Unfortunately most of Moody Blues’ time in Bocas (the fastest growing tourist destination in Panamá) was in torrential rain. There were “hold-back” tides, meaning extra high tides, with big waves and strong winds that wouldn’t let the archipelago drain. So flooding, mudslides, ferries not running, food running low, no gasoline so the water taxis couldn’t run, on and on. Even backpackers were being turned away, as the bridges from both David, Panamá and the one into Costa Rica were closed.

We were lucky to be dry and safely on-board amazed that so much rain could fall from the sky. Apparently we were in a weather system of lows that were trapped, so they couldn’t dissapate. They just hung-out dumping inches and inches of rain  for 10 days.  The coconut telegraph was saying that Bocas del Toro had received 52 inches of rain in those 10 days.

We kept 8 fans running on 12 volt to try to blow all the humidity out. When donations were asked for it was our inspiration to get rid of clothes and shoes we weren’t really wearing (or didn’t fit—primarily Susea’s!), to weed through all the bedding we had and to share the grand store of canned food. It felt good to lighten our load, after all it was Thanksgiving. Below is my one of my favorite shot from normally colorful Bocas. It’s Santa’s reindeer, Rudolph, Dancer and Blixen being birthed into the Christmas season.

(Please note that all the the photos were taken by Mark’s good friend, Fred Kissenger who lives in Reno, NV with his wife Paula. Thanks for letting me use your excellent shots in this post Fred.)

THIS IS MY brother Mark and his wife Faith, the parents of Erin Mae the bride. Lucky for me that with Gene’s blessing I got to attend this wedding in Ogden, Utah. It was a 6 day, 6 plane, 9,000 miles whirlwind trip for me, and boy, was it worth it. On the scoreboard of life events, this gets a big checkmark. I had so much fun and an especially fun-filled  adventure with my mom, who I picked up in L.A. on the way to Utah.

Mark and our mom Charmion Ann McCardle, “The” Grandmother of the bride:

Mark walking Erin Mae down the aisle, about to give her away:

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Chad Groninga:

The speech Mark gave at the reception was phenomenal, ultimately thanking everyone for showing up and witnessing him walk his little girl down the aisle. Many of us were in happy tears. (Fred I really love this shot of Mark. You can’t miss how happy he is.)

Beautiful Erin Mae, not woeful, but giving her daughter a “not now” look during the Newlywed’s first dance:

With Erin Mae’s back to us we’re not sure what Chad did with that cake! But when she turned around the cake was in her mouth where it should be. She gave Chad a stripe of icing down his nose. It was cute. (She had to do something we were egging her on!):

The wedding flowed  like a peaceful river, steady, calm, soothing. It was Zen and  Tao. It was perfect. Everyone was so happy and calm, there were no crying jags. Every i was dotted and every t crossed. Love was definitely in the air. Mark and Faith were so proud and so happy because they had dreamed of this day since Erin was born, and she picked a man to marry that they like and respect. 

Aside from the Bride and Groom Erin Mae’s brother Ryan, put on a great break-dancing show:

But this picture below of the Father ~ Daughter dance, with 3 year old Krista Mae tagging along is my favorite. It is so tender and sweet. “A picture says a thousand words, ” heh!):

(This post is dedicated to Erin Mae & Chad. May you always be together in love.) 

ADIÓS SHELTER BAY MARINA!

HOLA CARIBBEAN SEA!

Unfortunately we picked a lousy day to leave and head north. Winds gusted up to 27 knots, the seas were a mess, it poured and the current we expected to encounter was not “weak” as the book said, but raged against us at 2.5 knots. In 4 hours we only made 10 miles. It was tempting to turn around, but then this big sloop flew past us. “If he can do it so can we!” But look how the waves buried them. We took a few nosedives ourselves.

We beat into it all day, all night and as late afternoon crept up on us Gene said it’s another overnighter or we can try to tuck into Tobobe Creek.

It is recommended to come into Tobobe Creek before mid-day when the sun is at your back and you can see the channel to go into that’s between the large coral banks. Needless to say, we tiptoed in very, very slowly because we couldn’t see a thing. “When it’s brown, you go aground!”

Children waved hola.

Picturesque to say the least.

Tobobe Creek is  on the Valiente Peninsula, which is at the northwest point of the Golfo de los Moskitos. Columbus cruised here on his fourth voyage. Valiente means brave in Spanish. I thought we were brave just getting to Tobobe!

We left early the next morning, heading out into Tobobe bight. The brave peninsula loomed ahead.

But we reached the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro (mouth of the bull), aka Bocas Town, around two in the afternoon unscathed and excited.  So far in 15 months we’ve been cruising, the worst weather we’ve encountered was off the Oregon Coast (the near knock-down). This crossing of the Costa Abajo, as the Panamians call it, rated second! 

We anchored Moody Blues off the Bocas Marina. It was a Panamian holiday so we didn’t think the Port Captain would be in. But that evening he dropped by, and kindly checked us in with no fine. He had on shorts and a flowered shirt. (He didn’t look like any Port Captain we’ve met before.) Later we went to the Calypso Cafe for dinner. It was Gene’s birthday.

Cumpleaños Feliz Gene!