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Ship's
Log Continued: Updated August 9, 2008
The Bodega? The Man Cave? A Jungle Cabin?
Well the Internet out here has been down for weeks. We had an update ready to go weeks ago, but no way to get it posted. But we've been busy!
The roof is on; the porch has a floor. But now we have to make it comfortable. What better to accomplish that than a refrigerator!
But, you object: You're off the grid; how can you have a refrigerator when you don't even have electricity!? Well, cruisers are creative, right? We have refrigeration on the boat, and since we make our own electricity, the refrigeration runs on 12 volts. But on shore, it's even simpler: propane! All we have to do is find a propane refrigerator, and then get it loaded onto Cricket, and then get it up the hill to Cerro Velero. Tracy found the perfect one in Almirante. One taxi-truck to Cricket, and forty-five minutes later, he's at Landfall to show it off.
Now, to the shore...
Don't even ask how it got from the shore to the top of the hill. It wasn't pretty. But now it is!
OK, what else. How about water? But you're off the grid; how do you get water?
Well out here in the rainforest, you catch it! In a big jug!
All the hardware stores in Bocas (and Almirante, and Changuinola, and everywhere else too, probably) have a good supply of water tanks. You just have to pick one, then pick out all the plastic pipe, gutters, connectors, T's, spigots, endcaps, etc. that you think you'll need (it's never enough; plan on going back at last three more times) and then figure out how to get it home. We did our shopping at Chow Kai in Bocas. The tanks and pipes are kept across the street.
Then load it into the "pickup truck" and off you go. Oh, and pick up a propane tank for that new refrigerator, too. Luis, owner of Chow Kai, thought this was all quite hilarious. Did we mention that it was raining again?
Thankfully, the rain stopped on our way home. Our workers were called to the dock to help unload.
Helping? "Life with your legs, not your back..."
"And this is how you use a hand truck... "
"See, it's all in the balance... "
Oops! Guess we got home a little late. See you tomorrow, guys, Tracy will take it from here...all the way from here...
It's only about a quarter mile or so from Carl and Mary's dock to the bodega... and, yes, it is mostly all uphill...
Just a little bit further... man, it would really help if the trail was flat all the way to the gate... at least we have these wheels...
OK, fine, let's just leave it here until we can figure out where it's going to go!
Thank goodness for cold beer! And man, Tracy really earned this one!
Do the dogs care? Heck, No! They're busy growing and playing!
Stay tuned, more to come soon!
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