08:54.402N 079:31.46W

We anchored at La Playata at the end of the Panama City Causeway.  Rolly and with strong tidal currents a rather freaky place because all the boats at anchor pointed in different directions and moved in completely random ways relative to each other.  We were hit by one at one point (a big scratch but nothing more) and so moved further out for our last night.

We used the dingy to get into the marina from where we could taxi into Panama City.  We picked up Brads friend JM on the 19^th who is joining us for the passage to Galapagos. 

We visited the Panama Canal museum which is excellent and walked round old Panama city before having lunch.  Then there was a bit of wind and the umbrellas flew off, breaking several in the process.  Brad and JM acted as temporary fixtures while the restaurant staff sorted it out.

Over the next couple of days we topped up the provisions and attended to all the formalities necessary to clear out of Panama.

We met up with Carol and Peter from Jack Tar who had had the misfortune of a damaged propeller and bearing during their transit which meant they had to be hauled out for repairs while in Panama City.  As always it was good to meet people we are so familiar with from the radio net.  We also met up with Tom and Dirk from our sister ship (ie identical Beneteau Oceanis 42.3) who we had first seen in Shelter Bay.  They had come through a day ahead of us.

Friday was Carol’s birthday which warrants a blog of its own.