Shelter Bay (Colon)

Having arrived before office hours, we dropped anchor outside Shelter Bay and waited for a few hours for the marina staff to tow us in. This was easy and fun and now we are parked in the rather expensive marina surrounded by jungle full of howler monkeys, toucans and butterflies! I spent a few days in the engine room cleaning gunk, pumping oil, spraying WD40 and had her starting but not running which drove me fair mad. Greg from a neighbouring boat put in a little time and felt that some water had been forced up valve guide/s from the cylinder and was causing some sticking, so we kept spraying his super duper wd40 type spray and eventually it paid off. Motor is now running perfectly, oil and filters changed a few times and we're ready to move on. Now to organise the canal transit.

Marina is next to some nice jungle, so with motor sorted I finally went for a walk. This area was a US military base, there are roads through the jungle, strange concrete ruins covered in vines and moss. Like a movie set…

There was a rusty sign saying "Live Explosives, Stay On " so when I saw a troop of howler moneys I "stayed on" over into the jungle till under their trees. They didn't move away but one did defecate in my general direction, which apparently is their way of showing displeasure. He can't have been completely displeased as I have read they can be quite accurate when they wish. Sorry about the photo, if you want close ups watch David Attenborough.

Steve has been trying to post a parcel home since Martinique and has been horrified at the lack of an Australian Post Office in every port. Yesterday his disbelief attained new heights when it was explained to him that he would have to go to Panama City to post a parcel! Colon, Panama's second largest city does not have such possibilities! I think this is just wonderful, Steve is unforgiving.

Listened to the radio all day and it's accordion, accordion, accordion. Infectious happy music. I'm infected and happy.