March 2, 2011
After a great sleep, I was up early, breaky was pretty darn good. Bjorn wanted to get to the Aduana early to get our bikes imported properly. Finding the Aduana is not easy, but with coordinates, no problem. Before we can import our bikes, insurance is required. Finding the insurance agent was like finding a needle in a hay stack as Panama's streets are poorly coordinated and signs are few. After finding the Seguro (insurance agent) took 2 hours to get $15 insurance for 4 bikes, then back to the aduana. By the time they processed us, it was 3pm. Then off to the local mall to the MAC store to get my computer repaired. Huge mall, very current, with all the normal stores in it. Felt like being in the States. Find the MAC store and they had closed their service department permanently. Plan B. Next store in the middle of town. On the way back to the bikes, we saw a Suzuki store and as we will be needing front tires, stopped in to find out if they have some. They told us they did, but at their other location, so we head up there and find out that they have tires but, not radials as required on Vstroms. After wasting our time on this adventure, we finally arrive at the MAC store 15 minutes before closing. They were good. Getting a new hard drive and information retrieved and installed onto the new drive.
Mar 2, 2011
Into Panama
March 1, 2011
Everyone was up early, I gained the galley about 6am, not before numerous others. Today will be a hurry up and wait day. Seas are rough. the boat is anchored in 5 foot swells and the captain is going to talk to the local Kuna chief to get permission for us to ride from El Porvenier along the road that is being repaired from damages caused in the fall rainy season, instead of putting our bikes on launches and taking them and us to the next community down the coast 25 miles on the open ocean. This could have been treacherous for us and the bikes. Instead he motored the Stahlratte to the local airfield where there is a dock and tried 3 times, but the water was too rough and ended up anchoring and using a launch to move the bikes to shore. Michael helped again and he ended up lifting 5 bikes out of the launch, up 4-5 feet onto the dock. This service of the launch cost $50 per bike. One condition of using the road was an escort by locals in a pickup truck ($10 per bike) to the Panamerican Highway. Not a kilometer from the dock, military at a checkpoint took an hour to extract another $11 per person. All of which should have been included in the price of the Stahlratte sailing as we were not informed of this until confirmation emails a few days prior to departure, at which point we had waited for 2 weeks for this boat. Riding through the jungle to the Panamerican Highway was great.. The road undulated like a roller coaster with some steep parts that would make the coaster look tame. Pavement conditions were poor, but fun, all the same. The Panamerican was straight and boring, but coming into Panama City was very impressive. Beautiful skyline, and buildings, roads great and GPS working well. Took a wrong turn and went across the "Bridge of the Americas" and back. Wow is it tall! Found the hostel with 4 other bikes in tow. What a day!
Everyone was up early, I gained the galley about 6am, not before numerous others. Today will be a hurry up and wait day. Seas are rough. the boat is anchored in 5 foot swells and the captain is going to talk to the local Kuna chief to get permission for us to ride from El Porvenier along the road that is being repaired from damages caused in the fall rainy season, instead of putting our bikes on launches and taking them and us to the next community down the coast 25 miles on the open ocean. This could have been treacherous for us and the bikes. Instead he motored the Stahlratte to the local airfield where there is a dock and tried 3 times, but the water was too rough and ended up anchoring and using a launch to move the bikes to shore. Michael helped again and he ended up lifting 5 bikes out of the launch, up 4-5 feet onto the dock. This service of the launch cost $50 per bike. One condition of using the road was an escort by locals in a pickup truck ($10 per bike) to the Panamerican Highway. Not a kilometer from the dock, military at a checkpoint took an hour to extract another $11 per person. All of which should have been included in the price of the Stahlratte sailing as we were not informed of this until confirmation emails a few days prior to departure, at which point we had waited for 2 weeks for this boat. Riding through the jungle to the Panamerican Highway was great.. The road undulated like a roller coaster with some steep parts that would make the coaster look tame. Pavement conditions were poor, but fun, all the same. The Panamerican was straight and boring, but coming into Panama City was very impressive. Beautiful skyline, and buildings, roads great and GPS working well. Took a wrong turn and went across the "Bridge of the Americas" and back. Wow is it tall! Found the hostel with 4 other bikes in tow. What a day!
