By Tuesday December 5th most of the Panama Posse boats made there way into the marina at Barra de Navidad and we watched with excitement as it filled up. Finally we were not alone. During the day Jeff and I took the water taxi into Barra for our final molcajete lunch at El Manglito. Last time only I got one and Jeff wanted to try one of his own. Like the previous time it did not disappoint and we left sweaty from head to toe but well worth it.
Late that day the boat Delta Swizzler who was docked directly behind us hosted a happy hour for any and all Panama Posse boats that were around. They both have been through the canal several times so it was nice getting to know them and hearing their experience. Plus we got to meet a lot of the Posse people prior to the kick off party. It was a really nice evening.
Jeff's Seafood Molcajete
Happy Hour on Delta Swizzler
The next day knowing the festivities were about to begin and also knowing we were out of food we rented a car and drove into Manzanillo the big port town that is an hour drive away. They have a La Comer which is my favorite market in Mexico plus we wanted to see a little bit of town. We started in the downtown port area which has a small melacon with some open air shops and sculptures of the zodiac. We watched the freighters and tugs while we took the brief walk. Jeff scouted out a place for lunch that was highly rated called Pacifica Del Mar. The staff weren't very nice and at one point seemed to be mocking us. The food wasn't anything special either. Oh well. As Jeff's dad would say, "it's just another meal." Fortunately La Comer made up for it and we got everything we needed and made our way back to the marina.
Entering Colima State
Port of Manzanillo
Sculpture Downtown Manzanillo
Whale Bones
Freighter Coming In
Feliz Navidad
Lunch at Pacifica Del Mar
Jeff's Gemini Sculpture
My Pieces
Evening Back at the Marina
Thursday was the day we had been waiting for since we left Puerta Vallarta, the day of the Panama Posse Kick Off weekend and meeting the infamous Captain Dietmar, our fearless leader. We woke up excited and ready to go. About an hour before the start of the meeting we got a very welcome surprise outside the boat. The sound of the French Baker Boat ringing it's bell and pulling up right in front of our boat. The French Baker is a bakery in town that every morning during high season sends a boat full of baked goods to the marina and sell them right out of their boat. Jeff went running as did all our neighbors. So fun. After eating bread and pastries we made our way to the hotel and to the banquet room for our first Panama Posse meeting. We took turns introducing ourselves and our boats and Dietmar gave us an overview of the weekends events, introduced the dockmaster and got right into information about our next stops along the route. It was a wonderful and informative day. During the meeting at some point Captain Dietmar mentioned going to a rooftop bar for sunset which of course we all wanted to go as well. So about 12 of us took a water taxi into Barra for drinks at the rooftop bar and then onto dinner. It was a fun way to start the events of the weekend.
Captain Dietmar
Posse People in Meeting
Roof Top Bar with Dietmar
Water Taxi Back to Marina
The French Baker
The next day was much like the first- meetings started at 10 and 1 and that evening was our kick off party. It was open bar and appetisers in front of the harbor masters office put on by the marina. By this time we were meeting several people so it was fun to talk more with them and get to know them better. As the festivities started to wind down a large group of us piled back in the water taxi and went to Colmia (a water town opposite Barra) and to Fornio's for dinner. There were about 20 of us at dinner. But my favorite part came after dinner. For some reason we were the first to pay our check and call the water taxi. As I came out of the bathroom Jeff said, "we're paid, water taxi is here lets go." Well Captain Dietmar must have been thinking the same thing and said he too would come. So the three of us hopped in the water taxi and en route Jeff invited him over for some rum. He said ok and we spent the rest of the night talking one and one with Dietmar and enjoying some rum on the Tidings of Joy.
With Captain Dietmar at Kick Off Party
Kick Off Party
With Brant and Ono at Kick Off Party
Water Taxi to Dinner
Dinner at Fornio's
Saturday our meetings didn't start until 1 so it was nice to sleep in and go slow. After the meetings we all dispersed back to our boats to get ready for the boater pot luck. Dietmar had a pig delivered at 7a.m. that had been roasting on a spit all day along with three cases of rum for us to drink. Boaters were asked to either bring a side dish or dessert and their own protein for dinner. My original idea was to bring buckeyes (a traditional christmas cookie I grew up eating) but couldn't find all the ingredients so I made Spanish rice instead. There was so much food and we had the best time sitting and chatting with our new boater friends. I even won the galley goddess award for best dish for my Spanish rice. I was presented a 12 year old bottle of rum in front of the entire group which of course embarrassed the shit out of me. Fortunately Captain Dietmar didn't force me to speak. When it got dark we set off all of our expired flares which was really good practice in addition to be a pretty light show. As the party was winding down and the rum running low Dietmar asked where the after party was and of course Jeff and I volunteered the Tidings of Joy. A handful of us came back to the boat and drank more rum and played Dietmar's latin mix and talked and talked. I don't what time everyone left but Jeff and I continued to have our own party until 3a.m where we danced and sang and celebrated our wonderful life.
Boater Pot Luck
My Award
Light Flares With Kurtis
Pot Luck with Dietmar & Pause
Kelly & Beth at Pot Luck
After Party on Tidings of Joy
Dietmar Giving me my Award
Jeff with Que Vendra
Galley Goddess Award
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