miss you!

 
At 1:33 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike,

Do you have be 21 to drink in Panama????? LOL!!!!!

Christian

 
At 1:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My Bad the comment I left out a word:

Mike,

Do you have to be 21 to drink in Panama????? LOL!!!!!

Christian

 
At 8:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

$1 Beer?! Sounds like CJ's!! I am so there!!! LAK, Cabeza

 
At 11:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I must down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,  
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,  
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,  
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.  
I must down to the sea again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;  
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,  
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.  
  
I must down to the sea again to the vagrant gypsy life.  
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,  
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.  

 

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