The Routledges hit San Blas.. yes Nicky Van She, Smeggsie, Marts and of course with their gorgeous girls Cara, Billie and Bridget fly around the world via London, Dublin and New York finally stopping into Panama for a 2 week holiday sailingl in the San Blas with MUMSY and Captain Louis on Simpatica. A truly long awaited family visit!!

A first day of shopping in Panama City guided by a good friend, Martin, a Panamanian taxi driver to top up on supplies for the trip included a visit to the Panama Fresh Markets, Riba Smith supermarket and of course our local breakfast diner Cafe Boulevard Balboa where Panamanians dine and discuss the matters of the world of course, all in Spanish… the best coffee in Panama City.

Our 15 seater van was fully loaded of goodies as we drove from Panama City across country to Isla Grande an island off the Panama Coast on the Caribbean Sea to where Simpatica was anchored.

That Night we dined at Congo Resturant, Lobster, fish, with coconut rice and yea fried green banana’s

One spectacular stop on the coast was at Benny and Rogers house, home of Orphaned Sloths, they have raised 3 orphan sloths for the last 10 years They are ex Cruisers and currently live full time in Panama with their 3 children(the sloths).

Sailing to San Blas islands early the next morning some,whom we will not mention, were a little green around the gills! Bridget at the helm taking it all in including orders from Captain Louis steers us by compass taking us to our first stop… the Lemon Cays.

6 hours of sailing we arrive into the Lemon Cays where the next day we have a volley ball game and pizza made by Mr Gee the Kuna indian ‘with a difference’ whose family own the island.

Lovingly known as Lobster boy- Marts that is, as the sun got him bad!! the first day, and his team win the first volley ball game always protecting Cara named The Queen by all. Marts was not the only one suffering that day from the hot tropical sun- my aloe vera plant onboard was lookin a little thin that day- a great natural remedy for sunburn.

While at Lemon Cays, the Kuna Indian ladies were showing off their Mola’s and Mola Mask’s

Our next favorite stop was to the Coco Banderas a group of 4 islands …upon arrival the boys head out early in the morning to prepare for our bonfire that evening- they dinghy to the other islands gathering palm fronds and wood – they were like 12 year olds on a scouting weekend building huts or Palapas as they call them, out of the fronds and collecting conch shells to decorate in preparation for the evening of toasted marshmallows and Margaritas on the beach- Billie and Brig made the meanest Margaritas on the planet. …. what a memorable night of music, laughter and story telling! Not to mention the hangovers the next day!!

The next stop at the Holandes known as the Swimming Pool, as the water is so clear and blue. Bridget got hammered by the sand flies- they loved her and Marts. Rightly called NO SIEMES.. as you cannot see them when they bite but boy do they itch bad!! Captain Louis takes the fam to his favorite area in the Holandes the outer reef where there are caves to snorkel through and always a shark sitting in the bottom of the caves. EEcCK scary says the girls!! Upon arrival to the caves we were getting ready to go in and a boat load of Texan’s loaded with spearguns looking like the FBI entered the caves looking for a huge fish to kill…The caves are know to have very big fish to hunt. Cara says “I am not getting in there with those sharks!!”

We continued on our sailing adventure the following day to another of our favorite spots in the Islands… Chichime, 2 islands with a great place to anchor between them and with about 4 local Kuna families who always supplied us with fresh lobster and conch as well as entertainment with the local kids running around the islands playing with their sticks and shells as well as fishing close to the island. The Kuna children learn at an early age how to free dive and get catch of the day for their families. Each morning we are greeted by Kuna kids in their dug out canoes half filled with water saying ‘Caramello por those ninos!’ hence we are named the lollypop boat.

2 weeks of sailing, fishing, snorkeling, knee boarding and wake boarding – GO THE GIRLS who get first prize for attempting to get up on the wake board… Cara taking first prize!!

We ate the most fantastic meals prepared by each couple daily – Billie’s banana and passionfruit breakfast pancakes were a definite winner and Mumsy of course always lending a hand, everyone had a chance to create a perfect meal, be it Lobster, steak, Conch or a vegatable stir fry -Even Captain Louis made his famous Lobster nacho’s.

The odd Chakasana (translation -chicken fart), a local storm at this time of year in the San Blas blowing cross from the mainland of Panama sometimes packing a 30-40 knot wind and accompanied by heavy rain would have all of us up and on the ready to pull anchor. ” Shut YOUR HATCHES” shouts Captain Louis to Nick.

Lobster or Langosta in Spanish was the catch of the day most days only they were caught by the Kuna Indians who would come around each day in their wooden dug out canoes to sell us crab lobster and of course MOLAS- the traditional designed patch work squares made by the Kuna women-Cara collected head bands and loved it whilst Nick conjured up one of his many delicious lobster scrambled egg breakfasts with local chili sauce that he had found in the Panama markets.

Our sails between the many reefs surrounding the islands in search of the great big fish were usually a non event until one day Smeggsie and Marts strick a big one- yes the fearce Barracuda… a 20 minute fight the rod bending and enduring the strength of the Barracuda with Smeggsie shouting ‘He is a big one!!” One after the other the boys reeled them in only to threw them back as they were too small !!!!!!!! NOT REALLY.

The last morning of the holiday …awaiting the 15 seater Air Panama plane landing in Porvenir to take the fam back to Panama City. MUMSY and Louis say farewell with tears and hugs to all.

Thanks guys for being with us the best ever. Love you all and see you soon in Down Under.

Love MUMSY and the PIRATE- Captain Honeycutt sailing the world!