Sep 19

Written by:
9/19/2009 1:05 PM 

Georgia and I are surrounded by the sounds of all kinds of monkeys, large and small. The island of Linton is deserted except for a a band of monkeys that call it home. I haven't braved a visit yet as rumors abound about bad monkey bites. Apparently the little hairy guys are all friendly and cozy until they realize you didn't come to join their band for good. As soon as they realize you only came to visit and start to leave they turn hostile. It's been strongly advised to walk tall and carry a big stick if you go in for a close look.

The sail from Bocas del Toro was an easy one. Not much wind, but just enough to keep the main sail full. I still hand to run the motor at very low rpm's, but made it to Linton in 31 hours being pushed the whole way by a knot and a half current known as the Caribbean Counter Current. The only real danger being the shipping traffic coming and going from Colon, the entrance or exit of the Panama Canal. For the first time I fired up the 16 mile radar, set a 10 mile perimeter alarm and relaxed. For a busy shipping area it doesn't even come close to the traffic I learned to sail with around the Houston Ship Channel. I caught one small tuna, but not enough for a snack hardly so tossed him back.

After a good nights sleep I said hello to Meg, an old friend from Isla Mujeres days, and we started exploring. The area is beautiful, but there is little to really see and do here. The real pleasure I am getting is from living on the hook again. It is hard to believe how easily one gets hooked on unlimited wifi internet and television when it is available. Without such distractions much more time goes to cooking meals, boat projects, swimming, sunsets and simple star gazing. To say I am happy to be off the dock and back on the hook would be a major understatement.

The San Blas Islands are only about 50 miles from here and I think I'll head that way on Monday or Tuesday. One of the most beautiful islands is called Coco Bandero and I think I'll do a week there living simply and quietly until I head for Cartagena, Colombia at the end of the month. Cartagena is a city of 1.2 million so I'll definitely get my city fix. With major projects coming like a total engine rebuild, standing rigging replacement, bottom job, and fuel tank repair/replacement I may be looking for a cheap room to rent for a month or two and put Jargo on the hard. There is a lot of work to do to get ready for the Pacific but I am excited to get cracking again. The Caribbean has been beautiful, but I feel like I am at the end of this leg of the trip and feel like a horse behind a starting gate with the whole Pacific in front of me.

Cheers from Panama.

Lee