PACIFIC BABY!!!!!!!!

Well, I did it. I´m through the canal and Namaste is moored at the Balboa Yacht Club in Panama City.

Yesterday morning we all went swimming with the sunrise before the pilot showed up.

You know my motor has run fine for 5 years and never had a hicup. Well yesterday morning I was pushing her a little harder then usual, and she QUIT!

My heart had a hicup´d as well. If Namaste broke down in the canal I´d be looking at a few grand in fines. I crossed all my fingers and toes, closed my eyes, and turned the key. Namaste came through, kicked over that old bird, and she was fine for the rest of the day. Oil pressure seems to drop as the motor gets hot, and I only ran her at about 1700 RPM´s. We were doing about 4 knots.

Now I was looking at about a five hundred dollar fine because I couldnt hold five knots. I had full sail up crossing the lake trying to make the next lock on time. I was a few hours late, but they didnt end up fining me so everything turned out for the best.

I´ve had some negative energy hanging aroud me lately, and it all seemed to wash away when the huge lock doors opened and Namaste motored into the pacific. My smile was ear to ear, and I´m really excited for the new adventures at hand.

I need to have the motor looked at and do some final work on the boat, but I´ll be setting sail to cross the Pacific in 3 weeks or so.

I´ll be writing more often when I get a computer again.

You can watch Namaste go through the Gatun lock by clicking this link: /Portals/0/Blog/miraflores-movie.gif (3MB).

Peace, Love and the PACIFIC BABY!!!!!

Alex