Panama to French Polynesia- First stop the Las Perlas Islands – The pearl islands in the Gulf of Panama

Just 40nm away from the “hustle and bustle” of Panama City is a string of islands called the Las Perlas. They got their name from the pearls found here.

Friends told us that it was worth stopping here before we head across the Pacific to French Polynesia. I need the humans to clean the bottom of the boat and prop, so a stop here could not hurt. I know I am missing a good run on the beach and the humans have heard the fishing and whale watching is great.

I doubt we will have internet. We will have to switch to updating the blog by the powers of RADIO (single side band) , so no more pictures or video for a while folks. Here are a few to keep you busy for now.

The outer islands are basically uninhabited. There will not be any supplies or boat equipment. So we have to make sure the boat is ‘ship shape’ for the Pacific crossing before we go. It has been exhausting watching the humans get the boat ready.

The first thing the humans had to do was get all the electrical equipment working again. They hate to be neglected and most had been left dormant for a couple of years. But with a bit of ‘tweaking’ and a lot of ‘wire replacements’ everything is up and running again. Echo Pilot even sent out a complete replacement for the faulty unit we fitted on the haul out.

It works! We have forward looking depth sonar again!

It is mango season and the trees are dripping fruit into the streets. The humans could not let all that fruit rot away.

Not when you can make mango chutney!

But like all good ideas there are draw backs. Like hours of chopping up little tiny mangos and sweating over a hot stove in the tropics.

In between repairs, stocking up on fuel and water and getting the boat organised the humans did fit in dermitology and dentist check ups. Being anchored up right in the city makes it much easier.

Of course on the way back to the boat they had to stop for the occational refreshment.

And ‘as usual with these guys’ they found some time to visit their favourite City haunts and catch up with friends on this side of the canal.

Catching the football Championships at the Fish Market

Last stop for the humans was the mazinging huge fresh fruit and vegitable market in the City. If you are going to be away from grocery stores for a few weeks, getting the unfridgerated and freshest produce helps.

Amazing maze of buildings and out door alleys all divided, some times, into only one type of fruit or other. Huge bidding wars in the pineapple section

I think the humans got a little carried away

Where are you going to put all this stuff guys?

And you thought the galley was a little crammed before!

Do not ask what the fridge looks like! But enough preparation. It is time to get going.

It is an ‘old sailors superstion’ that Fridays are a bad day to start a journey. And we do have a ‘kind of long one’ ahead of us. So we are using today to send you this last blog and leaving tomorrow. My life is now in the human’s hands.

WISH ME LUCK!