fishing trip: Part Three

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you all are probably tired of this,but it was a three day two night trip-

check out Nel in the water -and what is he pushing toward the boat- Nel would dive in at a moments notice, after a lost lure, because he thought he saw a fish, whatever.  He is pushing a hurt sea turtle toward the boat.  We saw him and upon realization that he/she could not dive, we decided to see if we could discern the problem (fish line, net, or what).

after examining him, (how we decided on sex, I am not sure) we found no problem other than what appeared to be swelling of his neck.  Captain held him for a photo opp (Stephen and Drew in background) then others including yours truly-- perhaps for another post- then we sent him on his way, struggling to dive, but to no avail.

Earlier on the trip, during the afternoon of the second day, shortly after catching the tuna and while seeing more dolphin than you see, like seeing lots and lots of dolphin.  Victoria, Nel and I were riding on the bow of the boat watching the dolphin and a group of them started swimming and playing right in front of the boat.  I tried to take photos and got several that show them.  Of course they do no justice to what was happening.

there are two clearly visible in teh photo above along with the edge of the boat.  I think that was a splash from a diving or jumping dolphin in the immediate foreground as the boat was not going fast and the water, as you can see was quite calm at this time.

In the photo above to the left you can see the back of a dolphin as he is above the surface, there are numerous other ripples left from dolphin just re-entering the water --

check out above, how many can you see?  (be sure to double click the photo to enlarge the photo) , there were about five at one time that stayed and stayed, then three, two large ones and one small.  they swam patterns and coasted and it was un real how beautiful and surreal it was -- right there within arms reach too as we were leaning forward on our hands and knees, leaning forward over the bow looking out and down as far as we could.

and finally below, is the last, you can see the small one-- who entertained us so beautifully, as well as one of the two larger ones who swam such intricate patterns with  another similar looking one -- absolutely stunningly beautiful and amazing -- yes it was one of those "Gift from God" moments.

other things on the trip included swimming at night off the boat in phosphorus sparkling water, me driving the boat fast, very fast, for a long time, into the setting sun, and all in all a pretty good trip as trips go.  yeah you could say that.

fishing trip: Part Two

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Yes we caught fish-- and from the size of the hook, shown below, we were not fishing for little ones either.  No sir ree bob.  We were after the big 'uns.

and we got a "good sized tuna"  I thought it was a big tuna, but I was ill informed.  This is Captain Andrew, Cappy or Andy or Andrew.  Stephen said I would like him -- I did.  He was very interesting and quite a character, but I guess you all sorta expected that.  I did too and I was not disappointed.

the captain, pulled in this tuna on a thin line, believe it or not, after quite a classic -- at least in my opinion, one of those wind up the line affairs while the fish tries not to be wound up.  Apparently this thin line thing was a big deal.

The boat was often piloted by the beautiful Victoria and Jennifer, who certainly helped out the overall appearance of the crew- also the back of Drew.

Stephen caught this mahi-mahi, he too, did a lot of winding and such as the fish really did not want to be in the boat or brought close to the boat.

Stephen on lookout duty

Nel, from South Africa and possessor of somewhat of a good sense of humor and dry wit, in a pose seen often, but futile I might add.  He did not catch a fish, -- nor did I (I did lose one tuna or something as at one time we had several lines humming or zinging or something) nor  did Drew, nor either of the women boat pilots.  So those of you who guessed two guessed right on the quiz game for number of fish caught.  The reason we caught so few is obvious to all who knew I was going.  It was because I was going.  I have never been on a trip where fish in significant number were caught, and so there was no need for it to start now.

the next post - part three of the fishing trip will be of one of the real high lights of the trip.  One of those I am holding a panda type moments.  And I got some photos too.

not sure when it will be as I am off to El Valle, the delayed trip.

Fishing trip: Part One

This past weekend I went on a fishing trip with Stephen, a ship captain friend of his and some of their friends.  The ship captain, a real one, one who pilots ships through the Panama Canal, has a 30 foot long, custom boat for fishing, powered, and I mean powered by two 250 Evinrude engines.  Seven of us left the city and the Canal late in the afternoon Friday for a little fishing on our way to the Pearl Islands off the coast of Panama.