February 28, 2011
More relaxing, more swimming, more food. We took a launch to see a (traditional Kuna village) in the morning. Much further than I or the rest expected. We arrived and was very disappointed with the amount of garbage in many areas of the village and ocean shore. Then they explained that they don't wear their traditional clothing, they don;t work traditional jobs and I wondered what was so traditional about this traditional village? On the way back, we were against the swells and wind getting completely soaked. The traditional Kuna gave us a traditional water repellent, plastic... Michael returned to abusing his body via rope swing. Flips back flops, dives, he and others had a blast. Left the sanctuary of our island hideout about 3:30 pm after the captain did some repairs to the sail rigging, and motored to El Porvenier. This evening we went ashore to a local restaurant and had a nice meal. Everyone was in bed early in anticipation of our trips back to civilization.
More relaxing, more swimming, more food. We took a launch to see a (traditional Kuna village) in the morning. Much further than I or the rest expected. We arrived and was very disappointed with the amount of garbage in many areas of the village and ocean shore. Then they explained that they don't wear their traditional clothing, they don;t work traditional jobs and I wondered what was so traditional about this traditional village? On the way back, we were against the swells and wind getting completely soaked. The traditional Kuna gave us a traditional water repellent, plastic... Michael returned to abusing his body via rope swing. Flips back flops, dives, he and others had a blast. Left the sanctuary of our island hideout about 3:30 pm after the captain did some repairs to the sail rigging, and motored to El Porvenier. This evening we went ashore to a local restaurant and had a nice meal. Everyone was in bed early in anticipation of our trips back to civilization.
February 26, 2011
Got up in the morning and puked. Went back to bed for the rest of the day and night.
February 27, 2011
Through the night winds died down, but the rollers didn't. Engine was started in the middle of the night to assist the sails. We ended up motoring until arrival in the San Blas Islands about 11:30am under partial cloud cover. Enough sun to burn the unwary of which there were a few fellow sailors. Michael and others enjoyed the rope swing off the same rigging that they lifted the bikes into the boat with. Had a fantastic BBQ on the little island beach closest to the boat. I retired early due to the seasickness and lack of sleep, coupled with the anxiety of our imminent departure from the boat.
Got up in the morning and puked. Went back to bed for the rest of the day and night.
February 27, 2011
Through the night winds died down, but the rollers didn't. Engine was started in the middle of the night to assist the sails. We ended up motoring until arrival in the San Blas Islands about 11:30am under partial cloud cover. Enough sun to burn the unwary of which there were a few fellow sailors. Michael and others enjoyed the rope swing off the same rigging that they lifted the bikes into the boat with. Had a fantastic BBQ on the little island beach closest to the boat. I retired early due to the seasickness and lack of sleep, coupled with the anxiety of our imminent departure from the boat.
February 25, 2011
Packed our bags, checked out and loaded our bikes, which we left in the parkade for the rest of the day. Went over to the Media Luna Hostel said our goodbyes to the girls and talked to some bikers that were coming and going. Heard stories of bikes totally soaked and damaged on another boat and very happy about the choice we made. About 4:30pm we picked up our bikes and headed to the meeting place to load our bikes. Others arrived and we started loading the bikes.
Loading the bikes... to load, captain used a small Zodiak with a hard bottom. Pulled backwards onto shore and deflated on side to make it easier to lift the bikes into the dingy. Michael sat on the bikes as they were motored out to the boat in 1 foot chop. At the ship the rigging was used to hoist the bikes on board. The bikes were then tied to the side of the ship and covered for the cruise.
After the bikes were safely on board, the bike riders went to dinner. Everyone arrived back to board the boat at 8pm. After all arrangements and debreifings were done we motored out of the harbour, which took about an hour. About 10pm sails were set, navigation auto pilot was on and the seas started to roll. Captain suggested that this should be a relatively smooth sailing as were were going with the wind and swells. 20 foot swells an not smooth and everyone went down for the count. I took 2 gravol pills but didn't sleep a wink.
