Hacia el Sur Rápidamente: Back to the Narrative

Aboard the Corto II, Day Four.

Gringos in the water.

We awoke in an even more idyllic island paradise. Three islands near us and more scattered about. Sheened with sweat and salt, I threw myself overboard for a swim and then walkies around the island. This island, like the others, is a bit of sand and silt held together by palm roots. Bigger than most of the others, this one was perhaps 3/4 of a mile around. The ground between the palm trunks is covered with creepers, many of them orchids. I watched a humingbird feeding on the orchids. Unlike any other hummer I have seen, this one was almost black, with a longer tail that it used when maneuvering close to the ground. The tiny orchids were everywhere, mostly yellow and magenta varieties.

Wind power to charge the gizmos

Eventually I swam back to the boat, just in time for lunch. After a hectic day like this, one has to make choices, and I chose to go snorkelling. Right off the boat was the best reef yet. Myriad species of fish, nudibranch, chiton, snails, conch, and more. There were all sorts of living coral as this reef was in good shape. I threaded alleys through the reef, careful to avoid any contact. The reefs look delicate, and they are with regard to a boat anchor, but they cut like razors if you brush the wrong thing.

Mattias ended up sporting a few bandages after this dive. He swept his foot into the reef and paid with a little blood. No great harm, but we dressed him with some anitbiotic cream and a plaster or two to ward off reef rot.

Salty Gringo getting ready to weigh anchor.

As afternoon wore on, we stowed gear in preperation for the open seas. We were setting out for the crossing of the Southern Gulf, from Panama to Cartagena. It would be a run of 36 to 48 hours depending on the winds. The wind was from the North and building, with the seas following, so Sea Bass decided we should take advantage.