Like most parents I really worry about the safety and security of Wally when he is using the computer for internet purposes. I understand that there are predators out there looking to extort the young minds and bodies of adolescents using the internet. This morning when I woke up I was stunned to see that Wally had sneaked onto the computer and was engaged in an online messenger session and browsing Face Book.

Much to my relief, when I crept up behind him I clearly saw that he was not misbehaving but was simply missing his mother. On the screen was her face book profile, Wally was simply lost in a deep gaze. Upon questioning him, he explained to me sobbing that he missed his mom so much that he was trying to contact her in any way he could. He promised never to go on the computer with out supervision again.

 

Sorry blog readers... not crossing in the boat but crossing by land. Driving from the marina into town is blocked by the Panama Canal. To get into town you must take a ferry across the canal or wait and cross the Gatun locks.

Here at the locks they have a one way one lane bridge that floats open and closed as the canal traffic comes and goes. There are stop lights on each end so they can control the traffic flow, and yes... I did get in trouble from the security for shooting a video of the crossing.

Read More...

Ok.. so here we are in Panama during rainy season... rain rain rain.   With the boat at the Shelter Bay Marina on the Caribbean side of the canal we planned on leaving the boat here for a while and doin some travel via air and land!

This means time off the boat and time we should have the boat locked and closed, and for the best efficiency of the pocket book the air conditioner should be left off too.  BUT... it rains here almost constantly during the rainy season and this will reuslt in a high humidity inside the boat and possible mold, smells, and other annoying things such as wet feeling cloth and damaged books.

The solution... a dehumidifier....but one small problem. They all seem come with electronic controls that shut OFF when the power goes out. Thus the marina has to come to your boat and reset the unit each time the power flickers, this costs money too....  Here is the solution.

Read More...

Sorry for the webstie downtime over the last few hours.  We had a minor issue that has now been corrected.

 I have been slowly adding videos to the site, as the uploads are long it takes me a while to get them done.

 Here is one from when we were anchored just south of Porvenir airport.  This airport is nothing more than a concrete strip from one end of the island to the other.  When I tell you there is not 100 yards at either end of the runway before you find the water... yes...

Read More...

Today we left Casa De Campo and headed out for Boca Chica. Boca Chica was a 7 hour sail which left us arriving late into the anchorage. After successfully navigating the chanel and arriving at the marina I promptly hit a sand bar that must have been about 6 inches under water... no... you could not see it as it was late in the day and there was no current or swells to expose it. I knew better than to be going with any speed so we simply backed off then... hit it again... so... the trick.. closer to shore not closer to the sea... yea... so into the anchorage and we are good for the night!