Isla Pedro Gonzales

8 24.024 N, 79 04.934 W

On Saturday the crews of Windarra and Three Sheets took a dingy ride to a small islet about a mile and a half from the anchorage. It was a great place to look for shells but you had to minds the sand flies which would swarm and be very annoying. We collected a bag full of shells and then rode over to another small island for more 'shelling'. The rock formations were interesting, more layered like sedimentary rock with colored patterns on the horizontal surfaces, Very unusual. We returned to the anchorage, just in time for happy hour, how convenient.

Rock and Sand formations

 

On Sunday we had planned to stop at Isla Bayoneta for more shells. We left a high tide andRich and I decided that the anchorage was a little too shallow for us as we are getting close to leaving for Ecuador. Reg and Phoebe decided to stay and we motored on to Isla Pedro Gonzales. It is a much large island with a village of over 500 persons on the north side. We are anchored on the east side, protected from the southern swell. On the shoreline we can see where there is construction to build a new resort and another area where 'guests' may enjoy the beach. The beach is long with off white sand. Rich and I walked the beach and added to our shell collections.

In the afternoon we returned to Windarra to relax and read. Unfortunately there are some small, black, annoying flies that have joined us. They don't appear to be biting, just annoying. We are burning a citronella stick hoping that will discourage them but they are still with us so far.

Thunderhead forming in the distance

Our plan tomorrow is to prepare for passage. We will lift the dingy onto the foredeck, deflate and secure it upside down on the deck. We kept two of our old jerry jugs and filled them before we left Panama City so we will put the fuel into the aft tank as well. Our passage may be as long a 580 nautical miles from here to Bahia Caraquez in Ecuador. We hope to find more favorable wind angle by heading first towards Punta Mala before heading south.

We are glad we came out to Las Perlas islands. It is giving us a more favorable impression of Panama than we had before.

Happy Fathers' Day to all you dads out there!

Cheers from Elaine and Rich

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