Lester came down with some kind of flu bug about a week ago and was sick for most of 4 days.  Fever, aches and pains, he slept through most of it and finally came out on the other side about Tuesday.  Wednesday turned out to be a really gorgeous day.  Hardly a cloud in the sky and the water was as smooth as glass all the way into Bocas town and almost that smooth on the way back.  Finding a dock that is open and the business is willing to let you tie up is a bit of a problem.  But at the far end of town is a big boat that is a floating restaurant and has a dock we can use while in town.  Of course, they expect you to eat there as well, which is too bad as the food was not that great. Probably the quality of food offered there  is the reason for the abundance of docking space.  That's my guess anyway.We spent several hours in town.  Had lunch, shopped for groceries.  It was good to get out after so many days at home.

Yesterday we hit the water again, this time making a trip to visit our former neighbors from when we house sat here 2 years ago.  Carl and Mary live on the next bay, Dolphin Bay.  This house is on Almirante Bay.  There are small islands and mangrove mazes everywhere you go.  Easy to get lost here although we remembered some of the routes from the last time we were here (and were often lost back then!) While we were sitting out on their wrap around deck the howler monkeys arrived in the tree tops at the back.  So entertaining to watch them.  Such nice people! Carl and Mary, that is.  I suppose the monkeys are nice too though.

One note of interest, before I forget to mention it, is the short wave radio(single side band, Les calls it) that we have in the house.  Many of the people in the area have one and it is the major means of communication here.  Every morning about 8:00 they make announcements and share  bits of news and  advice.  Throughout the day people contact each other on this radio.  Jan and Brent (home owners here) are Ben 64.

We saw a dolphin out in front of the house this morning. Loved that.  Am watching for a sloth!