Saturday January 18
Another trip into Colon to Reys to pick up provisions for the week including our transit through the Panama Canal.
Saturday night was music night, the usuals performed with new place playlists.
Saturday night I had a migraine, the first one probs more than a decade. Not a fun night😩
Friday January 17
We never really like the orange Cetol color on the teak wood, had often talked about stripping it off adding teak oil or a sealer. Today was day, it started with the bow, well, that’s actually the only part that was done. Anyway the wood grain looks awesome oiled, the rest will come slowly.
We settled on house of 30 years today. It is very bitter sweet, loads of memories, friendships and great neighbors.
So this is our home for the next couple of years as we travel and sail around the world. #retirementgoals
Thursday January 16
We all took a long nature walk today, in search of monkeys. This area of the marina used to be occupied by the US Military. There are several abandoned buildings and structures here.
Wednesday January 15
Always a boat project to be done! On our sail here to Panama, the last day the weather was pretty rough, and the seams came open on the sunbrella sacrificial cover on the staysail. After further review, the decision was made not to replace all sunbrella on the Staysail (Staceysail), instead we removed deteriorated threads and re-sewed the sunbrella. This was a three person job! #sewingonaboat
Danielle’s friend Stacey arrived last night, she’s going through the canal with us next week.
Tuesday January 14
Dan and I took the bus into Colon to get a few food items at Reys nand check out the hardware store for teak sealer. We had take a taxi back to the marina as the bus was going on to Panama City.
Dan and Danielle replaced the insulation in the engine compartment, they cut out a section of wood above the exhaust elbow, screwed in a fireproof piece above. There is now a 3/4” clearance, where as before the elbow was rubbing against the insulation scorching it as well as the original wood, which was a fire hazard.
Monday January 13
The day started with a group nature walk. We saw several species of birds, heard the monkeys, but didn’t see them.
Returning to the boat, Dan and Danielle replaced all the insulation in the engine room.
Had some pool time, then dinner.
Had dinner with great people who knocked at our boat by accident, they were looking for a different Island Packet. It turned out great, lots of laughs, great time!
Sunday January 12
Did I mention how hot it is here? Dan finished sanding the wood on the bow. We walked around the marina looking at other Island Packets to see what they used on the wood, varnish, oil or a combo of both. We decided on the combo, it’s a product called Semco now the hard part is finding a distributor who will ship to Panama. Will need to make a few calls tomorrow.
Tonight was cruisers BBQ in the Palapa. Bring your own meat to grill and a dish to pass.
The majority of new friends are from Canada and other countries.
Saturday January 11
After a day of fussing with the sewing machine, finally was able to finish the cockpit enclosure panels. Next step is to add the windows, I like this step it’s a fun technique.
Dan and Danielle sanded the wood on the pulpit most of the day, next step revarnish.
4:00pm Aquafit, then dinner. Saturday nights here is cruisers music night or open mic, talent night. Several talented singer musicians performed.
Friday January 10
We fussed with the Sailrite machine all day, a few broken needles made for a big headache. Finally got her working again! I have two more panels to complete the cockpit enclosure, then replace the sacrificial Sunbrella on the Stay Sail, it shredded on our sail here.
4:00pm Aquafit, then dinner.
Sunday January 5
We had our boat measured on Saturday for transiting the canal. Documents to fill out and papers to sign. The inspector was a real personable man, we had a great conversation with him.
Typically when you travel you bring way too many things, as did we on this trip. We purged a few things today, items we should have left home or no longer find useful on the boat.
We did laundry which took most of the day, it was busy day at the laundromat.
Had some swimming pool time, then at the bar with several Seahawk fans, watched the Eagles 🦅 lose.
Sailing Trance 