From the photo below of the next day, you can see, I was dressed for a day in the sun.  We trolled, snorkeled, spearfished (well some of the crowd did), fished, swam, and had a very good time.

Going out the view of the Bridge of the America's was quite a site (I forgot just why we were going slow at this moment and I got the camera to work too))  I did not get nearly the photos I would have liked,  I was hanging on  --- and learning how to take the waves with my legs.  I think I mentioned the boat had two big motors, well it is a go fast boat.  and it goes over waves with a splash and thud.  The splash comes back up over the boat.  It is quite fun and a thrill, but does not leave a lot of time for taking pictures. - or conversation - at least not at first as I was concentrating on not falling out, or into someone or something in the boat.

But the show stopper was the sunset. and we did stop  for it. It really was amazing.  This is a poor representation of what it actually looked like.

Back to next days activities, some of it consisted of boat riding.  Some more fast, but a lot of trolling where the boat goes slow.  I got a boat cushion, and napped on the bow of the boat.  That was nice.  Hat over face, slow rhythm water under the boat, i-Tunes playing along with hum of boat motor.  I like fishing.

Trollop Island where we snorkeled and swam quite a bit.  Really a beautiful place.

There was a rock out cropping under the water that attracted a lot of little, and some not so little fish and it was really quite special to swim there and look at the tropical fish.  The spear fishermen in the group spent an equal amount of time attempting to catch a large fish, - to no avail.

The ship captain, had arranged for our lunch at a luxury fishing lodge/boat/floating boutique hotel of some sort. This is me standing on the deck, changed and ready for my drink on the deck, veranda, porch, bow, whatever. --- this what ever it is called (actually a retired old Alaska crab vessel) is located in a cove of one of these really pretty islands where lunch was not ready yet, so we had a few drinks, and said we would be back in a couple of hours for lunch after we went somewhere else to fish some more.  We were a little early, unexpected number, or something, but I digress, --

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more to come --

and did we catch any fish ??

if so, how many ?

the long leg of my commute

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The long leg of my commute from my apartment to the gym where I work out almost every day is via the Cinta Costera.  It is like a greenway by the sea, and it is quite beautiful.  It is next to the Balboa expressway - or part of the Pan-American Highway system.  -- So you do get to hear car horns.  However at high tide you can also hear waves and smell ocean smells.

yes indeed dee that would be me, and yes I am a bit unusual.  I wear read and grey.  Other than that I pretty much fit right in.

Looking back at Casco Viejo.  I exit Casco just to the right of those white buildings on the water front after zigzaging through the old town.   A post on that later.

The destination.  the other side of the bay,  actually - Stephen and Jen live in there to the left of the tallest building I think, but not  by much.  I leave the greenway a bit before the end and go back more into the middle of town towards the El Panama and Exective hotels.

and of course you never know who you just might meet on the greenway.

and stop for a picture.

In the evening, it is pleasant, in the heat of the day, it is a bear.

the "loaner" bike I am using and some fishing boats in the background-

There is a fish market just ahead, you do know when you get close.  and yes, this is a pretty good deal.

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been meaning to publish this

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Actually this was from some time back when Patt was still here, and she noticed these guys washing windows coming down the building.  (would have liked to have seen them at the top)  after gawking a while - along with a lot of other people, -in this part of town, we have friends and neighbors as Laura used to say, thinking quickly, I fumbled and got out my new camera, Paul blogged rather redundantly.

Changing lens we get a closer view,

and changing angles, Patt pointed out the light really showed up what they had accomplished.  I guess it was that days work.  Bathroom break anyone ?

Patt began to get impatient with me as it was only about 99 degrees with a corresponding amount of humidity or you would have just might have seen how they got down from the building.

A cautionary note, as seen in the slide below, sidewalks are not always what they may seem, and it is best to watch where you are going.  Stephen reminds me of that constantly as I tend to be somewhat of a tourist type.

