Going, Going, Gone; Another Island, Another Wreck

I mentioned in an earlier blog that there are 365 islands in Kuna Yala. I've been reading in a newer book that there are now 350. It's easy to see how that can happen looking at them. We are traveling in the dry season but in the wet season large sections are swamped.

Yesterday we sailed to Chichime and are spending the day here, Friday. This has been our most sheltered anchorage even though we are outside the island instead of the quiet but full spot between islands. It was nice to sleep without the "roll". Again, the charting of reefs has been inaccurate so you need good light to see them. There is another wreck on the reef just near the entrance as there was one by the eastern Coco Bandero Cays. Our chart plotter can record our track in, so we have something to follow on the way out. That will be useful tomorrow am as we hope to leave early to work our way along the coast to the canal.

We've done some snorkeling this week and hope to again this afternoon. This island is a bit larger and has a primitive resort and water taxis to the mainland. It would be interesting to know the price. You sleep either in a thatched cabin or a tent. There is a dining hut, outhouses, and showers with no running water.  We saw the water arrive yesterday in big barrels in the taxi. The crew on Tom Tom arrived in one of those taxis. There were tarps for their luggage but they personally were drenched.

The Kuna have a few homes here as well, although they are less crowded than the first places we visited. The Kuna are the second smallest race so homes are not too large. All the locals have been friendly to us on all the islands. We were a bit concerned last Tues/Wed when the laundry we turned over didn't return the next day. Just when we decided to leave without it, thankfully the boat arrived.

The boat chores are an ongoing project. We thought it was just us and Maggie with the long "to do" list but it seems to be the case with most of the boats. Rob has taken apart and fixed the head and shower pump and the windlass, used to raise and lower the anchor. Bob has recaulked the leaky deck to hull joint.  We've made water, cleaned, and looked after loose screws and chafe spots. I'm trying to perfect my bread making skills as we have long ago finished our stock. We are collecting a list for the few days we will be in the marina in Panama.

Instead of making an overnight trip to Panama we hope to sail the next 3 days and see a bit of the coast. Portabelo is supposed to be interesting. Some boats have already left if they had more work to get done in the marina there.