On Akimbo’s swimstep i keep a five gallon bucket. This is my washing machine. I got the idea from Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley.” Clothes slosh around in soapy water for two or three days. Then i rinse and ring them out three times, pin them to the lifelines to air and sun dry. When i got back from my trip to Florida, the bucket was more than half full of rain water. Something feels rich about doing my wash in fresh rain water. If i were royalty i would specify as much to the chamber maids.
The engine overheated one day. This is news? Well i depend on everything here, so everything is news. It was a first on this trip. Skip this paragraph if you want. Opened up the sea strainer, but not much was in it? This is a filter thru which the engine’s pump sucks up sea water to send thru a heat exchanger and cool the engine (was that “Greek” to some?). Pulled the hose off the strainer, blew as hard as i could on the hose, something cleared, water poured in…ready to reconnect and go. On your car it would be the equivalent of driving down the highway, having your engine overheat, pulling over, getting out, walking around to the front of the car to open the hood, and finding a plastic garbage bag had blown up off the road and covered the grill so air couldn’t blow thru the radiator. Remove the bag, air blows thru, engine cools down and runs fine.
Panama. I’m liking it better than Costa Rica so far, if for nothing else than much better anchorages that aren’t exposed and don’t roll you all night long. For my sailing friends (thinking of Rose and Jani, Tony and Jacqui…) Islas Secas was a welcome relief. Calm and quiet and away from the river runoff on the mainland, so the water was very clear. Good reefs to dive nearby. I stayed an extra day. Paddled in to a nearby strand. Nice to walk around on some Panamanian sand, found a waterfall on the other side, soaked my head, tasted good. Got into the shapes and textures of the driftwood on the beach. I made a good job of scraping and cleaning Akimbo’s bottom and have greatly appreciated her improved performance ever since. Great sailing day to Bahia Honda – very neat bay and very sheltered, the natives friendly too – a panguero stopped by, Hector practiced his English with me (i wanted to practice Spanish). He asked if i had a book i could give him, or a magazine (preferably a Playboy) to study and improve his English. I accommodated with a few books and a Yachting magazine. As i was falling asleep that night i realized a bat was flying in and out. On the theory he was eating the insects, none of which i like, i thanked him and fell asleep. Fishing has gotten better too, i’ve been eating variations of nothing else for dinner. Still haven’t caught a rooster fish tho – i think those are the ones that go tail-dancing 50 yards away when you startle them? A new sighting one day was two small snakes – 15” long, brown with lengthwise yellow stripes – surprisingly far out at sea.
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