May 2014: month in review

Jeff and Michael swimming as a storm approaches Isla Gamez.

May was all about getting back into a groove. The Gulf of Panama had definitely thrown us off of our game, but we were determined to get back to Western Panama, to the waters we know we love. Things started looking up pretty much as soon as we exited the Gulf. Was this all in our heads? Maybe. Either way, we were eager to make our way back to what has become our home away from home – Boca Chica and the Gulf of Chiriqui.

First we needed to make a detour and pick our friend Michael up in Puerto Mutis for a 10 day island tour. Ten days seems like a long time until you’re out on the water. It flies right by. We had beautiful sailing conditions during his entire visit and we enjoyed day in and day out of lounging on the beach or on the boat, punctuated by snorkeling or hiking adventures, accompanied by lots of games and topped off with a fair amount of alcohol.

We made it to Boca Chica towards the end of May and were almost immediately rewarded with a trip to Boquete for delicious food from the Tuesday market and bakery, in addition to great company with some friends we’ve made in Boca Chica. We were also rewarded with a brief house sitting gig, which provided a welcome little break from the boat. Rainy season is officially upon us and we couldn’t be happier about it. Rainy season means cooler night-time temperatures (usually) along with an abundance of water (meaning we’ll spend less time lugging water from shore to the boat – definite win). We’re excited to get into a different rhythm…one that entails a little less travel.

Here’s the quick recap in numbers:

335 … miles traveled

182 … hours in motion

12.5 … gallons of diesel used

26.8 … miles per gallon, fuel economy

4 … nights at sea

24 … nights at anchor

0 … nights at a marina

0 … nights on a mooring

3 … nights at a house

$1068 … total May expenses

8 … islands visited

3 … avocados purchased from a “delivery panga” in the Islas Las Perlas – it’s avocado SEASON! a cause for celebration

7.0 … max speed clocked when leaving the Gulf of Panama

6 … freighters seen as we left the Gulf of Panama and transited the Azuero Peninsula

60 … length in miles of the Azuero Peninsula (it certainly felt a lot bigger)

5 … anchorages on the N side of Isla Cebaco

724,440 … number of votes received by the victorious Presidential candidate, Juan Carlos Varela

76% … voter turnout in Panama

5 … maximum number of years a person can hold the office of President in Panama

8% … average annual economic growth during Martinelli’s presidency (he oversaw significant growth and development initiatives for Panama, especially Panama City)

$624 … dollars per montt, the minimum wage in Panama

22 … number of stable foods Varela plans to put price controls on to lower monthly food costs (the former President owns one of the largest Panamanian supermarkets which profited from inflated food costs)

$400,000,000 … estimated net worth of Panama’s former president, Martinelli – Varela’s net worth isn’t probably too far off the mark given that he was born into one of the wealthiest Panamanian families

45 … gallons of water captured in one hour of a really good downpour

82 … degrees, temperature of water in Western Panama (it’s awesome to go swimming during a big rainstorm since the ocean is usually warmer than the rain)

2 … chocolate cakes baked either as a gift (for the navy guys that manhandled our wandering boat when it drug anchor or for the guys at the Puerto Mutis dock who are just always helpful and friendly) or to enjoy with a cup of coffee

0 … eggs used in my chocolate cake – my grandma called it “crazy cake”

5 … friends who have visited us on our journey so far

100 … approximate number of little red jejene bites our friend Michael had on his back after one night on the Rio San Pedro (Puerto Mutis)

24 … beers consumed, along with 2 bottles of wine, 2 bottles of tequila and 1.5 bottles of rum, with Michael on our “nature appreciation booze cruise”

0 … mornings that we woke up with hangovers

2 … snorkeling adventures with our friend Michael, along with 2 hiking adventures and lots of relaxation

3 … hammocks purchased to replace the hammock we abandoned on Isla Pedro Gonzalez in the Islas Las Perlas

$8.00 … cost per hammock (they’re made of our fishing nets and they’re actually quite comfortable, not to mention affordable)

3 … of Lin and Larry Pardey’s books I’ve read (covering Europe, Mediterranean and Asia…I still have yet to read the book that actually pertains to the cruising grounds we’ve covered)

24 … feet, the size of Lin and Larry Pardey’s boat, SV Serrafyn – they circumnavigated in this boat – is your mind blown? Mine was

$2.00 … cost of a bag of organic KALE!!!! at the Tuesday market in Boquete

260 … days since we last ate KALE!!!! I know that eating KALE!!!! is very in vogue right now…but it’s for a good reason

4 … days that we enjoyed eating KALE!!!! along with fresh sourdough bread, fresh herbs and other goodies procured in Boquete – this made us very happy

78 … hours that we house sat for our friends in Boca Chica (78 amazing hours full of cold beverages, yogurt, frozen food, square beds, unlimited electricity, a shaded veranda, games with the awesome neighbor kids, daily walks with three supremely cool dogs and cold freshwater showers!)

$10.00 … cost of 24 national beers in a case at the store

3 … different types of national beers (Panama, Atlas, Balboa) – I prefer Balboa and Jeff alternates between Panama and Balboa

24 … beers consumed during our house sitting gig (we tried to pace ourselves…but we had unlimited access to COLD beer…so good)

6 … Thermoses we have on the boat

1 … Thermos that still functions as it should – what happened Thermos? You used to be so reliable!

330 … average number of days that a fishermen (we met) in Western Panama spend on the water, away from their family in a given year (missing birthdays, holidays, anniversaries) – I wish I could tell you that their salary makes it all worth it…

15 … the age at which the fishermen we spoke to out at Isla Gamez started their career as fishermen