19-21 June in Shelter Bay

Hi All,

19/6/2012

In Shelter Bay.

Rob and I went back into town on the 08:00 bus, primarily to get the rest of the food and some US$ for the Pacific crossing. When we got to the shopping mall that we went to yesterday we took a taxi into downtown Colon to the National Bank. That was a mistake because they don't speak much English and they don't have facilities to do transactions with foreign banks.

Fortunately for us there was one of the Marina employees in the bank, who recognised us and came to our rescue. He then loaded us into his car and drove us to the Free Zone and the HBSC bank. Thank goodness for him because downtown Colon doesn't look the safest place to wander round standing out like a sore thumb.

I got sorted at HBSC but Rob could not change his old travellers cheques. As the bus was not returning to Shelter Bay until 15:30 we wandered around the free zone. Most businesses only cater for the wholesale trade, but now and again there were shops catering to the retail trade. In one clothing shop which had a good line of shorts, but we could only buy 6000 pairs minimum.

Eventually we tired of looking in shops and took a taxi back to the shopping mall and had to waste time waiting for the bus and completing our food shop.

In the end the bus didn't arrive and we shared a taxi back to Shelter Bay.

20/6/2012

In Shelter Bay.

I spent the day loading the new charts from PC Marine and refining our passage plan. We only need to fuel up and we are set to go. Rob wandered off and found a beach in front of what I assume were the married quarters for the US military when they were here. The whole US military facility is not being use by the Panamanians and is slowly falling in to total disrepair.

Rob went snorkelling and found some old coral and some colourful fish.

Nothing fantastic.

21/6/2012

Still in Shelter Bay.

Roy Bravo sent me our transit schedule. The advisor (pilot) will board at

17:00 at the Flats anchorage and we will transit the Gatun locks that evening, anchoring or tied to a buoy near the entrance to Gatun Lake. Time to fuel up and ready to go.

Tomorrow is the day

Cheers

Chris