Worrall Travel R's Circling the Caribbean - Weeks 4-8

Worrall Travel Rs Back on the Sea!  

Circling the Caribbean in 55 Days on the 

Windstar Wind Surf 2026!

Part 2 - Weeks 5 thru 8

Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Honduras, Belize, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Saint Martins

Week 5

Sunday, 2/1/26 Aruba, Orangestad

Went Snorkeling in Aruba with Pelican Adventures, El Tigres, with Captain Ruben and Mates Pepper and and Andrew. The first stop was at a Marine Preserve.  Saw lots of fish, schools of fry, Sargeant majors, puffer fish, Parrot fish, some live coral (exciting)...tube, sponges, brain coral, Green Sea Turtles.  

Our second stop was to a ship wreck where the aft part of the sunken ship was only abou 12 feet in  the water.  The sea had a two foot wind chop and strong current.  I got in the water thinking Russ was right behind me.  He saw me struggling to make headway and being tossed about as I made my way to the aft part of the sunken ship and thought better of following.  

It definitely was a challenge and my legs got a work out with short fins against a strong current, but I was determined to make it.  Unlike diving where you can get under the chop, I had no weights on and had to swim through the chop and couldn't even free dive. I was getting a little panicky and was starting to breathe too fast.  It was a good exercise for me to just slow the breathing and relax.  I made it to the ship wreck, saw some coral and saw Sergeant Major fish. and let the current carry back to the catamaran where I literally had to catch the ladder before being swept past the boat out to se

My camera inside the pouch was basically unusable underwater, so not any snorkel photos.  But here are some photos top and coast side of the Aruba. 

Marine Preserve

Andrew, Rueben, Pepper serving BBQ Lunch and the National Drink, Aruba Arriba

Russ has a customized sunburn on his forehead!

Monday, 2/2/26 At Sea - Heading to Columbia

Today, we are at sea, having left Aruba at 6:00 pm last night.  The winds and currents in Aruba were pretty strong yesterday.  Layers of dried salt spume on the outside clouded our port holes as we left.  The sea state increased and rain set in clearing the port holes. Everyone who didn't have to go outside, stayed inside today.  The boat was a rocking and a rolling with 3 meter plus seas and winds of 40 knots.  

It didn't seem that crowdedi n the common areas, so we think there must have been many who chose to stay in their cabins.  One of the officers made an announcement, that those who were feeling ill could get sea sickness pills from the ships doctor.  Those of us not affected, read, chatted, caught up on journals, and played table games.

We met a woman from Romania, Transylvania, who joined us playing Rummikub.  We read that Rummikub originated in Romania.  She shared with us how she learned to play as a child.  She built a stack wall of of seven tiles tall.  Each player picked a tile off the stack wall.  Low tile started the round.  From that point on, we shared how we play renegrade Rummikub.  Another fellow joined us and we had a rollicking good time.

Tomorrow we should be in Columbia.  I am sure there will be a lot of people anxious to get their feet on solid grounD.

Tuesday, 2/3/26 Columbia, Cartagena

This rainy morning we boarded our tour bus with several dozen people from our boat with thousands of other people from much larger cruise ships to converge in old town Cartagena.  It was definitely crowded, but very picturesque and a fun place to take photos and then try and erase all the people.Thank goodness for the 

By the time we reached the old city of Cartagena the rain had stopped.  It was warm, summy, and very humid.  Our first photo stop is across from the Fort Castillo San Felipe de Barajas,

The main, most famous fort in Cartagena, Colombia, is the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. Located on San Lázaro hill.  This massive 17th-century Spanish fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The diamond on the sidewalk in front ot the bicycle is "home plate" for street baseball.

The Haves and the Have Nots

Wednesday, 2/4/26 Columbia, Cartagena

National Bird Aviary

Thursday, 2/5/26 San Blas, Isla Aroma

Beach day on a beautiful island that feels like the South Pacific

Friday, 2/6/26 At Sea, Heading to Panama

Another Rolly Polly Day at Sea

Good  thing we don't get sea sick.  Lots of folks were heaving with the heaving.

Saturday, 2/7/26 Panama, Bocas Del Toro

In port,, but excursions were weather canceled.  Another Soggy Day, staying inside, reading, editing photos, playing games.

Week 6

Sunday, 2/8/26 Panama, Colon, Berthed

Today, Russ and I are going in different directions.  Russ is headed to Panama City to visit the Miraflores Locks.  His interests are in the engineering, mine are more cultural and genealogical.   I'm hoping to go back in time to 1849 on the Chagres River to understand the environment by 2nd great grand parents experienced while crossing the Isthmus of Panama from the Atlantic to the Pacific on their way to California gold.

Russ shared a few of the photos he took of on of the Wind Star Motor  Yacht  coming from the Pacific to the Atlantic. 

