As it was still early morning we decided to sail over to Aridup for a quick visit (the anchorage is only good for a short day visit) before heading to Nonomulu for the evening.

As usual Chris dropped the anchor (he had been responsible for anchoring for the past 6 days and doing a good job too) and we jumped overboard to explore the snorkelling.

Within minutes we were enclosed in a huge shoal silversides, herrings or anchovies ( they often shoal together and are virtually indistinguishable from one another). There were millions of them. It was like a blizzard. You couldn’t see anything except the fish. They encircled us and it was almost as if they were netting us!! It was incredible and the 3 of us stayed with them for 5 or 10 mins before leaving to search other species.

The snorkelling here was, once again, marvellous. So many shoals of fish. Lynne saw her first Spotted Drum Fish and as we were snorkelling back towards the boat I spotted a king crab hiding amongst the rocks and coral.

I called to Roger, who (having practiced) speared it for lunch. Having learned our lesson (remember the first lobster) she went straight into the pot when we got back onboard. (Please note we have since learned that it is illegal to fish for lobster, crab and conch at the moment, so have ceased eating them until June)

When we were in Cartagena, I had bought fillet mignon for Lynne & Chris’s farewell dinner and as we anchored in Nonomulu another ulu came up and sold us a couple of nice lobster, so for the farewell dinner we ate like kings, one Surf ‘n’ turf, delicious.

It was dark when Roger, Lynne & Chris left (05.30) for the airport. I went back to bed and when Roger came back he regailed me with the antics at the airport.

Lynne had rung Aeroperlas the day before and booked their return flight, but of course had no paper confirmation, just a booking reference. It appears that wasn’t even necessary.

The airport (such as it is) has no electricity, so the clerk sits at his desk with a torch and an exercise  book. The book as 2 pages one headed Aeroperlas and the other Air Panama, both lined with 20 lines You write your name on the appropriate page and wait to board. He checks nothing, no passport, no booking reference. The planes are only small (20 seater), Lynne & Chris signed in 1 & 2. The plane arrives, the driver (sorry the pilot) gets out, opens the door, then he unloads the baggage and throws the next lot in and you get on the plane, no one checks to see if you are on the list or anything?? Very peculiar!!!!. Anyway they got away ok