Anchor drama at Monkey Island

Sunday 16^th January

As we approached the mainland of Panama the scenery and the water change quite drastically.  

The mountainous rainforest rises up dramatically from the shore, and the peaks of the mountains gradually disappear into a mist.  Heavy rain clouds loom ominously above. The sea quickly changes from clear turquoise to murky green, caused by the run off from the rivers.  The coastline appears quite eerie, dark and foreboding with occasional hazy rays of sunshine piercing through the clouds.

We approach Monkey Island as the sun is setting and we are so grateful to be at our anchorage before dark.  In my excitement at having arrived safely, and while paying more attention to the island (looking for the monkeys) than to the anchor, I’m suddenly in trouble, when the anchor chain shoots through right to the bitter end.  Thank God we had the chain tied on.  I quickly attached the snubber to secure the chain, and called for Bob.  Unfortunately the line tied to the anchor had knotted itself around the windless and we were unable to untie it.  Bob had to dismantle the entire windless to get the line out and put the chain back on.  OH boy was I ever popular!

Only monkeys populate Monkey Island, there is a derelict house on the shore, inhabited by the monkeys, they are very tame and will come and sit on your lap and eat out of your hands, but apparently when you try and leave they get upset and will bite you.  Knowing this we decided not to venture onto the island, but to observe from a safe distance on the boat.  

We could hear the monkeys clearly, but were unable to see any.