What a glorious time we’ve had. Conception island was magnificent, secluded, and peaceful. We had the island to ourselves for the first day, then another few boats showed up…, we never met them. We snorkeled every day and Guin got to snorkel with a baby sea turtle, it really made her day. She is really becoming quite the swimmer, its hard to keep her out of the water.
The big news is Guin is starting to read. Sam spends a lot of time home schooling and it is really paying off. She has little “see spot run” kind of books with her phonics course that she is starting to read, it’s so cool. I wrote the word “pancakes” on a piece of paper this morning and told her if she could read the word she would get the surprise, she did. Sam makes some mean Pancakes, ‘yummy’! She is also doing well with her math and has achieved all of her kindergarten milestones.
We are anchored in Clarence Town. It’s a beautiful spot with about 150 people in the village. I think we are here till 
Wednesday or Thursday waiting for the wind to turn back to the east. Once it does we will head for the windward passage (passage between Cuba and Haiti) and make way for Jamaica.
Today we hiked up to a church and walked around the island. On the way home we stopped into a restaurant looking for a cold drink. 
Have you ever had “Sky Juice”, wow that’s good! If you take gin and coconut water mix it with sweet milk and nutmeg you get something pretty tasty. I had one, Sam had a rum punch and we got cheese sticks and an order of Mahi Mahi bites. I cant remember the last time Sam and I went out and spent 32 bucks on a restaurant. Its funny I remember paying that much to park in New York & LA. Times have sure changed for me but all for the better. I’m really excited about getting to the San Blas. Panama is such an affordable and easy country to live in.
We are anchored in 20 feet of water and can see the bottom at night with about half of a moon over head. That is pretty clear water!
BTW it is the Chinese symbol for wind. Once we paint the hull this symbol will be painted on Splendid’s stern. Splendid is Chinese after all (built in Hong Kong 1973) and we want to try to keep the wind astern.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
-Mark Twain
Peace everyone.
Sail far and live slowly.
Alex
Cheoy Lee used to build the hull, then launch and a family would move aboard and live while they did the interior. Each family carved a dragon that was their “signature.” I never found a dragon carved in Splendid, so I guess she’s too modern.
And so it is my Friends! Thanks for the ride. I’ve enjoyed your trip so far and we’ll meet up again in some neck of the sea somewhere. My best to Sam and Guin. Travel safe and enjoy every precious moment.
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacea
P.S. Generator took a dump and I’m replacing a main seal on the ‘ol Perkins. I’ll keep saying, “I love 30 year old boats. I really do…” Looks like the solar project is much closer than I thought it would be…
Tammy (previous owner of Splendid),
Splendid will have her dragon. I’m working on a “coat of arms”, it is wrapped in a dragon. The dragon will be on each side of the hull at the bow, and on our flag. I will have it carved in South America from ironwood.
Hope you are well.
Take care.
Very nice, Very nice. Best wishes from NJ. Dean
I’ve got your syrup, and we are casting off our lines in 80 days :) It’s gonna take a while to catch up with you though!!!
Dean
sold plan b, but i am looking at a boat in hawaii….we may fly to cartagena in jan. candy is having problems with the duchebag mayor of cartagena. hope to see you there G
oh yea love to my girls, and mavis says hi
Gary, would love to see you brother. So sorry to hear about “plan b” we had good times on that boat. We went through the Panama canal side-tied :)
I’ll probably go to cartagena afer some time in the san blas. I/we really need to decompress there for a while.
Please give Mavis my love.
We are off to Great Inagwa or Acklins island tonight or tomorrow morning. We will have to wait for settled weather from the east to transit the windward passage. We may be out of touch for a while as i dont forsee internet for a while.
Sail far and live slowly