The Canal

We jumped on a Swedish boat and helped them do their canal transit, now they will help us through. The trip is wonderful, a water and jungle wilderness with panamax ships! We saw a couple of large caiman, that's an alligator relative, and quite a few toucans.

I came back to Ellida alone, while the crew had a day in Panama City, and ended up walking in one of the parts of Colon that I'm not supposed to. Everyone got off the bus so I did too! It was very colourful, small shops and market, a lot of people around. I did notice that there was a lot of surprise to see me… They quickly bundled me into a taxi and out of there, so again, the people of Panama are mostly delightful, helpful and friendly. The taxi driver was also shocked at where I had been, but there were police with guns and caring citizens. In the taxi, on the other hand, were just myself and a suicidal maniac, taking all the blind corners on the wrong side. All I wanted for my birthday was to arrive alive at the marina, and in the end, I got what I wanted.

Checking out of Panama has me worried. The Swedes were very stressed when the Port Captain was 2 hours late to clear them out. The problem is that he has to hitch-hike to work so one can't be sure when he will arrive!

There will be no photos for a while now, Steve has had his bag, with camera, stolen in Panama City and we won't have internet for some time!

Galapagos in 10 or 14 days, then Marquesas 3 or 4 weeks after that.

I should be in touch with Anne via HF radio and sailmail most days.

So Canal, Pacific, Equator! A lot to look forward to.

Just had my last Shelter Bay jungle stroll and saw not only a few more unbelievable butterflies, but the other common monkey I hadn't seen yet, capuchin, and the icing on the cake, a good long look at a Neque, or Agouti. No wonder people find our Australian wildlife strange, these things don't look anything like a kangaroo!