SAILORS ARE BACK

Season Seven begins with The Captain and I flying into Panama City Panama SA  Novrmber 5/15. After a red eye flight Vancouver Toronto Panama we treat ourselves to a lovely sleepover in The  Amadora Ocean View Suites before heading by Ferry over to Tobaga Isla where our S/V Whiteshell II has been moored the past eight months.

(For those who are wondering what happened to season six?????  Due to the lack of internet speed our adventure was documented  via Face Book for the most part.  Last season found us travlling for a week to Ecuador  from Panama arriving in the  estuary  at Bahia de Caraques.
Our stay was short but we managed exploring Columbia for three weeks by bus and returning to Canada for our summer.  In early December back to Ecuador with a quick road trip of the interior of the country we departed to Panama.  The trip was memorable!!!!!! Please join us on our face book page for details and lots pictures.)

Now back to the present: It was satisfying to return to a vessel in the Gulf of Panama that was for the most part in very good physical condition as She was left for a long period of time.  Chuey and his crew at Tobaga Moorings did a great job watching over her!    Thank God for minimal rain fall and The Captain for modifying drains  and pumps leaving  the interior fairly dry.  Yes, mould was present to be sure but nothing was ruined.  By the first night we were tucked into our "aboard" bed and glad to be back.  Though a lot of work and sweat  a week of our deligent  efforts of cleaning and reorganizing  Claes had Her powered up - motor and sails.  Of course it is a team effort and I was doing laundry - by hand!!! Scrubbing hatches and producing delightful little meals with the minimum of provisions!!!! We  spent the week enjoying the calm of the November anchorage and slowly got back to our boat routine beginning with morning coffee in the wheel house and ending with sunset gazing each evening!  Life is good aboard our beloved WhiteShell... Thank You Lord for all of Your  blessings!!!

You gotta know we are NOT superstitious!!!!!!
On Friday the thirteenth we motored across the bay to anchor at Las Brisas right along side the causeway where we continue to reboot equipment and reconnect our services such as water makers. The weather has been cooperative with little rain,  a few thunder storms  some sunshine  all producing a lot of humidity !!!!!   Bearable yes but not energizing  we are looking forward to this coming week to provision as the next two weeks get The WhiteShell closer to her departure for a passage to Mexico!