At least this obstacle is growing its own warning.  (both of these sidewalk features are in the block of my apartment, which actually is somewhat free of other normal walkway impediments.  (sharp curb cuts, uneven pavement, steps, debris, vendors, various utility poles and appurtenances,  and probably forgetting other "normal" features.)

Oh and the tall black building actually shades our apartment for part of the day.  I will have to point it out in a future picture when I do an update on the construction project next door.  The drilling guys have left thank goodness.  Thought they would never leave.  Now it appears as if someone made a mistake with concrete and we have to jackhammer some very very strong high strength concrete out.  See how tough it can be.

Panama is famous for this

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if you think about it, it is logical, Panama is one of those places where there are several mountain tops from which one can see both the Atlantic and Pacific at the same time, well not exactly, you do have to turn around.  In the photo below, see the Atlantic ?  no I did not either, seems as if it was cloudy.  "Surprise, surprise, surprise" as the philosopher Gomer Pyle would have said.  (look him up).  

As expected the road to the mountain, and I have the actual name of it somewhere in my notes, (if I get up I may go find it-- and put in in later)

The drive and road was interesting and beautiful.

It was not at all like downtown Panama City, for which I was thankful and did offer many opportunities for me to take pictures, so bear with me on this post.

This was the trail, and I use that term, as it was almost a road, a somewhat easy hike through the jungle like (it is Panama) growth, up a slippery dark path, trail.

and whoa, you are on top.  And you have to be careful how you frame the photo to not have the telephone cell towers in the picture.  (I should have done that but it would have ruined the effect.  That is the Pacific off my right shoulder and I thought I could sorta see it.

My hiking partners, Stephen, Jen, and Allen

More of the drive, note the yellow tree tops with flowers, really striking.

and the continuing mountain range in the distance.  There is of course some legend about that mountain in the distance, but I forgot it too.  It probably is interesting.

On the way back to Panama City, I road with Allen.  He stopped at one of his favorite roadside restaurants/snack food places.  This place which sells cheese in a bread pouch.  It was very very good.  I had one with a coke.  Apparently these Panamanians really are into health food.  They had other bread based specialities too, lots based on sugar, but the cheese was the one people stop for.  It was real light, if you will, and like a puff, with air on the inside and the cheese stuck as a liner to the bread.  Different and real good.  Like I said, probably a health food.  -- oh and the mountain's name, El Voltiavero.  and I did not make that up.

well how do I spend some of my time

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Well, this is one of the things that I do---iI see the old fort at Caso Viejo This photo is  taken from inside one of the old buildings on the water front.  It is of course high tide in this photo.  Below is one taken further back onto the porch and earlier  earlier in the morning.  Both photos were taken from the gym where I have been working out with boxing instructors -- yes you got that right.  Boxing as in the ole one - two.  I enjoy it and it is very challenging and great exercise.  It is not boring at all.  Actually I started this about a year ago at back in the good ole USA at the invitation of a coach there.

I spend a good deal of time in Casco.  Later I will do a post on my commute.  I enjoy it, it is by bicycle, below is a photo of the "first leg" if you will as I leave the gym.  Yes, right through the old streets, and yes people do indeed stare.  goodness they stare.

This is what I look at when I am doing my stretches and warm-ups -- seriously this it it.  complete with breeze.  Yeah, I know, life is really really hard for me now, you all will have to work with me on this.  But this is what I have to look at.  The ships on the horizon do change though.  I will do some more pictures later of the ships and view from here.  It is really sorta nice.  On this porch is where I do my Spanish homework too.  Like I said, this is really hard for me.

Inside the gym, one of the coaches working with some of the "guys".  I am one of the "guys"
Well actually hombres, but that is for another post too.

This is where I do my boxing and yes I have made the speed bag bounce, and it did not hit my head.

and across the street down a couple of blocks is a restaurant which will be subject of a review one day soon too.  I have the special normally.  Today was a Arrozi Thai con Pollo y ensalada.   Excellant.