Up the river

Yet another attempt at snorkeling yesterday and yet again, terrible visibility. I tried a few locations – all the same. On the way back I picked up John and we went ashore just after low tied to mess around on the sand where the river comes out. While there we met John from Taee. Turns out we’ve been in each others vicinity a few times. First time was back in Isla Grande the day before the kids arrived. We were at the same anchorage at La Playita for a while in Panama City. They’ve recognised our boat each time. I think I had a brief chat with his wife, Lucy, at La Playita. Now we’ve met up. We agreed an exchange of information later in the day as we have roughly similar plans, at least out to Tahiti, although they will leave for the Galapagos well ahead of us. The next few days we may well be in the same anchorages.

High tide was at 4pm so shortly before 3pm we dinghied a short way up the river, cut the engine and allowed the tidal flow to take us upstream using the oars to keep us (or at least try to keep us) out of the way of dangling branches, roots, etc. It was quite peaceful drifting upriver, the peace occasionally being broken by the squawking of parrots and calls of other birds. The river became narrower and narrower although the speed at which we were heading upstream never diminished. We eventually came to a point 2 miles in where the river being about 15 feet wide was jammed with logs and branches. We about turned and headed back under power as the river was still filling and flowing backwards. We tried another branch of the river but this didn’t take us too far. We had the GPS with us so one day I’ll be able to post our tracks up the river.

Back on the boat we again met John from Aiee so we could exchange notes. That was about it. We have started watching “The Wire” in the evenings as we have all five series with us. Good stuff.

Today our plan is to head around to the west side to a little bay called Concholon Bay and, if the holding is good, stay there the night. If not we’ll press on to Isla San Jose off to the west.

Looking further ahead we’ve decided to push ahead and arrive in Costa Rica a little earlier than planned. Whether or not we get there earlier is another thing but if we do it gives us the opportunity to be a little further north when Ella arrives (making their travels from San Jose shorter and easier) and perhaps gives us a good opportunity to have one of Helen’s friends (now living in Costa Rica) aboard while the cabin is vacant.