Our guide to the Embera Village was very informative about the history of the Isthmus of Panama and the people who traversed it to live in it and to cross it.  The Chagres River was the first up hill challenge for those rushing to the Gold fields.  The river was originally characterized by rapid, turbulent flows throughout its course before being dammed to create Gatun Lake and Lake Madden for the Panama Canal. It was a fast-flowing river known for its intense seasonal changes, which were controlled to create the present-day navigable, calm lake system and controlled water flow.  Today the Chagres River looks quite placid as it flows out of Lake Gatun.

An established canoe and hiking route had long been established by explorers, 

pirates, and privateers to transfer gold, silver, and spices from new world to old world

without going around the South American Horn.  It took approximately 7 days to canoe

up the Chagres to Las Cruces, and another 7 days on foot or by mule to Panama City 

via the Cruces trail.  Once in Panama City, Gold Seekers may have had to wait two

months for a passing Steam Ship to San Francisco.

                    Green Star:  Chagres discharge to Atlantic, 

                    Red Star: Embera Village, 

                    Blue Star: Start Hike

                    Gold Star:  Panama City Port

Many ships reaching San Francisco were abandoned by crew seeking their fortunes,

It took months to get crew for a return trip to Panama or a wait for ships coming around

the Horn.

All of this has been a lesson in geography.  I thought by visiting the Embera Village I might get a historical glimpse of the indigenous people my ancestors would have encountered.  I soon realized they were on the far head waters of the Chagres (and now Lake Alejuela  not near the exit of the Chagres and unlikely to be involved with those seeking Gold in California. The Embera are the "friendliest" and open to visitors than other Indigenous people.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed our visit to this group and gained a much clearer understanding of how the Tibbits Family voyaged, canoed, and hiked to the Pacific side of the  Isthmus,  The SS California, Oregon, Panama are the primary ships delivering Gold Rush Passengers to California.

Here are some photos of the lovely people of the Embera Village.

Lunh is served.

Monday, 2/9/26 Panama, Colon, Berthed

Yesterday, Russ visited the Mira Flora Locks in Panama City/. Today, we both go to the northern locks at Aqua Clara that were opemed in 2016.

      Automated sliding gates so that more than one boat at a time can go through the locks.

      The tugs and boats move at a snails pace to be perfectly aligned in the lock.

WWoot Another check of the Bucket List!

              The Final Gate out of  Lake Gatun and to the Atlantic

We watched one cargo ship come out south bound, and one cargo ship north bound go through two locks out of Gatun Lake.  What took us two hours, you can view here in two short time lapse videos.

LLowered to the level of the Atlantic.

Towed out of the lock and on its way.

                                   From the bridge, looking towards Aqua Clara and the Double Locks

When we are headed back to the boat, our taxi driver says it is only a 15 minute drive to Fuerte San Lorenzo if we would like to see where the Chagres River discharges into the Atlantic.  This would also be where the Gold Seekers would have disembarked from steam ships, boarded tenders and started their canoe trek across the Isthmus.  We say yes, and head out to Fort San Lorenzo.  

It costs us $10.00 to see the Fort, but I have a much better idea what the strart of their journey across the Isthmus looked like with a few exceptions.  The water coming out of the Chagres would not have been as placid, and the Fort would not have been welcoming to those seeking their fortunes in California.

LLooking out at the unending Atlantic

View from the Fuerte to Rio Chagres

I wonder how in dug out canoes they would have been able or not to transport their household belongings across the Isthmus.  Passenger fares on the steam ships ranged from $200-$300.00 per person which would have been a considerable sum for a family of four.  John P. Tibbits was a medical doctor and his wife a "refined" woman from an esteemed family, so they must have had some financial means and no doubt personal belongings, unless they sold all their belongings to pay the passage.    

It could be that the ship they were on would continue around the horn and would eventually make it to San Francisco, or when their eldes t daughter Adelia and her husband, B. F Ogden came around the Horn separately, household goods were shipped.

In the historical map below, the greeb star indicates the location of Fort San Lorenzo, and the Chagres River emptying into the Atlantic.  Following the river upstream towards the blue star,  there are several pueblos where dugout canoes may have put in for the night, and passengers would have camped or found beds to rent.  From greeb start to blue star the journey would have taken about seven days and nights.  From blue star to gold star is another estimated 7 days by foot or mule travel.

Our extra side trip to Fort San Lorenzo more than doubled our planned taxi fare of $80.00 and emptied our wallets, but it was worth it!

Tuesday, 2/10/26 Panama, Bocas Del Toro

It is pouring cocodrilos this morning with 100% rain all day. and rough seas.   Ugh!  Some very brave passengers are still going out on tours despite the weather conditions.  We are happy that we walked around last week and saw all that we did under cloudy but rainless skies.  

