Finally, on Saturday morning, April 18, we departed the Vivorillos -- destination: Providencia. We still had some “easting” to do (that’s when you have to travel east when your destination is either southeast or northeast), which affected our ability to sail at full speed ahead. However, we made excellent time by meandering through the Main Cape Channel via Media Luna and eventually through the Edinburgh Channel. We established radio contact with Jupiter’s Smile and asked them to keep an eye out for our friends Sue and Mark who had arrived in Providencia several days earlier and were eagerly awaiting our arrival. As it turns out they had already met them and had advised them that we had been in touch with them via our single side band radio and that we were due in around 3 p.m. As we neared the entrance channel we hailed Jupiter’s Smile to see if they had made contact with Sue and Mark. “Sure, enough,” Jay said, “and they’ll be arriving at Damiana by boat around 3 o’clock!” Right on time -- just as we finished anchoring, a large launcha (like a panga in Mexico) approached, ferrying Sue and Mark and all their baggage. Hugs all around -- we were so happy that weather cleared up enough for us to sail here before Sue and Mark had to return home. We spent the next morning provisioning, expecting to leave the day after with all four of us sailing to Bocas del Toro, Panama. And then we went to lunch at a restaurant on the beach at Sweetwater Bay -- fantastic fresh fish, the freshest ever!

Isla Providencia, Colombia, April 2009

Four happy people, that fish lunch was superb! After lunch our taxi driver picked us up and returned us to the town square which is where we parked our dinghy (also just in shore from the anchorage). We climbed back into the dinghy and on the way back to Damiana stopped to say hello to Pam and Richard on Tisha Baby. Barb and Jay from Jupiter’s Smile were visiting them at the time, and rushed to tell us that the most recent weather reports indicated that tomorrow’s weather report had changed for the worse! Oh no -- not another delay!

Yes, another delay. The four of us talked it over and decided to not risk having bad weather for what should be a two day sail under best conditions but couldn’t be sure how long or how arduous it would be if we took off from Providencia and found ourselves unhappy half way there with building seas and headwinds!

We were disappointed that Sue and Mark wouldn’t be able to enjoy a two day sail with us, but made the best of spending time with each other on Providencia.

After a few days of enjoying Isla Providencia, Susan and Mark flew off to San Andres, then Panama, and ultimately back to the States. We enjoyed their visit and hope they join us next year, and hopefully, get in some sailing!

Wow -- with so many cruising boats in the harbor, the Mayor organized a celebration! Local musicians and dancers gathered in the square and entertained all the cruisers for several hours one evening. By the looks on everyone’s faces -- locals and cruisers -- everyone had a great time.

There’s Roy with Jim and Sharon, watching the show. Notice the musician playing the whale jaw bone, and there were dozens of wonderful dancers of all ages.

A few more shots taken on Providencia -- the night before Shellette left to head for Panama and then the South Pacific, we four went to Rolands for a great lobster dinner on the beach. Here’s a shot of Mike, Marnie and Marlene. The other shot is of the venerable Mr. Bush, who checks you in, checks you out and provides whatever help you need while in Providencia.