Another successful trip to Panama! We stayed at Danny Reyes house last night, which was ironically our last night (in Panama). It would not be complete without that last visit to Napoli's pizza, where we met the Richard Grimison family. We were up at 5 this morning, and off to Tocumen airport. Not a single glitch non revving to MCO, and we had a row for the 3 of us.
In Cocoa Beach this afternoon, we helped the Outrigger Club paddle a couple of their boats from the Yacht Club to the beach at Jetty Park. Scott Roche is running a regatta tomorrow, and there will be a boat with some Zonian calico paddlers providing propulsion: Pat Grimison, Alan Dekle, and Brian Robinson.
We all went out tonight to Roberto's and then to the 4th Street Filling Station. A really nice evening.
Friday, June 7, 2019
Rachel Before and After
2012
2019
At the restaurant named Don Chaco's on the road to Coronado, Rachel gets a humongous smoothie
Rachel before and after
2012
2019
Alex Reyes home where he has quite a collection of old Canal Zone memorabilia. This pillar is below his house, and the 2019 shot was taken during an actual recording session for Shorty and Slim which was going on during our visit to his family.
Surfing at Coronado Point
I was able to catch some waves with Rachel at a favorite spot of the Zonians from back in the day. Coronado Point is a peeling right wave that can go on for seemingly forever with the right swell. This day it was waist high plus, and had the usual peeling wave. Rachel paddled into and caught several waves as did I. The "old guys" seemed to be in competition with some little local shredders who were catching every wave. Richard had a good solution to this when one of the kids asked him for wax. He devised a "wax for waves" scenario wherein if he gave the kid some wax, Richard would get some waves that the young shredder would forego. "Waves for Wax"
At the place also called Playa Serena.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
June 6 (2019) random pics
Departing Bocas
Rachel and I in Palmar
Rachel at Little Hawaii, near Playa Palmar
June 6 narrative
Woke up really early to catch a 6 am panga to Carranera Point. Don Choy didn’t show up, but there was another panga at the ready, so we hopped in with him. We motored directly to Carranera point where the swell had just barely started to fill in, but the surf was rideable. We caught a bunch of waves on the outside point, and the inside section, and both were over shallow reef. Even though the surf was not spectacular, it was amazing being out in the early morning light in oily glass water, fun little waves as the sounds of the jungle drifted offshore, and the sounds of thunder resonated from miles away. Also of particular interest was the gin clear water, and being mesmerized by looking straight down as you surf across the face of a wave.
After we wrapped up that fun little sesh, we got our “check in the block” for an Atlantic surf session.
We caught our panga ride back to Bocas Town, and met the family at La Pirata for a quick breakfast since we had a 1010 flight to catch.
I broke off one of my side fins in the reef and that required a bit of negotiation from the surf shop. The day before I had given the surf shop attendant a t shirt from Tom Neilson’s Cocoa Beach shop.
We settled on 10 bucks for the fin, very reasonable.
We made the several block walk to the aeropuerto, and boarded our plane to Albrook. John Thurber picked us up, and we hit El Rey before making the drive up to the beach, as Matthew had rented a luxury home on AirBnB.
Rebecca reminisced about her fun times in high school, as “Land Down Under” dredged up memories of growing up in Panama while we crossed the ridge of the Tula Vieja on the Autopista.
At the beach, Richard immediately rallied us to rent boards in Palmar as the surf was firing. It really was, and I caught a couple GREAT waves in the heavy Pacific surf. The locals were really cool and it seemed like they were cheering me on as the Viejo in the line up.
Also surfed Little Hawaii, and fulfilled the bucket list item to surf two oceans in the same day.
After we wrapped up that fun little sesh, we got our “check in the block” for an Atlantic surf session.
We caught our panga ride back to Bocas Town, and met the family at La Pirata for a quick breakfast since we had a 1010 flight to catch.
I broke off one of my side fins in the reef and that required a bit of negotiation from the surf shop. The day before I had given the surf shop attendant a t shirt from Tom Neilson’s Cocoa Beach shop.
We settled on 10 bucks for the fin, very reasonable.
We made the several block walk to the aeropuerto, and boarded our plane to Albrook. John Thurber picked us up, and we hit El Rey before making the drive up to the beach, as Matthew had rented a luxury home on AirBnB.
Rebecca reminisced about her fun times in high school, as “Land Down Under” dredged up memories of growing up in Panama while we crossed the ridge of the Tula Vieja on the Autopista.
At the beach, Richard immediately rallied us to rent boards in Palmar as the surf was firing. It really was, and I caught a couple GREAT waves in the heavy Pacific surf. The locals were really cool and it seemed like they were cheering me on as the Viejo in the line up.
Also surfed Little Hawaii, and fulfilled the bucket list item to surf two oceans in the same day.
The evening fare, cooked up on the grill. Filte’ that would make Bill Fahy proud
June 6, its all about the surf
PM surf session in the Pacific Ocean. Punta Palmar and “Little Hawaii”
Bucket list item——check
1 day
2 Surf sessions
2 Oceans
Only in Panama
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