Pedegral, Panama

We arrived at the small marina of Pedegral after navigating up a narrow river about 6 miles. Panama is amazing. The cost of living is about 1/3 the price of the states. An average meal costs $1.5-$3 at a local restaurant with a beer running about $0.60. Broken Compass is anchored in the center of an estuary with mangroves for protection at 50 feet on either side. There is an abundance of wildlife including monkeys playing in the nearby trees. Tyler and I are leaving Bret and Nicky to tend to the boat as we take a 7 hour bus ride to the city.
Panama City is fragmented. There are areas with extreme violence where military personel stand on each block corner with automatic weapons. There are also nice areas including a large mall which appears to be imported from the United States. We explored the city, picked up solar panels and won some money at the casino before we returned to find Bret and Nicky had a difficult time as security guards. Bret´s Decription:
¨Nicky and I took Makai to experience Panamanian soil and go for a morning walk. After three hours ashore, we found out the true value of our faithful puppy. She had been deterring the theives that patrol the Pedregal river all day. I returned to see our companionway door ripped open and the boat ransacked. Every drawer was open with clothes and valuables strewn on the floor. The VHF radio was ripped from its mount and in a "to go bag" with bilge pumps and riffe speargun sitting next to the accumulated valuables. Apparently, they left in a hurry because after hours of evaluating damage/theft, we found out the only missing items were our two handheld GPSs and $200 Nicky had in her passport.¨
We were lucky. Bret and Nicky took off for Panama City the following morning and Tyler and I took our shift. While preparing the boat for the long leg to Peru, we almost destroyed our boat and a dock after refueling. While refueling and topping off the water tanks, the tide went out leaving us stuck in the mud. I realized the weight of our craft when one tractor, 2 winches, and three boats carrying 30hp, twin 150hp, and 75hp engines respectively could not pull Broken Compass from the mud. We tied 4 lines from the top of the masts to trees and docks to prevent the boat from leaning. Fighting a rising tide using bumpers, 2X4´s and ply wood, we fended a floating steel dock off all night until BC started floating again.
Bret just returned today with a christmas list of boat supplies from the city. We are sail ready with two new 63 watt solar panels mounted, water, food and diesel. The trip to Peru should take about 20 days with intermediate stops at islands and perhaps Equador along the way. Pray for wind.