I battling with a few titles to my book, but the one that seems to be in the lead is “Autonomy at Sea, a guide to living free and sailing the worlds oceans” I’m hoping to have it available for download just after the new year.
I live a very free life and I don’t know that I could ever go back to anything less. If I were to get hit by a bus tomorrow I’d be okay with it and die with a smile on my face. What a ride I’ve had the last 10 years, priceless!
My backpack and I waited for a bus that never came early Wednesday morning. I heard voices in a house, walked up, knocked on the door, and asked why the bus never came? I was greeted by a young woman breast feeding and was informed that it was national holiday and only the major bus lines were running. All women breast feed here. There are usually 3
or more on the bus at any given time.
The locals here live really simple, this was quite the house as it had electricity and and satellite television. The deck is bigger than the living quarters, i thought it was kind of cute.
I needed to get to Sabenats and started hitch-hiking. I kind of laugh to myself when people say hitch-hiking is dangerous, and in many places it’s true, just not here. The people here are simple, poor, generous, and proud. I have made many friends over half the world with nothing but my thumb and a smile.
What a wonderful morning it was! The problem was no cars were passing as it was quite early. I strolled down the long road listening to the jungle. Howler monkeys were howling, Parrots squawking, and there were another million sounds emanating from the jungle on either side of the road. Where the jungle is not thick, it is farm land.
The cows here are quite strange looking, eah?
I spent over an hour walking before a car came by. It was a pickup truck with a young man driving, has was slowing to stop and ask if I needed a ride before my thumb came out. The cab was filled with things and I jumped in the back, he took me about 15 miles of my journey to Panama City. I had to get to Panama City as I had an early doctors appointment the following day.
I walked another half hour or so before some friends drove by in another pick up. They had rented it for the day to provision as they were sailing for Cartagena the following morning.
Again I was in the back of a pick up truck with the wind blowing through my hair and an endless smile on my face, 
freedom is nice!
Sabanetas was a complete madhouse. half of the road was closed as a parade was forming. Police were directing a very slow moving flow of traffic and I had to wait an hour and a half for a bus to Panama City, and once I got the bus I was standing up for the whole trip :(
I didn’t arrive in the city until well after noon. Traffic was horrendous and all the stores were closed. I hung out walking around the mall for a few hours, had lunch and met my friend Roger and his wife Gladys. I was excited to arrive at his apartment as he was holding an important package for me, my second hand macbook, thanks Paul.
I’ve only had a mac for a few days now and I’m hooked, it is such a superior product to the windows platform. Why does Windows control the market and not Apple?
I’m still trying to figure out how to live in a mac os environment but I’m sure I’ll have it all figured out in the next week. I’m excited to be able to edit video once again.
The following day I had to bring one of my alternators to the alternator shop, see the Doctor, and return home. I did some food shopping in Sabenats and when I was waiting for the bus I had other friends drive by in the same blue pickup and drive me back to Splendid. There is a lady in town who rents her car for $30.00 for the day, and $60.00 for 24 hours.
I have an expired California license but I’m sure it doesn’t matter. At some point I’m going to want to rent it for the day and make a trip to the “MEGA- DEPOT” in Panama City, it’s like a Sam’s club or Costco, but cheeper :) I’m sure I could find another cruiser around here to split the cost of the rental with me.
Anyway, I’m off to fit the alternator on the little Kubota. I’m looking forward to playing with my mac tonight and try to load some video in her from my Flip camera.
Life is good.
Sail far and live slowly.
Alex
Enjoy Project BlueSphere? Please show your support by downloading my films, or donating today :)
Also check out the BlueSphere Bookstore for recommended reading and cruising guides.