Sam and I left Isla Linton on Tuesday. We were having trouble finding a water source and rain wasn’t frequent enough to fill Splendid’s tanks. Someone told us of a marina under construction (Green Turtle bay) and that we could stay there for free and get water. ‘Free’, I’ve never herd of a free marina? Anyway Sam and i decided to check it out. We got a waypoint and went exploring. It was only about 8 miles from Linton and on the way to the San Blas in the middle of nowhere.
We arrived at about 9am and found a small cut into the land. Carefully watching the depth (4.7 at the lowest) we managed our way into a beautiful piece of property. I’m sure you can see a satellite photo of it if you go to my current position page, switch to satellite view, and zoom in. Someone is really spending some money on this place. it will be a small marina and birth 50 boats. I’m thinking they may put in a travel lift and yard. We found a few pilings to tie to as there were no completed slips. We asked a worker for ‘Agua Potabla’, (potable water) and he pointed to a spigot. We jug’d about 50 gallons of water for Splendid, did a few loads of laundry in buckets, and took long showers. We decided to spend the night and leave for the San Blas the following morning so we could spend my birthday anchored in the West Lemmons on the 14th.
There wasn’t much at Green Turtle, and I’m sure it will be the only time we stay there. As soon as they start charging it will be way out of our price range. There were about 10 boats tied up for free. I spoke with an Italian man on a 50’ Formosa and he told me that he left his boat there at no charge for four months while he had gone back to Italy. It is really nice that people aren’t so worried about liability here. One would never find such a nice place for free in the states or Europe as the liability would not be worth letting people stay. The reality is that they already dredged the property and letting boats into the protected area while they are under construction is just a nice thing to do. I like the fact that people here take personal responsibility here, it makes for a more livable society.
Sam and I left early the following morning and spent the day motoring in rollie seas with no wind. We arrived during a torrential downpour an hour or so before sunset.
I woke up today (July 14th) at the realization that I had unwillingly turned 45 years old in my sleep. I laid awake in bed to a still black sky filled with blasts from lightening and the crackle of thunder overhead. The sound of rain hitting the deck makes me smile as I do a morbid, and ritualistic task in my head. Every birthday morning I write my obituary to assess my previous year of life and keep myself in check. Today I decided to write it down.
Alexander Joseph Dorsey 1965 – 2010, died at 45 years of age. Leaves his Loves Samantha and baby Guinevere onboard his sailing ketch Splendid in The San Blas Islands of Panama. His life was full of love, sailing & travel. Although he died at a young age he lived a full life. He left no squandered money behind and spent his time chasing his dreams and sharing them with the ones that were closest to him.
Man, that’s not such a bad way to go! If I can forge another 20 yeas of life out of my time here it would all be a gift from this moment forward. I don’t have so many regrets and I’m happy where I am at 45. Sam and I had a good laugh the other night when we realized that we are financially the poorest people we know. We did this over a magnificent dinner sipping a good Chilean wine ($2.00 a box) anchored in our paradise.
We came to the western Lemmon islands for my birthday because they have internet here and I wanted to share my thoughts this day.
Guys, if your dream is to go cruising go! Don’t make excuses waiting for more money or retirement. Life is short. My mother passed at only 42 years of age, working two jobs, and had no money in the bank.
I guess the important thing is that your happy with the way your obituary reads.
It will be another week or two before I have internet again, thanks for reading.
Follow your dreams.
For me it’s sailing far and living slowly.
During the course of my writing this morning Sam woke up and put some doe for breakfast baguettes in the oven, the smell in the cabin is wonderful.
Life is grand!
Cheers.
Alex