Jabiru 5: "Wintering " in Bocas del Toro.

The Mouth of the Bull. That's where we arrived on the 20th December 2012 after a day of squalls and torrential rain after a day and night of almost nothing.The squalls ,for once ,were very welcome as they came in from the north and allowed us to point right at Bocas and we turned in and dropped the hook off the yacht club/marina a few hours after dark.Booked in to the marina in the morning and a good old American breakfast with Bob and friends from Texas , Tim and Lisa on Caribbean Souls, at the Cantina run by another couple of Texans (the place was crawlin' with 'em )Karl and Iris ,who also became good friends while we spent the next 3 months in this great little town in Panama. As far as medical stuff goes ,after a 'jolly' and 'merry ' Christmas we pangad a few miles up the bay to Almirante and mini-bussed to David over the mountains again. Pretty similar,but shorter, than the San Blas -Panama City run. It was a hospital mini bus in as much as there was us, Paul and Piper (from San Blas remember) and Roger and Lorraine from up Seattle way.Paul had got himself a hernia too and Roger had slipped on the dock and needed knee reconstruction. Anyway next morning at 9am I saw the surgeon and he stitched me up at 6pm that evening.Next day it was back on the bus and back to Bocas for a nice laid back recuperation..Pulled a good cripple act for a couple of weeks and then enjoyed the stay.Once again photos are few and far between but a googling will show the scenery if yer interested.Big thing for me/us was the music scene.The town is very young and lively as it is on the Central America backpacking route and also a big surfing spot.Anyway...a few pics.

One of the local coffee shops

Some kids fishing next to our marina slip

On 'Stralia Day we had a bit of a knees up and sang Still call Australia Home (?)and Land down Under and drank lots of beer.The Bundy rum flag was a gift from our friend and old super roadie John Sweeny who passed away this year.

The other Aussie, next to Gail is JB ,John Barker from Brisbane.Amazing man and extra good bloke.He's got no legs below the knees and just enough arms to hold a beer. Nevertheless he owned pubs in the bush and had a limousine business in Brissie and in general got on with living and didn't even get disability pension 'til he decided to go boating round the US and Central America in his 60's. He turned 65 at Bocas and the good old Aussie Gov insisted that he go back to Oz as one has to apply in person for the age pension.Too hard for some dumb ass to click a tick on the computer. Anyway the guy next to him ain't an Aussie but he's spent most of his life hunting treasure round the Caribbean. Don't know how much he found but he's got a nice boat.

Meanwhile...the music. The girl (can't remember her name)owns the resort/bar and has her own band. Very good too. This was Pauls band for the day. .Paul ,Ken a very funky bass player from California and some ol' sax player.

Cheto ,local fireman and amazing singer. Dennis,very nice jazzy/fusion player on the right (Chetos left ) and Andy, best bongo player I've heard although he is a traps drummer (when he can be bothered carting a kit !)

And last but not least the guys I did most gigs with the Island Time Drifters. Patrick, the singer guitarist,plays real tasty guitar and being a dedicated (Grateful ) Dead Head loves jammin'.

Andy on bongos,of course and Ken sitting in on this particular gig.

All these people made it hard not to hang around Bocas 'til..........whenever.

That pic is actually from a little music festival they had at one of the islands in this massive bay.

Paul and Piper came out with us on Jabiru for the weekend.Very nice.

If you like tropical islands.

We took a trip up to Costa Rica for a few days. A panga to Almirante then bus up to the border then off the bus ,clear out of Panama,walk across the bridge and clear in to Costa Rica.

Cool.