(April 7 – written by Dave) We’ve enjoyed our time in Panama City.  It’s a pretty large city listed at 1.5 million people but honestly, there are so many tall buildings, the city feels much larger.  It almost seems more North American than it does Latin American.  I suspect that the US influence over the … Continue reading Panama City

(April 5 – written by Dave) Today we visited the Panama Canal but the post starts with my grandfather – known to family simply as “the Captain”. I didn’t know the Captain very well, as he passed away when I was 4 years old.  He was a very strict man.  I remember him jabbing our … Continue reading The Captain and the Canal de Panama

(April 3 – written by Dave) So, we’re in Panama City and looking to get on an airplane.  For long-time readers who know that our goal is the bottom of South America, this may not make much sense.  We are a long ways from the bottom of South America. If you’re like us, you probably … Continue reading The riddle of the Darien Gap

(April 1 – written by Dave) Wow, what a day!  We made it to Panama City.  Woohoo! Nancy mentioned yesterday that we were concerned about long weekend traffic coming back into the city and somehow getting over the Bridge of the Americas.  Well, some of our fears came true, some didn’t, but we made it, … Continue reading Panama City – Palmar Beach to Panama City (98k/13,556k)

(March 31 – written by Nancy) Today was another transit day along the PanAm highway.  We were actually ready to roll this morning before it was quite light enough.  We changed time zones when we entered Panama so it doesn’t get light enough to ride until after 6 or so.  We’re not really game enough … Continue reading On the beach – Aguadulce to Palmar Beach (103k/13,458k)

(March 30 – written by Nancy) We didn’t get quite the quiet, peaceful sleep we were hoping for last night.  Dave’s insistence on not putting the rainfly on meant that the nice bright moon in clear sky was like an overhead light on all night.  And there was a nice porch light on that also … Continue reading Thap, thap, thap, thap – Campamento La Buena Esperanza to Aguadulce (87k/13,355k)

(March 29 – written by Dave) Starting at the end of the day again today because that’s how we explain the name of the blog.  Paco is a 2 month old puppy at Campamento La Buena Esperanza where we are staying with Erika and Jaime.  They are Warmshowers hosts, originally from Switzerland but have lived … Continue reading Paco day – Las Lajas to Church camp (95/13,268k)

(March 28 – written by Dave) We were up at 5AM and ready to roll at 6:15 again.  It was barely light enough to ride.  The hour time change means that we can’t get out really, really early.  Nancy is happy (though even I would admit that an alarm at 5AM is not much of … Continue reading Signs from David quiz – David to Las Lajas (82k/13,173k)