It's 6:30 am and day two has begun.I'm hiding in bunk as I hear the clink of cutlery as Margaret finishes last nights dishes.I should help her shouldn't I .Lastnight She and Trevor were ."on dishes" but we were all totally spent. She, a kind and compassionate Madre,she let her boy/ line handler crash to his port side bunk right after our late dinner. To stay present for a minuet ,we are just now motoring along in Gaton Lake to reach the second half of the locks,three up and three down. I just loved filming almost the entire experience last night with officious bright lights flashing up the dark night like a film set. I got some everlasting worthy footage.To have the Smiths share this has been a real boost for us,I too wish Jeremy and Philippa could also have been here.I really missed their ever ready expressions of enthusiasm ,knowing what a blast they would have had and what a fun dimension they could have added. In preparation we were delivered tires to add to our own fenders to attach to a French sailing vessel whom we shared the lock space with. On the other side is the Pacific Ocean,Balboa,where we'll stay at a marina.The Smiths depart on April2 nd..we look forward to spending time together in the famous city.I look forward to greeting John and Wendy aboard,Beyond and will be very sad to say so- long to Wendy as she flys back to midwifery and grandkids in NZ
To backtrack,beginning with night before last,we stayed at ShelterBay Marina in a very prime dock location,right by the pool.we arrived from Portobello midday and David had reserved two rooms at Marina for the hearty adults/ parents..grownup members of the cast of crew. The" treat "backfired a bit as the balcony looked right at Rhythm! David couldn't relax as the poor guy had gone through so many details ;the multilayered red tape and at the eleventh hour- last minuet green light .. Or not!? Then,after a flimsy meal that we shared with Smiths,enjoyably on the porch,colonial,sultry steamy humid night,we couldn't sleep!! It's hard to get sleep on a comfy solid bed with clean sheets and air-conditioning...I woke hungry at 3 something am and decided to go out the sliding glass doors to the balcony to get on Davids laptop which we'd fought over in wake time. I received two newsy emails from Jennifer and Mary,I just live for good long or just emails from all my precious friends.I can't beg for them because friendship is a two way and there are so often times I just can't technically connect. maryAAnn reminded me,it's been since Feb.since I've blogged.We ll overdue
We have spent the last month in preparation for this day and the Smiths vIsit.We were very anxious about details and last night filming Skipper David dancing through the locks with music vamped by DJ Stephan and the cousins dancing together was really a culmination of even more than a months anticipation.
Smith visit
The Smith family really,I need an entire blog to devote.Margaret; little sister of David, Aunt to look up to and always there ,you join in or kick ass- love to have a like minded woman aboard!! And,ever generous and giving and fun and game! Stephan,a life enthusiast,engaging,participating,gorging on all aspects of the sensual stimulants of the world surrounding us,often reticent,just watching,listening,always present.I love the way Stephan is so magnanimous with every single person of every size shape nationality class,he loves people and wants to open his heart and arms in a bear hug of love.
SanBlas.....last night he cooked up the second half of an18 lb snapper he bought off a Kuna,via dugout in San Blas Islands
San Blas,another blog; stunning national Geographics,the KUNa,such a rich unit of the tapestry. Selling stitched colorful graphic in fabric squares,a very old tradition in the matriarchal society as the woman waited for the men to return from hunts fishing ,they stitched. The water,colour of magic eyes of the sea......The veggie boat- rescued my fear of not enough produce,arrived in " the swimming pool" of the Holandes islands,they pulled up out of the vapors,in a massive dugout ,three guys,mucho fruit and veggies,an old scale,a pad and pencil and Margaret and I jumped aboard to shop- I love it!! We then spent a night anchored in the Lemmon Cays where we participated in a cruisers happy hour on beach at a bar.There was an adorable,however,skanky Scandinavian backpacker with blond dreads selling jewelry,Furry stuff,an ocelot ,a Brazilian dude gave her the pelt,he'd shot the feline for going after his chikens,so what to do? I had no cash,she promised to catch us before we lifted anchor early the next morning.I was surprised she made it,6:30am looking like she had not ended her night,and I bought a pelted bracelet.
Portobello,another blog
Day Two Another Blog
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Finally another post! Thanks peggy! I was getting bored of reading the heading "HOT", although I'm sure it still applies
ReplyDeleteyour adventure sounds like a dream land. Montreal is JUST learning the word "warm", by the way. It's still promising some snow in the next week, but the sun is shining! for now...
miss you guys, both the Hills and the Smiths!