7/13/2011 - Bahia Honda, Panama

We are in a beautiful, calm bay called Bahia Honda, about half way down the coast of Panama. The Pacific side of Panama is dense jungle, sweeping mountains with very few inhabitants. A few of the most beautiful anchorages we've ever been in the last few days, at least from what we could see of them since it's rained almost non-stop since we left Costa Rica seven days ago. We haven't been off the boat since Golfito since every time we think of a shore excursion, the sky opens up and dumps. Oh well, that's what makes the verdant jungle. Right now above the patter of rain I can hear parrots and howler monkeys in the trees, and dolphins playing around the boat. Maybe today we'll just have to get wet...

We're about 240 miles from Panama City. We're trying to decide whether to do a 48 hour straight sail there, or break it up into 4 or 5 day hops. There are no more really good anchorages between here and there so if we did do the day hops, we would probably be in floppy, marginal spots. On the other hand, 48 hours hand steering sounds pretty brutal too. We have a few days to decide since according to predictions, it is going to get a bit blustery for a few days. Once we get to Panama City we'll be there for a few weeks getting our autopilot fixed, then through the canal!

Dripping in paradise,
Carolynn & Tom

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