Packed our bags, checked out and loaded our bikes, which we left in the parkade for the rest of the day. Went over to the Media Luna Hostel said our goodbyes to the girls and talked to some bikers that were coming and going. Heard stories of bikes totally soaked and damaged on another boat and very happy about the choice we made. About 4:30pm we picked up our bikes and headed to the meeting place to load our bikes. Others arrived and we started loading the bikes.
Loading the bikes... to load, captain used a small Zodiak with a hard bottom. Pulled backwards onto shore and deflated on side to make it easier to lift the bikes into the dingy. Michael sat on the bikes as they were motored out to the boat in 1 foot chop. At the ship the rigging was used to hoist the bikes on board. The bikes were then tied to the side of the ship and covered for the cruise.
After the bikes were safely on board, the bike riders went to dinner. Everyone arrived back to board the boat at 8pm. After all arrangements and debreifings were done we motored out of the harbour, which took about an hour. About 10pm sails were set, navigation auto pilot was on and the seas started to roll. Captain suggested that this should be a relatively smooth sailing as were were going with the wind and swells. 20 foot swells an not smooth and everyone went down for the count. I took 2 gravol pills but didn't sleep a wink.
February 24, 2011
Turns out that Michael was ready to leave the party much earlier but one of his friends was slipped a date rape drug and his found her on the stairs incapacitated and un able to move her body, but aware of her surroundings and able to speak. He found his other friends and then they stayed together, waited for an ambulance who administered some IV and was able to put her to bed. Saw the girls for breakfast later in the morning and Cat was completely fine, other than being a bit tired. Found out that we had t meet the captain later in the evening about 7pm to give him our passports for him to get us stamped out of Colombia. Turns out he informs us that we don't need to stamp out our bikes. While this is suspect, I go along with it as I don't think our bikes will ever be back in Colombia. Caught up with the girls (Micheal's friends), had dinner and went to old town for a drink.
Turns out that Michael was ready to leave the party much earlier but one of his friends was slipped a date rape drug and his found her on the stairs incapacitated and un able to move her body, but aware of her surroundings and able to speak. He found his other friends and then they stayed together, waited for an ambulance who administered some IV and was able to put her to bed. Saw the girls for breakfast later in the morning and Cat was completely fine, other than being a bit tired. Found out that we had t meet the captain later in the evening about 7pm to give him our passports for him to get us stamped out of Colombia. Turns out he informs us that we don't need to stamp out our bikes. While this is suspect, I go along with it as I don't think our bikes will ever be back in Colombia. Caught up with the girls (Micheal's friends), had dinner and went to old town for a drink.
February 23, 2011
We got up had breakfast, packed and said our goodbyes to our new friends and home for the last 10 days. Dreamer Hostel was a lot of fun, relaxing, partying and just chilling out, but it was time to catch our boat. We road to Barranquilla expecting to ride to the mall and get the Mac computer fixed and carry on, but when we entered the city, it looked like a war zone, with road ripped up everywhere. The GPS was not giving directions well as the roads on the program had not been updated Got there and the owner told us that his tech was at a training course and would not be back until after we sailed. Back to Hotel Familiar (Family in Spanish) a very basic hotel, unloaded and parked our bikes at the parking garage across the street, as before. Had dinner at a familiar haunt and relaxed for a few a hours before meeting up with some of Micheal's friends from the hostel in Santa Marta. Had one drink and left them. Michael arrived back at the hotel about 4am.
We got up had breakfast, packed and said our goodbyes to our new friends and home for the last 10 days. Dreamer Hostel was a lot of fun, relaxing, partying and just chilling out, but it was time to catch our boat. We road to Barranquilla expecting to ride to the mall and get the Mac computer fixed and carry on, but when we entered the city, it looked like a war zone, with road ripped up everywhere. The GPS was not giving directions well as the roads on the program had not been updated Got there and the owner told us that his tech was at a training course and would not be back until after we sailed. Back to Hotel Familiar (Family in Spanish) a very basic hotel, unloaded and parked our bikes at the parking garage across the street, as before. Had dinner at a familiar haunt and relaxed for a few a hours before meeting up with some of Micheal's friends from the hostel in Santa Marta. Had one drink and left them. Michael arrived back at the hotel about 4am.
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