WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE
Dodge City, Kansas was a town in the wild west that attracted cowboys, gunslingers, and ner-do-wells. When things got out of control in Dodge City, and all hell broke lose, people said it was time to get the hell out of Dodge.
Real Ocean Cruisers can recognize a Dodge City Anchorage, and they know when to get out of Dodge.
Escudo De Veraguas in Panama is a Dodge City Anchorage.
Early in the morning we weighed anchor in the Zapatillas and set a course for Escudo De Veraguas where we planned to spend a few days.
Escudo is a magical place with unique geologic formations coming down to the sea.
We had a quick sail to Escudo, and by early afternoon our anchor was down in fifteen feet of water at least 100 meters offshore.
We quickly put our dinghy in the water and headed for shore.
Escudo De Veraguas is an island with a classic Panamanian rainforest. It’s the only offshore Island I have seen that had a typical rainforest canopy.
We spent a short time on the beach, and then got in the dinghy and explored the network of geological formations along the shore.
The enchanted formations were amazing, and we made plans to return the next day for further exploration.
The weater was unsettled, and we returned to Exit Only after a couple of hours.
Once we were back on board Exit Only, we noticed the wind had picked up, and swells started rolling into the anchorage.
We were far enough offshore that we felt safe for the time being, but the increasing swell was a real concern.
When you are anchored in a shallow water, you pay attention to the swells.
The swells first started breaking on the beach, and then they started breaking farther out.
The swells were sending a message, and we were wondering if it was time to get out of Dodge.
It took a couple of hours for swells to build to the point that they were starting to break just in front of Exit Only. We knew that if we stayed any longer, all hell would break lose.
About that time a big catamaran sailed in and dropped their anchor off our stern. The captain of that catamaran didn’t seem concerned about the swell.
After fifty thousand miles of sailing, we didn’t want to lose Exit Only on a beach in Panama.
We sadly raised our anchor among the breaking swells, and headed to safety offshore.
Once we got offshore, we spent the next twelve hours battling ten foot seas through the night.
After an overnight sail, we arrived in safe harbor at the entrance of the Panama Canal.
That same night, the big catamaran took a beating while anchored at Escudo De Veraguas. Breaking swells pummeled the cat all night long. One of the swells hit the catamaran so hard that it knocked a shelf off a bulkhead.
Several weeks later, I saw that cat hauled out in a boatyard with damage to both rudders. I don’t know if the damage happened at Escudo De Veraguas, but they were fortunate to not lose their boat on the beach.
Real Ocean Cruisers know when to get out of Dodge.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
