Photo dump!

We’re back to the land of internet, hanging out at Shelter Bay Marina while we clean up, restock, and get organized for our Canal transit. We hope to not go through the Canal for a bit–there’s still some exploring we want to do on this side of the Americas–but in the meantime, enjoy the views of a month in Guna Yala.

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Just a couple of shades of blue; this is off Yansaladup
Just a couple of shades of blue; this is off Yansaladup, with a Guna ulu on the reef
Solar oven bread!!
Solar oven bread!!
Bananas ripening under the bimini
Bananas ripening under the bimini

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One of the long-term cruising boats down here is trying to populate a sand island with coconut trees, to keep erosion at bay.
One of the long-term cruising boats down here is trying to populate a sand island with coconut trees, to keep erosion at bay.
Haircut day; T is in charge
Haircut day; T is in charge
Navigating in to a tight pass; the higher up you are, the easier it is to see the reefs
Navigating in to a tight pass; the higher up you are, the easier it is to see the reefs
Traditional Guna sailboat off Green Island
Traditional Guna sailboat off Green Island
Nargana is a Guna town that's not maintained a traditional way of life. We happened to be there over a holiday weekend, when most things were closed, so it wasn't a great provision stop for us; we were also pretty horrified by the sanitation issues. There's no real garbage disposal available, so the water is full of trash, and you can see it all piled up among the mangroves. Also--those little huts built over the water? Outhouses. No swimming here, people!
Nargana is a Guna town that’s not maintained a traditional way of life. We happened to be there over a holiday weekend, when most things were closed, so it wasn’t a great provision stop for us; we were also pretty horrified by the sanitation issues. There’s no real garbage disposal available, so the water is full of trash, and you can see it all piled up among the mangroves. Also–those little huts built over the water? Outhouses. No swimming here, people!

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Low-tech choices--Windscoop and solar oven in action
Low-tech choices–Windscoop and solar oven in action
Snorkeling off Sandy Cay
Snorkeling off Sandy Cay
Towing everyone to a reef for snorkeling in the East Hollandes
Towing everyone to a reef for snorkeling in the East Holandes
In Nargana, everyone gets their water from one communal tap. Mostly, I just liked this guy's hat: newspaper, with a cardboard ring to secure the newspaper and act as a sun shade.
In Nargana, everyone gets their water from one communal tap. Mostly, I just liked this guy’s hat: newspaper, with a cardboard ring to secure the newspaper and act as a sun shade.
Little fish.
Little fish.
We occasionally got massive rainstorms. If your dinghy's full of water, it's just an opportunity to do some laundry!
We occasionally got massive rainstorms. If your dinghy’s full of water, it’s just an opportunity to do some laundry!

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8 Comments on “Photo dump!

  1. WOW! amazing pictures, looks so peaceful and the “dirty” town – amazing but they are just trying to get by……….what a world!

  2. Beautiful pictures . Totally fascinated with the solar oven. You’ll have to tel me how it works when you get back.

  3. Thanks for the photos. They remind me of life when I was about Quino’s age and we lived in Brazil on the Amazon River in Belem. We took three trips up to Manaus and saw lots of small towns with people in dug out canoes.
    Brazil nuts, rubber for export dumped into the huge ship we were on one of the times!
    Love,
    Aunt Bee!

  4. Looks amazing, you guys! Love the “photo dumps”, and your update on the downside of sailing 🙂
    I wish we could see a map with your route so far- you’ve come a long way it seems!
    Hugs for all from Iowa!
    xxoo, ackermans

    • Yeah, I know our map link is not really working, and we’ve not stuck to the original plan so much…not having high-speed internet all the time (ahem, ever) makes it hard to prioritize messing around with a crazy embedded map. And how did I miss the “lack of internet” on our list? We ‘ve been at this marina too long!

      Miss you guys

  5. I love the improvising of using rain water for laundry. Genius! Pics look great! Be safe!

  6. Great pics! loved the sunset and the anchored Milou… I had thought you might be in the Pacific by now, so look forward to pics of the Panama Canal crossing! Hugs, Uncle Rick.

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