Mi Pueblito Traditional Dance of Panama

We visited Mi Pueblito near the Amador here in Panama and watched dancing and costumes from all the regions of Panama. The elaborate dresses are handmade and passed down generations in families and may cost thousands of dollars.

Our new sails are almost finished!!

Here is the finished bolt roped sail, roped hand sewn this week by Ron.















The bridge to Gamboa

















Another view of the sail
















Ron at work
















Size of sail folded using a baseball cap for scale















Our Piedmont sewing machine from Hudson's Bay

Acrobats Afloat

A French family is traveling around the world in four years, and while they are staying in anchorages, they perform!!They are gymnasts by profession and have two young girls.

Making New Sails For Batwing

It is time to replace the sails on Batwing. Using techniques developed by fellow junk rigger Arne Kverneland and suggestions from Lloyd Halverson, former owner of Batwing, Ron is deep into the work. The following are pictures of the process in a workroom of a building in Gamboa, graciously provided to us by friends John and Jan (svBambolera), former cruisers, now Panamanians!

Artesanias de Panama

CANAL TRANSIT WITH XANADU

Our friends Paul and Tamar on Xanadu, of course, Diane.




Di and Ron


Diane


Ron and Di then we are viewingthe Caribbean

Trip to Colorado Nebraska and Michigan

Finally after four years we left the boat in Panama and headed north to visit friends and family. The incentive--Schmidt Family reunion in Nebraska. 'Twas a whirlwind visit in Colorado, getting drivers' licenses, seeing some of our closest friends, spending time with Erica in her surroundings and finally driving to Nebraska for family doings. Diane also had the priveledge of dropping in on her brother Gary's family. A lot of growing has been going on in the last 5 years!