Shipwrecked

One thing has been decided for sure. Brian and I are land lubbers. Our high seas adventure was definitely that… an adventure. But don't worry, the boat didn't actually sink. Not that the ocean didn't give it her best effort, though. Curiosity got the best of us while we were waiting in Portobelo, Panama to load onto the sailboat that was going to take us on a five day journey through the San Blas islands, and then though the open ocean to the second half of our journey down the Americas, landing in Cartagena, Colombia. We checked the maritime weather websites to see how our trip would fare. We saw it then and got to experience it firsthand. Conditions; hazardous. 

The sailboat Luka is famous. She, captain Tom and Wacek(vas-chek) the dog are in the Guinness book of world records for sailing around the world, solo (all alone!), non-stop (not for food or fuel, nothing!) against the winds (the wrong way!). We knew we were in good hands from the beginning. The first three days were near bliss… island hopping in the picturesque San Blas islands, our only concerns were whether we had enough sunscreen on. 

For the last two days on open ocean I cannot really find the words to describe the nightmare of jolting-seasickness haze. Captain Tom had warned us that we would probably all get sick. But one always hopes in these scenarios that they will be the exception. Not fifteen minutes after Tom had us all go below deck for safety reasons (15 feet waves that were breaking over the boat and thirty-five plus winds) I lost my dinner. Brian confessed that was when he started to panic… 15 minutes down, 36 hours to go. 

It was early morning when the seas calmed and we woke to the sight of land. Tom admitted that the conditions were much worse than he was letting on, and the ripped middle sail, from top to bottom, and the broken navigation lights at the bow couldn't lie. Cartagena looked like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. And I think I might have heard angels singing. Land ho!!

If anyone is wanting to do the Panama-Colombia trip by sea, bring your motion sickness medications and definitely go with Captain Tom and the Luka! Check them out at Skipthedariengap.com. 

Cartagena, Columbia looks like a city out of a fairytale. Monday morning we will  go and pick up our sorely missed Claudette from customs and head to the mountains. A little elevation will do us some good. 

Portobelo life

Land Ho! Wait... but we havent even left yet!

Wacek defended his boat with vigor against... everything. He was a good sea-dog.

When the seas were calm and smiles were easy.

San Blas

Happy kid.

Watch out for the reef sharks!

Procuring lunch. Well trying, anyways.

Reaping the fruits of his labors.

The Luka crew. A fabulous mix of Germans, Irish, Portuguese and Portlandians. That night we slept on the beach on an old sail tarp under the stars. 

The Man himself, Captain Tom, with his wife and first mate Bea and head of security, Wacek. 

One of the best views of the whole trip. Land.

Someone finally got a haircut!

A muse of Cartagena

Yum. Thats all there is to say. 

Just a couple of curvy girls out on the town.

The "after" picture. Brian swears he will only get his haircuts now in Colombia.  And I agree. Rawr!