Last minute projects
Last night it rained harder than it has since we’ve been here. The thunder was so loud that the boat literally vibrated, and beautiful bright streaks of lightning lit up the sky. Jude and I lay talking for a while and she fell asleep in my bed, and boy is she a snuggler! At one point I dreamed that I still had my python and that it had wrapped around my neck and was squeezing me to death. I awoke to find Jude’s arms tight around my neck. Other times she’d just scoop me up like I was her child, and hold me tight.
This morning when I finally pried her hands, arms and legs off of me, I walked outside into the continuing rain and thought that perhaps we’d drifted to the Great Green Greasy Limpopo River in the night.
Lots of muddy runoff from all the rain filled the marina.
I spent my morning working on two new tiny leaks on the boat, and I also checked on my patch projects on the dinghy.
They seemed to have held up well, so I slipped the dinghy back into the water, Jonathan helped me reattach the outboard and and went to hook up the fuel lines to the outboard to find that one of the ends had rotted out and broken. I cut a fresh end, rethread the fuel line onto the connector and Bob’s your uncle, the dinghy started right up. I took it for a spin and it’s holding air splendidly.
Our neighbor left his dinghy on the dock and in the night it collected 8 1/2 inches of rain.
I wish I could ship it to California because we have plenty to spare.
The creatures and I divided up the ceiling panels in the main salon and all scrubbed away with a vinegar/water solution. It kills all mold and leaves things smelling pickled and shining brightly.
After all that we decided that some beach time was in order…
Mycah walked along playing the uke and singing, ‘I’m leaving on a jet plane…’, which is appropriate for me for today. We walked till we found our favorite spot on Red Frog Beach, and while the creatures got settled I went for a walk to take pictures and explore. Due to the storm last night, all sorts of things like coconuts, noni and other pods of all kinds were lying all over the beach.
There were areas where streams were flowing into the ocean from land, and had broken down beautiful little meandering channels, making the sand look like melting chocolate frosty ice creams.
The most beautiful Portuguese man or war was washed up on the beach. It’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen, at about 4″ across.
It reminded me of when I was little and played on the beaches in South Africa, and my brother and sister and I would run along the beach where many of these were washed up, and we’d stomp on them to hear the bubble pop, then quickly rub our feet on the sand to avoid the wicked sting that follows. I left this one in peace in case you’re wondering.
The waves and scenery was beautiful as usual. I will never tire of life on the water.
At one point I walked farther in to where some beautiful green ground cover blanketed the earth. I was bare foot as usual and it felt so good under my feet.
When I returned to the creatures, the had begun digging and building.
Mycah was still playing and singing.
We all played in the waves for quite some time, and then Jonathan, Aidan, Mycah and Jude got into a sandball fight. Kinda like a snowball fight but not.
Good times. Emma and I stayed out of it somehow. She had her nose in a book and I was recording it all with the camera.
After a while it was time to head back and get cleaned up.
Everywhere I look I see beautiful things!
Before long it was time to kiss my babies goodbye and jump on the water taxi into Bocas. Gustavo, the water taxi driver, had a lot to say. I told him that my Dad has cancer and that I’m going to see him. He told me that it wasn’t until we went to the moon, that cancer became such a wide spread and terrible thing. He believes that it was brought back from the moon. He also told me that he can see much happiness in my future, and alot of love.
I’m going to miss those creatures so much but am grateful for this opportunity to see Kjira and Hunter and my sweet parents and siblings. It was interesting walking through Bocas to the airport. It all feels like home now. I recognize people and we wave, the smells and sights are comforting to me, and I smile as I walk past places where Danny and I have walked or sat together. It made me miss him terribly.
All went well at the airport and when we took off I could look down and see Bocas, and the beautiful islands we have now come to know. Just a second before disappearing into the clouds, I could also see our marina, with Tanda Malaika sitting proudly with my Angels on board.
I am in Panama City for the night and will fly out to the mainland in the morning. It has been weird to be back in traffic and in a city.
My cab driver’s name was Paulo, and he hooted the hooter so much. Every time he past a vehicle, he’d hoot! He said he was doing it because he’s very excited to watch the Panama football game tonight, and was letting everybody know.
So here I am, all tucked in to my big queen bed in my hotel room which Danny was so sweet to book for me. I feel no movement from the boat and I hear no water lapping up against my hull. My family is farther than 47ft away from me so I can’t hear any of their movement, and I hear the sounds of city outside my window. This room seems ridiculously large and there’s enough room for all of us to camp out in the head…or bathroom…or whatever it is. I guess I feel like a fish out of water.
I am so grateful for a wonderful day with my creatures, for the beauty that is displayed everywhere for us to enjoy, and for the sounds of nature.
Adventures of a Tribe 