Well, the Picton Castle is bound for the Galapagos now.
After hot, steamy and fascinating days in Panama City and Balboa, we slipped our moorings and headed out to the small island of Taboga for a couple days to finish putting the ship to rights. But first a bit on mainland Panama.
Panama is a lovely and richly delightful country. We talk a lot about “diversity” in the USA and Canada. In Panama, they live diversity, and do so in harmony – many nations would have plenty to learn from Panamians on this subject. I do not know how to describe it all so will move on…
While at the Balboa Yacht Club, shopping for the ship, the crew had plenty of time to visit around. “Old Panama City,” ransacked by Henry Morgan in the 1600s, lays there in ruins for any and all to see today. Made a mess he did. So they just left it there and moved all and built a new city. Casco Viejo, the old quarter, has been fixed up nice from its days of ruin and makes for very pleasant dining and walking around, which many crew did. With cold Balboa only $2, hard to resist. They also have great malls where blue jeans can be had for under $5.
So we slipped our moorings, headed to Taboga for a couple days – then off south and southwest bound for the legendary Galapagos Islands. Quite a bit of trash in the seas as we left. Many ships too. One of over 1,000 feet long was hove-to drifting at .7 knots with deck lights ablaze as we passed by. At one point some rays and a big marlin jumped from the sea followed by spinner dolphin – maybe they were checking us out? We are almost halfway there by now. We have come out from under the grey, wet and hot skies and are now making our way in a fresh blue sky breeze. All the yard arms are hosting brown footed boobybirds who are leaving their splats of calling cards on deck. The teak ladders are getting a scrape and some varnish and we are preparing for two things. One: make sure all is in order for the Ecuadorian officials at Galapagos, and two: preparing for a visit from King Neptune and his Royal Court…. We must cross the equator after all, no?