Flying Along
Still making good progress towards Panama averaging over 150 miles a day with about 25 knots behind me. If I am able to keep up the speed I should be in in a few days. Its nice to have a shorter passage after such a long trip from St Helena. The wind has been strong and steady and the seas rough and choppy.
I didn't write much about my stay in Grenada because I was so busy. It was good stop. We got so much done on the boat - it was just awesome. Mike Smith and Dad got a lot of work done and Christian and I did a lot of interviews and organizing stuff for when I get back. The people of Grenada have to be one of the highlights of my stay there for sure. I am always amazed by the kindness and generosity of total strangers where ever I go.
By the time I left St George Harbor we had finished the rest of the repairs on Intrepid and she is ready for her trip back to California. Other than that, I passed a lot of ships last night so I didn't get much sleep.
Dark here going to get sleep while there are no ships.
Cheers,
Zac
I didn't write much about my stay in Grenada because I was so busy. It was good stop. We got so much done on the boat - it was just awesome. Mike Smith and Dad got a lot of work done and Christian and I did a lot of interviews and organizing stuff for when I get back. The people of Grenada have to be one of the highlights of my stay there for sure. I am always amazed by the kindness and generosity of total strangers where ever I go.
By the time I left St George Harbor we had finished the rest of the repairs on Intrepid and she is ready for her trip back to California. Other than that, I passed a lot of ships last night so I didn't get much sleep.
Dark here going to get sleep while there are no ships.
Cheers,
Zac
posted by Zac at
5:46 PM
21 Comments:
I've held off commenting, Zac, about apparent injuries you and your Dad seem to have suffered whilst in port at Grenada.
Can the blackened fingernails (one on your right hand and one on Laurence's left) be from the fast-paste work on Intrepid? Ouch!
Slip safely along, Cap'n!
Speed on along Zac. The weather around the Canal looks a little stormy so take care.
What is the wait time in the queue before Intrepid can transit, anyone?
Neo
yeah....you love the Grenadian people as much as we do...for anyone wanting a terrific holiday in a LOW touristy area...Grenada is the place. I'm glad that you said Grenada was the highlight!
Are you getting excited to get home, now that you are so close? How long do you expect it to take going through the Panama Canal? Some sailing books I've read, said up to a week? Hope it's faster than that for you!
The Franklin 5
Winnipeg, MB Canada
Wow Zac, it's so cool to hear everything you're doing! Great job! :D
~Queen Lucy~
Homeward bound. Our prayers are with you as you click off these last miles. What a journey.
Gods Speed.
Sylvia
Cherry Valley, CA
Capt Zac
Did you say make it in a few days if the wind holds? Somehow i thought that it would have taken at least 10 days to reach Panama. How long do you intend to stay in Panama?
Glad to hear that Grenada was enjoyable. It has been 15 years since my last visit but I have maintained friendships and i totally agree that the people are wonderful.
Continue to be vigilent and hope that your journey continues smoothly.
Will keep you in my prayers till you are safely home
Sherna
AZ
Goose bump moments abound!
Thinking of Zac ticking off those miles and on his way home...yeeha!
Just got that sense of..I'm on my way home now.
So wonderful to hear that your stay in Grenada was a highlight.And great that you have experienced the best of human kindness!
Mindwalker... I too noticed the blackened nails and came to the same conclusion. Looks like it was soooo worth it!
UK friend
Hi Zac,
On the technical side:
1. Did you keep a checklist of all the repairs that were done during your trip?
2. Will you use this list to make changes on Intrepid or any other boat that you will use in the future? Like other quality material and/or equipment..
3. Your dad will not always be there in the future to service your boat. Do you think that you gathered a lot of experience in servicing a boat or do you think that you might have to follow some additional training in the technical field?
Give us your thoughts, that keeps you busy and us too of course.
regards and enjoy,
Will
Fair winds and following seas Zac! Sail on to home!!!
Blessings and a big hug,
Anita
Waterloo, NY
Captain SV Wombat
Sounds like some fun sailing. By now you have learned to manage and master: navigation, solitude, food preparation, sleep while at sea(somewhat), weather, fishing?, the unexpected, different cultures and long passages. Sounds like Intrepid is sound and the sailing is good right now. Enjoy these days!
SteveB
Birmingham,AL
My goodness - so glad to hear you are sailing along at a great pace! I finally showed you to my twin 4-year olds, thought the KCET piece would be great for them, as they are very interested in the earth right now and how things work. They loved the piece -- in fact now when they see a map of the world they ask about you! We are hoping that we can watch you go through the Panama Canal (someone on here said there are cameras that allow that?) -- it was a great lesson for them to show why people built a canal in that location and they really want to see your boat go through it!
