We are still in Isla Linton and finding life much more civilized now that we have returned the rental car and spend less time on the road with the "Panamaniac" drivers.

There are large monkeys on the Island, which walk upright much of the time (there are rumors of genetic engineering ala Dr Moreau but we think they were rum induced).

We hear them howling every night, they used to be friendly to people we are told but have been visited by one yahoo too many and now are very anti visitor.

We watched a few nights ago as one hapless couple went to the Island and were promptly

charged by the monkeys, who sent them running into the water, unable to untie their dingy to make a getaway they tried franticly to distract the monkeys by splashing water all about.

I don't guess they will be back too soon.

It is very beautiful here, rimmed by mountains and dotted with small islands.

The nights are stunning when it is not raining and last night I had a great yoga practice under the very starry sky with a nice breeze.

The area we are in is like a percolator in whicn cruisers circulate between Colon, the San Blas and Cartagena.

They go to the islands for peace and quiet and to Colon and Cartagena for repairs, provisioning and some urban entertainment.

We have re encountered several friends, in their percolation cycle while here in Linton.

It is always a treat to see once more, folks you thought you left in your wake.

We had hoped to be on our way to the San Blas by now but are awaiting the verdict on the fate of our SSB radio and Gregory's dental work.

Last night was Pizza night. There are 2 couples of former cruisers who
"Swallowed the hook" and became residents of Panama.

Cindy and Reed and Binnie and Roger (The image to the left is their home). Cindy does great canvas work and she and Reed have helped us out so much, we hope we get to return the favors one day.

Binnie and Roger are big animal lovers and have 2, 2-toed sloths as pets.

The image to the left is Reed and Cindy's Place.

Turns out one of the reasons sloths are so slothful, is that the leaves they chew on all day are slightly narcotic. And you thought they were just dumb animals.

They are very cuddly and sleep with teddy bears.

Anyway, we, and 2 other couples ("Lizzy Jean" who we met in Nicaragua in 2004 and "Spellbound" who was the original listing broker for our boat) piled into their cars and off we went.

You would not think this far out in the middle of nowhere there would be 4 French restaurants in a 6-mile radius.

There are a lot of French ex Pats in the area and being French, they need a good place to eat and entertain.

This place, Don Quixote is run by a Frenchman and Argentinean/Italian woman and the food is great.

The back patio faces the base of a mountain range and the setting is spectacular.

Gotta bring the bug spray though if you do not want to be on the menu yourself.

It was Melissa's 59^th birthday. I call he Mountain Mama. She is a machete swinging, monkey raising, horse riding, crop growing, 16 mile a day running force of nature who lives up on a remote mountain alone in a house with no walls and loves it.

Keep your fingers crossed for us that we get the dentist's blessing on Thursday to head out to the San Blas.

Best to all of you,

till nest time,

Carol, Gregory and Felicia 777

P.S. the picture is of our antenna base, which used to be a cylinder until lightening hit it.

--
Gregory