The experience of a lifetime! I was lucky enough to be on the dawn watch (4-6 a.m.) as we approached Balboa. While it was still dark, I could see the bright lights of Panama City spread for miles along the coast. As the sky lightened, I was surprised to see all the towering skyscrapers. I had had no idea there was such a large, modern metropolis down here.
The GPS and autopilot took us fairly close to the first buoy. I turned off Charlie and steered over to the buoy so I could identify it and see exactly where we were on the chart. It was "ML". Roy got up at 5:30 and we both watched for buoys. The next one was "AL", so then we knew exactly where to go to get to the shipping channel. As required, I radioed "Flamenco Signal Station" to advise them of our approach and to request permission to proceed to the Balboa Yacht Club. Permission was granted immediately.
As we motored down the channel, I radioed the yacht club for directions. We soon arrived at the mooring area for the club. There were quite a few boats there, mostly from the U.S. and Canada. A little power launch came zooming out to meet us and take us to a vacant mooring buoy. Roy and I couldn't believe our eyes. There was the Trigana!!! Moored right next to our mooring!!! Of all the weird coincidences! But at least here we feel safe. We're surrounded by other boats, instead of being out on the ocean by ourselves.
They have a free water-taxi service here to take people ashore. We were scarcely moored (using the neat "Happy Hooker" Al Snider had given us) than a taxi pulled up. We weren't ready and tried to tell him to return in 5 minutes, but he didn't understand and kept waiting, so we grabbed a few things and jumped in. Halfway to the dock, I realized I'd forgotten our passports and ship's papers, but it turned out the officials don't work on Sunday, so it didn't matter.
We hadn't had breakfast, so we were going to eat at the yacht club restaurant, but we were greeted at the head of the pier by a professional line-handler named Harper. He told us in English that the restaurant at the yacht club wasn't open, but we could get breakfast at the golf club. He took us all the way over there. Of course, he was trying to sell his services as a line-handler. He charges $50 for the transit, which is reasonable, considering it takes at least 10 hours and could take 2 days. He also said he could get 3 more line-handlers (we have to have 4; I could be one, of course, if one fails to show).
That evening, there was a nice little thunderstorm. There are no droughts down here. It rains nearly every day during the rainy season (now), and there are frequent thunderstorms. We had a doozy one night at sea. It hit so suddenly, we still had the main up. We had to go out in the downpour to take it down. Were drenched in instants, but it was warm. In fact, the rain felt refreshing. Got the salt washed off. Filled our water tank and our sun-shower bags.
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