We’ve got our Zarpe (exit/travel permit), we’ve stocked up on Abuelo, got tons of fresh veggies, fruit and laundry, and we even packed in a trip to the dentist (aren’t we responsible adults?!?). That means we’re ready to go, right? Right?

Well, it’s complicated.

I’m super-excited to get out of “town”, where the stars and bio-luminescence are the only lights for miles. I’m really looking forward to seeing Kemah’s face as he touches a virgin beach again. And, it’s always a trip to go on a scavenger hunt for this or that in a completely foreign place.

But, I also keenly remember the loneliness I found myself experience not being part of a community, but one proverbial ship passing another in the night. And, as you may remember, the last time we were actually sailing, this happened. Gulp.

Finally, it’s with a heavy-heart we leave the place we’ve called home more than any other in the last two years (can you believe we’ve spent 8 months in Bocas?). They say that having something to miss is a good sign it’s been good to you and we definitely feel that with Bocas.

We’ve been so fortunate to have made so many great friends, many of whom helped me out a TON when Damon was gone. I could go on and on about the adventures we had when I wasn’t tapping one friend or another for an extra hand, but what happens in Bocas . . .

Two incredibly good friends we’ve made are Jess and James on S/V Adamastor. It was a kismet meeting through an old friend from Austin that brought us together – quite literally as they anchored a little too close on our first night together and our boats went “bump in the night” – whoops! But, all’s well that ends well and we like them so much (and they us, it seems) that we’re setting out on both of our first “Buddy Boat” experience.

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve had several study sessions pouring over charts while snacking on Velveeta (James: “It’s like low-class fondue!” Me: “It’s not ‘like’ low-class fondue, it is low-class fondue!”). And, now, we’re off!

We’re excited to compliment each other: they with their fancy-schmancy SSB radio & radar and we with our shallow draft and Chief Security Officer.

Curiously enough, they, too, had a terrible time sailing last, where they also ripped their head-sail and have spent the last five months repairing and recuperating here in Bocas. So, we’ll both be easing back into the big blue, alone, together.

Our next port of call is Portobelo (me encanta la historia de Portobelo!). As to how long until we reach Portobelo, I dunno, the 150 miles or so could be an easy day and a half of straight sailing but we’re likely to spend a couple of weeks meandering along depending on how the weather cooperates and how much we like a particular spot.

In case you’re curious about our sail plan (Mom) for our upcoming trip East, I’ve included a map below (we all know how much I lurve maps).

View Bocas to San Blas sailplan in a larger map

We won’t have access to internet, but will be making good use of our SPOT tracker (thanks again, Sunni y Chet!). So, you can follow along here.

Speaking of following along, I’m also really looking forward to using the time away from shore (and the internet) to get some good writing done (on my shameless backlog of posts), so stay tuned!

Until Portobelo!

L, D & Mr. K