The day before yesterday I thought I might only have one night on the island of Isla Provedencia.  Having less than 15 gallons of diesel in the tank, fuel was a major concern.  The local ships agent, Mr. Bush, set me up with Tony, 50 gallons worth of jerry cans, and a pick-up truck.  It didn't take long before Tony and I were on Jargo siphoning the 50 gallons of diesel into Jargo's thirsty tank.  What I couldn't believe was that during our effort of loading the jerry cans into my dingy I'd left my laptop sitting out on the town pier next to the town square.

I explained my concern to Tony somewhere about the second 18 gallon jerry can running into Jargo's main tank.  He just looked at me for a moment with a confused expression before he said, "this is Provedencia man, ain't nobody gonna molest your things in Provedencia".  Sure enough, twenty minutes later and back on the dock, there was my computer case lying exactly where I'd left it on the pier.  That just wouldn't have happened anywhere else.  I like this island.

The island looks at tourists as a novelty more so than a revenue source.  There are no hotels, fancy restaurants, or hustlers to be found here in the main port.  It makes for a really nice change of pace from the other island communities I've visited.  The scenery is laid out on a grand scale and to do it justice I am renting a motorcycle later today to explore the whole island.  I took Georgia for a short jungle walk yesterday and began picking up small mangos and eating them all along the trail.  They grow wild and are called sugar mangos by the locals.  I think it was the greatest piece of fruit I've ever eaten except for maybe one of the watermelons off my grandpa's farm in Oklahoma.

Yesterday found me cleaning up Jargo and preparing to check into Colombia formally.  The weather isn't nice for the next few days and to be honest, I could use a little time to rest and recuperate.  While I was restowing books I came across my World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell.  As so often happens with me after a long sustained effort I began thinking of time, what I was doing with it, and what I should be doing with it. 

When people ask me about my route I'd often reply that Panama was as far as I could see.  Once there I'd take stock and determine if I and Jargo were ready for the Pacific.  Panama is only 250 miles from here.  With good weather that is just over two days by sail.  I've inadvertently started taking stock already with that realization.  I am happy to say I am doing exactly what it is that I want to be doing.  On the other hand, using the Steve Jobs method for reality checks, if I were only to have one more year of life then I'd hope to keep doing what I am doing, but with more time with friends and family.

Apologies go out to those who've already tried to come for a visit.  My movements have been so completely erratic that it's been impossible to schedule anything.  The Pacific cruising season begins in March.  That means I've got seven months between now and then.  Here is what I am thinking.  Next stop, Bocas del Toro, Panama.  I want to check into a marina for a month so I can work on Jargo, order a few parts, and just take a break dockside for a change.  I am thinking I'll spend September and October in the San Blas Islands with the Kuna Indians and other cruisers who tend to congregate there.  November and December I am thinking Cartegena, Colombia.  Come January 1^st I'll return to Panama to begin preparing for the transit of the Panama Canal.

So that is about as close as I can come to an itinerary.  If you were looking to pay me a visit the San Blas or Cartagena would be to perfect places.  Cheers everyone.  What a wonderful thing it is to live.