We opt out of any excursions on shore, even though I would have liked to go to Red Frog Beach.  We spend an easy morning, and a Rummikub afternoon in the yacht club.  The snorkeler excursion comes back, cold and wet, not happy campers.  The Red Frog group, got some great photos of the red frogs.  Guess the frogs like the rain!  Oh well!

Wednesday, 2/11/26 Columbia, Rada El Cove, Isla San Andreas

We taxied with fellow Windsurf guests, Kate and Ericto see the island. $120 for the four of us.  We left the boatt about 12:30.  Returned after stopping at a couple of places for shopping (Russ bought a Columbian Soccer Shirt).  The wind was blowing and I sneezed a few times.  Not sure if it was island allergy to something or the beginning of a head cold.  Russ was on the tail end of a head cold so that was not out of the question for me.

Beautiful aqua blue water.

IIsla San Andres is 17 square miles, and 160,000 people.  About 10,000 people per square mile.  Crowded!

Russ on the hunt for a Columbian Soccer Shirt....Doesn't find that one, but did get a Jamaican Shirt.

     So many people, sooo many motor bikes.  Sooo many people on motorbikes!  

We  visited the beaches, 

the old Baptist church on the highest spot on the island, especially if you climb to the top of the steeple.

                                          This was the first of many spiraled flights up!

The view from the one-person steeple was 360 degrees!.

Our last stop was the "blow hole".  Fun to watch people getting spummed!

When we returned to the boat late afternoon,  I felt tired, had a stuffy nose, and  was a little headachy.  I thought a nap would solve the problem, but it didn't. When I woke up I didn't feel like getting dressed and going out to dinner.  I decided to try room service for dinner.  Russ joined me.  

I took my temperature (normal), some cold tabs, a hot shower, and went to bed.

Thursday, 2/12/26 At Sea, Heading to Honduras, Roatan

The day is partially sunny with moderate seas with clumps of sea grass floating on top of the churn and swiftly passing our porthole.  

This morning I definitely have  what I think is just a "head cold" and being socially responsible Intake a Covid antigen test, just in case, before I head out for the day.   It was positive! Rats!  Guess I'll be staying in!

I called the ships' doctor, Dr. Mark.  He and a nurse came to the room, take my blood pressure (high), administered another antigen test, and confirmed a normal range temperature.   Russ  (no longer symptomatic for a head cold) also tested Covid positive.  Russ and I are isolated for 24 hours and can be released if neither of us develops a fever. It's room service all day today.  

I watch all the HGTV on demand and the excellent movie, The Help.

Friday, 2/13/26 At Sea, Heading to Honduras, Roatan

The sun is out, the swell is minilmal, and neither of us have developed fevers.  I am feeling better, but still sniffle/sneeze symptomatic, Russ is asymptomatic.   At 1:00 pm when we are released from isolation, I will elect to stay isolated until tomorrow.  The silver lining of course for me is getting caught up on the blog.

Saturday, 2/14/26 Honduras, Roatan, Drive, submersive boat snorkle, arboratum, 

Week 7

Sunday, 2/15/26  Belize,  Belize City

Crocs!  Our fast speed boat slowed for wildlife photos.  It was an Indiana Jones Type of River Ride.

        Can you see the bats on the fallen tree trunk?

     Turtles warming in the sun

      

    Mennonite Children watching the boats go by on a Sunday afternoon .

llamani temples

This is a playing field.  The rules aren't exactly known, but it was between two men kicking a ball.  The winner had the distinction of being sacrificed afterwards.

Coming Soon!

Monday, 2/16/26 Mexico, Costa Maya 

Tuesday, 2/17/26 Mexico, Cozumel

Wednesday, 2/18/26 At Sea to Grand Cayman

Thursday, 2/19/26 Grand Cayman, Georgetown

Friday, 2/20/26 Grand Cayman, Brac, West End

Tidy historic island, Tibbetts in Museum

Saturday, 2/21/26 Jamaica, Ocha Rios

Tour, Waterfall Dunn

Week 8

Sunday, 2/22/26 At Sea to Dominican Republic

Worked on Blog, Rummikub

Monday, 2/23/26 Dominican Republic, Santa Dominigo

3 eyes Sink Holes, stairs no railings, bad for the knees.

Tuesday, 2/24/26 Dominican Republic, La Romana

Caves, Med Village

Wednesday, 2/25/26 At Sea to BVI, Jost Van Dyke

Murder Mystery

Thursday, 2/26/26 BVI, Jost Van Dyke

Booked next tour, Haircut

Friday, 2/27/26 BVI, Virgin Gorda

Saturday, 2/28/26, Saint Martins, Phillipsberg, Disembark

Sunday, 3/1/26