Adventure
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We arrived at the small marina of Pedegral after navigating up a narrow river about 6 miles. Panama is amazing. The cost of living is about one-third the price of the States. An average meal costs $1.50 to $3 at a local restaurant, with a beer running about 60 cents. Broken Compass is anchored in the center of an estuary with mangroves for protection at 50 feet on either side. There is an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys playing in the nearby trees. Tyler and I are leaving Bret and Nicky to tend to the boat as we take a seven-hour bus ride to the Panama City.
The city is fragmented. There are areas prone to extreme violence, where military personnel stand on each block corner toting automatic weapons. There are also nice areas, including a large mall that appears to be imported from the United States. We explored the city, picked up solar panels and won some money at the local casino before we returned to learn that Bret and Nicky had a difficult time as security guards.
Bret´s Decription: "Nicky and I took Makai (below) to experience Panamanian soil and go for a morning walk. After three hours ashore, we found out the true value of our faithful puppy. She had been deterring the thieves who patrol the Pedregal River all day. We returned to see our companionway door ripped open and the boat ransacked. Every drawer was open, with clothes and valuables strewn on the floor. The VHF radio had been ripped from its mount and placed in a "to go bag" with bilge pumps and riffe speargun sitting next to the accumulated valuables. Apparently, they left in a hurry, because after hours of evaluating the damage and theft, we learned that the only missing items were our two handheld GPS units and $200 Nicky had in her passport."
We were lucky. Bret and Nicky took off for Panama City the following morning, and Tyler and I took our shift on the boat. While preparing the boat for the long sail to Peru, we almost destroyed our boat and a dock after refueling. While topping off the water tanks, the tide went out, leaving us stuck in the mud. I realized the weight of our craft when one tractor, two winches, and three boats carrying 30hp, twin 150hp, and 75hp engines, respectively, could not pull Broken Compass from the mud. We tied four lines from the top of the masts to trees and docks to prevent the boat from leaning. Fighting a rising tide using bumpers, 2-by-4s and plywood, we fended a floating steel dock off all night until BC started floating again.
Bret just returned today with a Christmas list of boat supplies from the city. We are sail ready with two new 63-watt solar panels mounted, water, food and diesel. The trip to Peru should take about 20 days, with intermediate stops at islands and perhaps a stay in Equador en route. Pray for wind.
We arrived at the small marina of Pedegral after navigating up a narrow river about 6 miles. Panama is amazing. The cost of living is about one-third the price of the States. An average meal costs $1.50 to $3 at a local restaurant, with a beer running about 60 cents. Broken Compass is anchored in the center of an estuary with mangroves for protection at 50 feet on either side. There is an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys playing in the nearby trees. Tyler and I are leaving Bret and Nicky to tend to the boat as we take a seven-hour bus ride to the Panama City.
The city is fragmented. There are areas prone to extreme violence, where military personnel stand on each block corner toting automatic weapons. There are also nice areas, including a large mall that appears to be imported from the United States. We explored the city, picked up solar panels and won some money at the local casino before we returned to learn that Bret and Nicky had a difficult time as security guards.
Bret´s Decription: "Nicky and I took Makai (below) to experience Panamanian soil and go for a morning walk. After three hours ashore, we found out the true value of our faithful puppy. She had been deterring the thieves who patrol the Pedregal River all day. We returned to see our companionway door ripped open and the boat ransacked. Every drawer was open, with clothes and valuables strewn on the floor. The VHF radio had been ripped from its mount and placed in a "to go bag" with bilge pumps and riffe speargun sitting next to the accumulated valuables. Apparently, they left in a hurry, because after hours of evaluating the damage and theft, we learned that the only missing items were our two handheld GPS units and $200 Nicky had in her passport."
We were lucky. Bret and Nicky took off for Panama City the following morning, and Tyler and I took our shift on the boat. While preparing the boat for the long sail to Peru, we almost destroyed our boat and a dock after refueling. While topping off the water tanks, the tide went out, leaving us stuck in the mud. I realized the weight of our craft when one tractor, two winches, and three boats carrying 30hp, twin 150hp, and 75hp engines, respectively, could not pull Broken Compass from the mud. We tied four lines from the top of the masts to trees and docks to prevent the boat from leaning. Fighting a rising tide using bumpers, 2-by-4s and plywood, we fended a floating steel dock off all night until BC started floating again.
Bret just returned today with a Christmas list of boat supplies from the city. We are sail ready with two new 63-watt solar panels mounted, water, food and diesel. The trip to Peru should take about 20 days, with intermediate stops at islands and perhaps a stay in Equador en route. Pray for wind.
Bret´s Decription: "Nicky and I took Makai (below) to experience Panamanian soil and go for a morning walk. After three hours ashore, we found out the true value of our faithful puppy. She had been deterring the thieves who patrol the Pedregal River all day. We returned to see our companionway door ripped open and the boat ransacked. Every drawer was open, with clothes and valuables strewn on the floor. The VHF radio had been ripped from its mount and placed in a "to go bag" with bilge pumps and riffe speargun sitting next to the accumulated valuables. Apparently, they left in a hurry, because after hours of evaluating the damage and theft, we learned that the only missing items were our two handheld GPS units and $200 Nicky had in her passport."
We were lucky. Bret and Nicky took off for Panama City the following morning, and Tyler and I took our shift on the boat. While preparing the boat for the long sail to Peru, we almost destroyed our boat and a dock after refueling. While topping off the water tanks, the tide went out, leaving us stuck in the mud. I realized the weight of our craft when one tractor, two winches, and three boats carrying 30hp, twin 150hp, and 75hp engines, respectively, could not pull Broken Compass from the mud. We tied four lines from the top of the masts to trees and docks to prevent the boat from leaning. Fighting a rising tide using bumpers, 2-by-4s and plywood, we fended a floating steel dock off all night until BC started floating again.
Bret just returned today with a Christmas list of boat supplies from the city. We are sail ready with two new 63-watt solar panels mounted, water, food and diesel. The trip to Peru should take about 20 days, with intermediate stops at islands and perhaps a stay in Equador en route. Pray for wind.
