Orchids in the Jungle

If the following entry seems redundant and out of chronological order, that is because it is made up of several emails received over the last few days. My apologies. - K.

Our last day cruising together with Richard and Virginia on Mandy: In the bay near the orchid gardens, the early morning silence interrupted only by pairs of scarlet macaws chatting with one another on flight to the next tree with sweet fruit, the vibrant colors of greens from the thick jungle surrounding the bay, palms flowing in the gentle breeze, the clear water gleaming and inviting one to come swim, all bring a calming peace and awareness to one's soul. It's rather easy to inhale the fragrant moments and pay attention to each step as we walk the beautiful beach toward the gardens. Being with Richard and Virginia brings a smile to my face, and it is a wonderful last adventure together from our sailboats. We all enjoyed the personal tour we had with Trudy, along with four other travelers who had come from a nearby cove, and we learned so much as she shared her knowledge of the orchids, gingers (including halyconias in that family), bromeliads, and native herbs and fruits. What a wonderful morning surrounded by sweet smells and care.

The rest of the afternoon was spent quietly reading and swimming, taking in the moments we were blessed to have with each other. Sidewinder and Mandy were so close at times, we were concerned about hitting one another, but I am sure they enjoyed their last day together. Mandy slithered away at 10 PM, just like planned and even though we tried to stay awake, we were asleep. I woke up around midnight, went outside to take in the moon in between the clouds with some moonbeams lighting up the glassy cove, and took in a slow, deep breath. How much fun we have had these last eight months and what a special friendship we have made. I will miss them.

The cove where Casa Orquideas is located must have a name but I do not know it. It was tranquil and a wonderful way to have our last day with Richard and Virginia and the two boats. Ron and Trudy MacAllistar have created a beautiful garden, and our tour with Trudy was wonderful. We learned a great deal and tasted our way through the garden, nibbling on coconuts, starfruit, grapefruit, and leaves that taste like sugar and garlic. What a fabulous morning in the garden jungle so nurtured. It made me think of JoJo taking such care to create a luscious garden of our own at home. The pictures tell the story of our special day.

The evening is mystical after the rain, and the light has almost disappeared except for some golden sunset slivers way off in the distance. David and I walked downtown, got some money, bought some acrylic paints to use in the clubhouse, and wandered through a very quaint, colorful neighborhood. We spent the morning putting a final coat of paint on the newly caulked hatch cover that was leaking and getting the anchor chain ready to paint.The days have been spectacular here, so clear and colorful in the morning and dramatic in the afternoons as the thunderstorms come and go. The sunsets have been unreal, and it is very fun to embrace it all.

The pictures begin with the double waterspouts we enjoyed in the late afternoon, when Mandy and Sidewinder dropped anchor in this pristine bay. We then had our last supper with Virgina and Richard on Sidewinder. By the time they rowed Mandy Minor over, it was raining hard and the four of us cozied into Sidewinder's belly. We started off our meal with some fresh bread dipped in Margo's gift she last sent us, a tangy Thai ginger shrimp olive oil mix. We drank a toast to our last supper on Sidewinder (at least for a while) and began recalling many memories of adventures together over these past 8 months. David cooked yummy burgers, and we laughed a lot and had a wonderful time. I cherish this new friendship; Richard and Virginia are both so bright, and our conversations are always so interesting. Richard has a knack of finding a way to lighten up tense moments, and I will surely miss the twinkle in his eye and that ability to make us laugh. Virginia is the salt of the earth woman and has a wonderful smile and bellylaugh. We look forward to going with them through the Panama Canal. They should be there either tomorrow or Friday and will let us know their plans; we will bus our way to Balboa to greet them. We will then have a chance to have our last supper on Mandy.