I am writing this at 4 PM on Monday afternoon, but it won’t be posted until I go ashore tomorrow.
As of this moment GANNET is provisioned for two months.
I went ashore after lunch and made a final supermarket run.
These are done with wildcat drivers who hang around the Radisson and I have found that prices are steadily decreasing. To be driven to and from either of the two nearest supermarkets and have the driver wait while I shop, essential because it is difficult to get taxis from the markets, I first paid $25. The next day a driver only asked for $20 and today a driver asked for $14.
Everything is on board, in waterproof bags if necessary, and stowed.
I am still lacking a bottle of whiskey, but the office to which I have to go to clear out of the country is at Flamenco above a duty free shop. I will go there tomorrow to deal with the officials and to liberate a bottle of something.
Despite the 15’+/5 meter tides boats do not reverse direction on these moorings. While often strong, the wind is not always strong enough to overcome currents that usually come with big tides. I speculate that water released from the canal locks two miles north creates a permanent outflow that keeps all of us constantly pointing NW.
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11:00 AM Tuesday morning and I am back at Flamenco, where the offices of the port captain and immigration are that need to be visited to clear out of the country.
I am cleared.
The process took longer than it should and there was confusion because GANNET came overland rather than through the canal, but I anticipated that and had photos of her on the truck in my phone.
The women in the offices were all courteous as opposed to the people in the Colon port captain’s office.
I had considered not bothering to clear. I don’t believe US officials care, but a lack of clearance would present problems if GANNET is damaged and we have to go into a foreign port.
While here, I will buy a bottle of whiskey at the duty free shop. Unfortunately not Laphroaig or even an Islay single malt. Sacrifices must be made.
I will also walk across to the Sirena Restaurant and duplicate the excellent meal I had there of a mixed brochette, sautéed vegetables, and two margaritas on the rocks.
Not all is sacrifice.
