Good from far, far from good!

Man a little sunshine goes a long way! I found a little camera in Guin’s things, I don’t think she would mind me taking a few photos with it.

Today is a computer day. I’m working on getting a news letter out and figuring out some new upgrades on the website. I’m hoping to take the dinghy a few miles out to a small island to do some spear fishing later on. The water should be clear enough out there. I’m craving fish as I’ve been living on vegetable (potato, onion, rice, and bean) stews. A fish for dinner sounds really good! I’m thinking to go to Panama city on Monday if the tropical storm to the north doesn’t kick up the sea too much. I only leave Splendid for the night if the weather is good.

Splendid looks really good from far eah? Here is a close  up of the deck and cabin house to show you how much work I actually have. Once I start the fairing & painting process it should go quickly. I just have to buckle down for a few months of solid work and scrape the money together for supplies. It’s hard to work full days in 90 degrees, especially with itchy fiberglass. But once it’s done, it’s done. I have about twelve months to get my ship together and ready to cross an ocean. The other big jobs are replacing the chain plates, stations, and  the stainless piece on the bow that the forestay attaches to. It’s original and I don’t trust it. Stainless gets brittle with age. And the original stainless on Splendid was crap!

It’s amazing how good Splendid looks from a far shot. She will be all I expect her to be one day in the not to distant future. I’m not so into a perfect fairing job as I conceder her half work boat and half yacht.

When a boat drags into me at 4am in a gale I don’t want to freak over broken toe rail and scratches on the hull. I just want to get the resin, glass, and spray gun out and fix it.

The police have really stirred up a big deal over the little piracy incident earlier in the week. They’ve been like storm troopers tearing through the village kicking ass and taking numbers. The owner of the boat that was robbed (at gunpoint) had been boasting to the locals about how much money he had. Some of the other cruisers are really over reacting in my opinion. The rumor mill is funny. The story keeps growing and getting worse every day. The robbers stole two hundred dollars. I guy (cruiser) came up to me yesterday having just arrived from the San Blas and told me that they stole over eight grand. What was that game called when we were kids where you say one thing to the first person in the line, everyone whispers it to the next person, and by the time it reaches the end of the line its a completely different story? And who the hell would carry eight grand around when there are ATM’s everywhere?  Don’t get me wrong I think what happened was bad but I wouldn’t go so far as saying that it’s “dangerous” in Linton like some of the cruisers are saying. I comfortably sleep with everything open and never lock my boat when I go to shore for the day. As I’ve said in other logs I’ve had a gun stuck in my face three times in my life, and each time was in Los Angeles. The police here are doing a lot more then the cops would do if the same thing happened in Miami or Fort Myers. It will be a long time before anyone bothers a cruising boat in the area again. 

Anyway I don’t want to spend the entire sunny day on the computer. I just got excited when I came across this camera and wanted to post a few pictures. I modified my spear gun yesterday. I cut my Hawaiian sling down and mounted it to my spear gun. The .223 caliber power head protrudes a few inches past the spear tip. It’s hard to see but in the butt of the gun is a pouch that has 3 extra rounds in it. I can “Jab” the power-head into an approaching predator if necessary or I can unscrew my spear tip and replace it with the power-head to kill a large fish.

Ever since I had a “bad” incident with a bull shark 5 years or so ago I’ve wanted to make this modification to my spear gun. Had the bull shark wanted to eat me it would have had no problem. It just didn’t want me in its space (territory) and got a bit aggressive. I don’t have a fear of sharks, just respect. If push ever comes to shove I suppose I can push a little harder now. I’m usually in the water spear fishing alone on a daily basis and think this is a nice little piece of insurance although I don’t ever think I’ll need it. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it right?

I just heard that the Kuna put an end to selling alcohol in the San Blas. The elders got tired of all the drunks :)

Cheers everyone, try to get out on the water this weekend if its not too cold where you are.

Sail far and live slowly.

– Alex

Author: Alex

I'm just a sailor bum ;) View all posts by Alex