Last week was spent anchored close to Panama City enjoying John & Sues’ company.

We have visited the shopping malls, explored the country side, including a tree top tour in a cable car over the rain forest, and lunched overlooking the river with turtles and crocodiles and numerous beautiful coloured birds.

We have been into the city twice in the evenings to watch the carnival and listen to the live bands on stage and finally we have spent a day at the island of Tobago, 7 miles from the city, where we swam off the beach and explored the island.

We were sad to see them go on Thursday.

Friday and Saturday we have been back to work !

We have provisioned, provisioned and provisioned for the next 4/5 months when we will be sailing across the pacific and in remote areas with few supplies.

Imagine bringing two van loads of food and drink back to ‘Blue Magic’ and trying to find a home for everything – great fun !

I will never, ever take sainsbury’s for granted again. It is hard to remember the time when I could pop along to the store and decide what to have for dinner that night !

Tomorrow we are filling with diesel and water and then returning back to the anchorage.

Monday we have to check out of Panama, a simple process that will involve at least three staff, two different office locations and probably close to 5 hours patience.

Finally just one more trip to the supermarket for fresh items and we should be ready to leave for a couple of restful days in the Las Perlas Islands before our 900 mile trip to Galapagos(around 7/9 days).

PS. Still hot and sunny !