John writes: after an enjoyable evening, including a nightcap on the 50th floor overlooking the bright lights of Panama City, our intrepid team decided to retake the Darien Gap as the weather was looking favourable on the Caribbean coast.
Leaving at 7am, we said adios to the slick world of Panama City and back to Central America – dusty, dirty, chaotic with mad bus drivers, boy racers and wild dogs.
Surprisingly after leaving the outer suburbs, we found Routa 1 (Pan American Highway) to Darien to be the best road so far – smooth surface, straight road and limited traffic.
Being disappointed at the temerity of our Darien quest we decided to abort and head for the San Blas Islands leaving the Pan American Highway for the 30 miles hop to Carti on the Caribbean coast. Hmmmmmm, gone was the smooth surface and straight flat roads to be swapped for steep inclines, reverse cambers, crumbling edges and more pot holes than tarmac!
Fortunately Chris was able to morph our cute Kia Sportage into a full blown 555 Suburu Impreza, giving Mike and me the adventure we’d missed en route to Darien! The only interruption was a checkpoint on entering the Kuna Yala reserve, a partly autonomous region within Panama. Very friendly gun toting guards who quickly relieved us of $65 but wouldn’t pose for a photo!
Our reward for this 30 mile roller coaster ride was a 5 hour visit to one of the islands on the San Blas archipelago of almost 300 islands. We chartered a small boat to visit one of the closest – Icodub, a picture perfect desert island about 50m in diameter, covered in coconut trees and surrounded by white sand and sky blue water.
A relaxing time was spent swimming, sitting on the beach watching pelicans fishing
and sampling the local produce – fish and beer but agua for Chris!
We were almost marooned on our perfect desert island but sadly the boat turned up an hour late.
Fortunately the Impreza was ready at the start line and we raced back to the Pan American Highway but this time with me as co-driver and Mike bouncing around in the back.
Just arrived back in Panama City after a varied 11 hour trip and yet another memorable day. Thanks Lois and Alexandra for the San Blas suggestion.
Tonight it’s a quiet night in for gourmet French cuisine courtesy of Lois and another contrast to our desert island lunch!
Tomorrow we are off to Fort San Lorenzo and a trip through the Canal Zone.
Our America’s Challenge Drive 