Log Date: January 09, 2005

Location: San Blas Islands

We are waiting for the sun to come out.  It is warm and humid but not a lot of sun.  Due to the humidity/clouds we can barely see the Mountains on mainland Panama only 5 +/- miles away.  It rains a number a times a day - but only for a minute or two. The boat is almost free of salt (which had been crusted everywhere). 

We have thought about moving anchorages, but it is a little difficult to see the reefs when the sun is not out.  We would hate to bump a reef - a friend of ours did bump one the other day but didn't have any damage. The winds have been blowing 15-20K so the water is kicked up a bit as well. 

We are anchored at a small island called "Green Island".  We walked around it the other day and noticed what looked like an abandoned hut.  It had a thatch roof and three walls. Well, last night at dusk we were enjoying the night breeze outside and noticed two people in an Ulu paddling up to the island and stop.  They began unloading items from their Ulu and moved into the hut for the night.  Now, I don't know if this is their typical "Holiday Inn" or "Motel Hell", but the hut only has dirt floors and nothing to sleep upon.  I guess they had gone to the nearby island of "Nargana" to pick up supplies and because of the windy weather and rough seas for a canoe they decided to camp out here and wait until morning to continue. 

Many days we see the Ulu’s with 4 or 5 people wrapped in plastic to keep from getting wet scurrying to Nargana the main village. Some of the Ulu’s have new 9HP engines on them.  Though just as many we see have sails made out of patchwork cloth or they just paddle.  One father and 2 sons stopped by the boat yesterday and asked for some water.  Although he didn't speak English - I was able to understand that they had left their island at 8am (paddling and sailing) en-route to Nargana - it was about 11:30 when they stopped.

We heard yesterday that a crocodile lives on or around this island - not to worry I am told - he is only a small one. Ya right, see if I get back in the water now!  And Susan wanted to dive under the boat to check the bottom...

Enjoying Life Onboard.

Laura and Susan

SV Mystic Traveler