All our best - we are so proud of you and enjoy being along this ride! Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
@MindWalker
I also noticed the blackened fingernails. What a bonus it is to be able to see close-up detail in the latest photographs when clicked.
I hope that the camera which took these pictures will be following Intrepid through the big ditch.
Good to hear from you Zac. I hope you realize that we have become such a big extended family, we Zac Packers, that any of us would welcome you with open arms wherever you go, now or in the future. The people you meet along the way just add to our colorful family. You are also such nice person, in search of others and their stories, you attract like kind. God, above all, has opened hearts and arms for you with each step. I am so excited to read your book and to see any documentary or film that comes from this journey. I am also praying for a brand new life for you when you return to the "doldrums" of everyday living. It just seems, though, that you will always find some great adventure in whatever you do in the future. Well enough of that. Sail safe and hope you are in Panama soon.
Fair Winds Cap'n,
Kathy
Bend, OR
It was good stop? Are you sure you just didn't sleep the whole time you were there? haha, just kidding, we know what you meant. How long exactly is it until your next stop? Days or miles is fine. Just don't get turned into a crushed tin can in the locks, it looks like those cargo ships are a little aggressive!
keep on sailing and trusting in God,
Michael Sheetz
Mission Viejo, CA
I too noticed the fingernails! if you click on the photo while the trio are raising their drinks the pic enlarges! Those are great photos in that blog!! I also enjoyed seeing in the background - beautiful wood cabinets and wondered what kind of wood - is it a great rich stain on them or is it a naturally aged color. I thoroughly enjoyed that in the photo as I am a carpenter by trade.... keeping the photo in it natural light certainly made my day!!
If anyone knows how or where to look up the "Locks" webcam - please share... I'd love to see that!
Regards,
Markus CT
i love that you're "amazed by the kindness and generosity of total strangers", i'm not sure you realize that you and your attitude and your respect are the reason they are like that.
it's an easy lesson, one that some people never learn, but you have excellent teachers(Thanks Marianne and Laurence)
you constantly amaze me Zac
Rock On
I just did a Google search and came up with web cams at the official Panama Canal site:
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html
Appears to be "realtime" from about 3 different web cams, but I suppose we would need to know when Zac is expected. I only looked at this quickly, so maybe there's more info - I did notice they had some "key" or "memorable" photos shown as well, so maybe Zac would make that cut??? I would hope so!
Not sure if this is the same web cam someone else shared on here, but definitely looks like a possiblity!
Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
lol - hear I was checking Capt Zac!'s hair length for Locks for Love & to make sure he hasn't lost too much weight (must be the Uncle in me - not Capt Zac!'s, but me 8 nieces/nephews), completely missed the hammered/blackened nails ;)
Nice to read so many "newbies" posting - definitely brings back memories of when Capt Zac! first started posting. :D
Bought another round of T-Shirts (me fam isn't wearing them often enough - must mean they have to keep washing them so can't wear them ;) ). I noticed while shopping that there the original ZacPac t-shirts are starting to be in short-supply - if you haven't bought yours - better do so soon!!!
@ Lady Marianne -
Much thx for taking so much time to keep the blog comments "clean". It's one of the very few highlights of me day to be able to get a boost reading peeps who care & continue to financially support my Hero. Thx for taking time outta your very busy day keeping it that way. :D
Well, didn't want to key this much but did want to add a THX to everyone who continues to read the blog comments/posts & still shopping at Capt Zac!'s store (w/donations of course!). Y'all are why I keep coming back to read "what's new".
HUGS!
Tomi/ATL
Weather looks awesome, perfect wind and direction for the remainder of the week. Who wouldn't want to be cruising in the Caribbean right about now :-)
Jeeze, just read poor Mike has to stop again! Now his other rudder is broken. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry for the poor guy :-(
Even if at this stage he tries for the canal, can't see him getting there while Zac is there. Either lunch with Zac in Panama or Saito-san @ Cape Horn. :-)
Barley green and a new sail....Life is good!
I hope I will be able to be on-line when you go through the Panama Canal. Yet I know I will cry, and I don't cry easily!
I've been away from home visiting family and being somewhat of a pest asking some of them if I could please use their computer to check on Zac!
Stay safe as you near the canal.
Namaste~~
Zac--the kindness of strangers also continues to blow me away. I was on a cross-country bike trip with just my sister once (18 and 19 years old respectvely) and several times we'd be stuck in the middle of no where with darkness falling so we'd just knock on the first door we found. People never turned us away from pitching a tent in their yards. One couple even insisted on feeding us and allowing us to sleep in their guest bedrooms. Truck drivers would not only give us directions but radio the other truck drivers in the area to keep an eye out for us. Our mom was scared of strangers hurting us but, ironnically, they were the ones that assured our wellbeing.
It's a humbling experience, isn't it?
Good luck,
Molley
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