Sailing with our new crew Part Two

It was so nice to have our mates on the boat and they were loving it too. We chilled in the beautiful San Blas islands for a few days where we went snorkelling swimming , had bbqs and drank loads of clos ( Clos for those who dont know is the best wine we have found yet. Its only 2 dollars and 15 cent a litre and its good tasting. We stocked up on a load in the city as the wine in Cartagena is pretty pricy.

One tree island: As you can see , we are very imaginitive with the names,



The boys spent a whole afternoon snorkelling with their spear guns and nets trying to be hunters and catch some fresh fish for the ladies,unfortunatly they took lots of wine with them in the dingy and came back with nothing apart from red clown lips, tipsey and no fish.



This resulted in buying a freshly caught King Crab from the Kuna Indians for only 5 bucks.





We then sailed the 200 miles back to Cartagena, Columbia. The trip was going really well and debs and Al both got their sea legs..Alex even cooking lunch for us on the way which was wicked, cos even now after all these miles i still can feel quesy down below if its rough!!I decided to have the first watch and go down below. Come 2 ish in the morning i come up to relieve Sym so he can get to sleep and a big squall comes in. 50 knots winds with thunder and lightening that went on for over an hour. It was quite scary to say the least, so Captain Frank took the helm and Me and Alex tried to stay dry under the cockpit. Debs popped her head up now and again worrying that we had hot a rock and were going to sink ( it was the thunder which was so close i shit myself). She told me later she kept thinking not to worry we would all be laughing about it when it was over. Lol. I can imagine though, it was bad enough for me yet alone some one who has never been on a boat before.



Anyhow it only lasted an hour or so and the rest of the trip was fine. These bloody squalls at this time of year are quite hairy to say the least, but we arrive that day safe and sound in the crowded anchoarge of Cartagena.

San Blas and Cartagena with Dirty debs and Baby Frank

This seems like a life time ago but our friends back home from Wales are currently on a voyage back packing around the world and informed us they were in Costa Rica. We planned to meet up with them and they could come and stay for a few weeks on the boat. It was absolutley lush to see them, the last time being at our wedding over a year ago. We decided to leave the boat in Puerto Lindo for the night and get the bus to go and meet them in Panama City.
Panama City rcoks, it was wicked. In all fairness we did not get to see much of it
(sight seeing wise) as we were having too much of a party. Can you beilve the first night away from Quartermoon in over a year(hoping for something speacial accomodation wise) and debs goes and books us a hostel where we have to share the room with six other people. Oh well, it did not really matter as were we wasted by early evening and cant really remember much of it. We met up with some other friends, Oliver, and Ricky Martin and Makayler to celebrate olivers birthday.
Me and debs ended the night in the shared toilet being sick from too much booze and sym and alex ended up partying without us till five o clock in the morning. Alex on the first night nick named Sym Frank the Tank ( all will know if you have seen the movie Old School ) if you have not , thats not a bad things, cos i am extremtly gutted to be married to a middle aged, unfit loser - like off the movie. Anyhow the nick name stayed and i have gorwn to love it.

Some pics of our first night in the city



Frank and Baby Frank giving Oliver the birthday bumps:



After a rough hangover we had to go and get the bus back from Panama city to Puerto Lindo which was bad enought the day before when we were feeling good. It took over 3 hours being squished on the chicken bus , including a stop off to get another one. We decided it was well worth the 70 bucks to share a taxi home between the four of us and god how much we appreciated the air con.

The following day we decided to take them to monkey island. There was no way i was going back on there after the last time, so i waited in the dingy while the rest went ashore. Can you believe it, but the sly little buggers were so sweet. (And alot smaller than the last time in remember ) They were eating out of everyones hand!!! I am so jealous...but i still did not trust their tempermental attitude!!

Alex getting ready to leg it after hearing our stories about these ferocious beasts!!lol



Moral of the story , never ever trust monkeys!!!