The Random House Dictionary defines the word sloth as:

1.) extreme or habitual indolence. 2.) a sluggish, tropical animal that hangs from and moves upside down along the branches of trees.

sloth’ful, adj.  / sloth’ful.ness, n.  / Syn. 1.) laziness, sluggishness.

As Moody Blues will be in the San Blas Islands, away from wifi, we take this opportunity to  wish you all a very enlightening 2009, and that you chose carefully your times to be slothfull!

“Pipin” is the only 3-toed sloth in residency at the Marina. FYI his fur is surprisingly soft.

MOODY BLUES RETURNING to Shelter Bay Marina in Colón, Panamá, was terrific. Not only is it a full service marina located in the western corner of Colón Port, it’s an interesting marina to be in with a very friendly staff.

It’s an historical place because it used to be part of Ft. Sherman, a U.S. military reserve. Gene reminded me that his childhood friend and our bestman, Chuck Flinders, who was in the Air Force, came here for Jungle Survival Training.

The national park surrounding the marina is a  virgin rainforest. It’s  gorgeous here. 

HOWLER MONKEY

CATOZOLO a.k.a. coatimundi

TROPICAL KINGBIRD

SPECIAL BUTTERFLY

CRICKETS? GRASSHOPPERS?

SOME KIND OF LEAF BUG (it changes colors)

POSSIBLY A CENTRAL AMERICAN WHIPTAIL

SMOKEY JUNGLE FROG

PACIFIC LAMPREY (eel-like fish . . . )

SOUTHERN STINGRAY

SHELTER BAY MARINA

(This post is dedicated to Dave Peoples, s/v Jammin’, who got stung by a stingray in La Manzanilla, México. He was very, very, brave as it is apparently very, very painful.)

THE PHENOMENON IS the moon, with Venus and Jupiter only 3 degrees apart. This will not happen again for another 25 years or something. It was under this energy that we sailed east (remember Central America runs east to west). It was a gorgeous starfilled night (until the downpour). We did our shifts and I was surprised to see Orion’s belt straight above us. It made me think of the night Mary Stone and I slept outside in the cockpit on “Little” Moody Blues in Park’s Bay, Shaw Island, WA. about 15 years ago.  No husbands, no pressure, Chris delivered Maria and took Gene away. It was just Maria and I. I thought the 7 sisters were the Little Dipper, boy did she set me straight. That was a very special time. The “husbands” showed up in the A.M. wondering how we coped. Isn’t that hilarious. How do you not to cope in a perfect night? But we were happy to see them.

Another good omen to a good night’s crossing, was Gene bringing in this Albacore, before we hit Shelter Bay Marina back in Cristobal, Panama.

(This posting is dedicated to Maria Stone and that night she taught me about stars.)