Anchor Position 11 59.7 N 120 11.7 E
Coron, Busuanga Is.
Our last entry was as we were awaiting the arrival of typhoon Bopha. Thankfully Bopha turned out to be a non event, at least weather wise, for us in Puerto Princesa. When Bopha made landfall on the island on Mindanao it lost most of it's power and once re-entering the Sulu sea to our east did not regenerate that lost power. In our anchorage we saw only winds to 28 knots.
What the threat of Bopha did cause was for us to make preparations for a major event. We actually moved to one of the Abonico yacht club moorings as in our anchored position we wanted to let out more scope on our anchor rode but due to other boats in the area it was not really possible. Next both headsail's were removed folded and stored. We wrapped a line around the main sail to further secure it under it's cover. All canvas shades were taken down. The outboard motor was taken off the dinghy along with the dinghy cover. To keep the dinghy from flying around it was filled with water. Everything that could not be put below was tied down, we were ready. Next was to sit and watch the various weather reports on the internet and wait. The arrival of Bopha was during the daylight hours of 5 December. We felt fortunate to have missed Bopha's full fury.
The result of the passing typhoon was to allow us to make our way further north to our present location approximately 160 miles northeast of Puerto Princesa without the wind on the nose. After passing the system caused first southwest and then variable winds along the coast of Palawan. The 6th of December was spent getting the boat ready to move again along with some last minute provisioning especially of fresh things.
December 7th we had a nice sail to North Verde Is. and a very protected anchorage. The next day it was back to motoring as we made our way to an anchorage at 10 32.614 N and 120 00.354 E behind a small island that was not even shown on our electronic chart program. There were actually 5 islands in the area not shown. The next day another 50 mile passage under "Miss Perky" power. It was during this passage that our primary navigation computer failed. I fired up our small notebook computer but it only is loaded with a different navigation program that I am not totally familiar with. After spending the previous night at an island that did not even appear on the electronic software we were a bit concerned. We did have paper charts of the area but they were of a rather large scale, useful BUT!! Next was to get out our ten year old computer named "psycho" for all the psychedelic color on it's screen. The screen has been water damaged so we use a monitor. Having not been out of it's case for six months "psycho" was back in service. One slight problem was "psycho" had not been updated with the latest tracks that we were using. Hey the early explorers sailed here with no charts, we should be able to move about with limited ones, you just use the old eyeballs. That night was spent at Cabulauan Is. 11 23.061 N and 120 05.064 E. For our last days trip here to Coron I was able to load the tracks into the anchorage area and we had another pleasant motor boat trip.
Coron is a small town, though the largest on Busuanga Is., after a peaceful night at anchor our first priority was to locate someone to look at our primary computer. Did I mention that most things on it were not backed up!! We were given a shop name by someone from one of the local resorts and dropped the computer off to see what could be done. The technician, Mark, who I would guess was self taught immediately started work on it. He said that he could down load our info and save it and hopefully then re-format the disk. As it turns out the hard drive is corrupted. A new drive has been ordered from Manila and we've been told about two weeks.
For now we'll enjoy some of the things to do around Coron along with the usual boat stuff.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
WEATHER WATCH
Here is the latest weather that I have downloaded showing the projected track of Bopa, that once entering the Philippines will also be called Pablo. Of course the Typhoon has not looked at what the weather gurus have predicted may decide to deviate. I try to look at the projections several times a day. For us in Puerto Princesa the further north the better.
UNDERGROUND RIVER TRIP
With a bit of luck these photos of our trip to the Underground River will make it to the blog. The internet is very frustrating here. The first views are taken from the web
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| ALWAYS HAPPY WITH A BEER |
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| LIFEGUARD TOWER |
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| WAITING FOR THE TOUR |
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| LOADING A BANKA |
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| OUR CAPTAIN |
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| rEADY TO HEAD FOR THE CAVERN |
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| READY TO BOARD |
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| UNDERWAY |
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
DENGUE FEVER
Anchored Position 09° 45.8 N 118° 43.7 E
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
We seem to have gotten stuck here in Puerto Princesa, having been here now six weeks and still counting. The plan was a stay of about two weeks and move on further north, well it seems that as usual those plans are laid in floppy jell-o.
Our first set back was whatever flu type bug that was affecting the yachtie population when we first arrived. The major setback was caused by a small mosquito bite and my coming down with Dengue Fever. This was not a fun thing at all. Headache, joint ache, fever, chills and a very strange rash which put me lying down for about eight days before I then started to feel better but took perhaps another week to be my chipper self again. I'm glad that is over!!!
We are enjoying our time here. Prior to my Dengue outbreak we took a short road trip across to the west coast of Palawan to visit what is listed as one of the seven modern natural wonders of the world. The Underground River of Puerto Princesa! We made this a two day trip. You first get your permit for the trip in Puerto Princesa. We then had a trike driver take to a tour operator to organize things. The trike driver's reward from the tour operator a five kilo bag of rice for each person he brought in. When your daily wage is 300 to 600 pesos, that's 7 to 14 $US a day those bags of rice were quite important to him and his family.
We were picked up from the Abonico Yacht Club where we left our dinghy and it was a two and a half hour drive across the island to the village of Sabang. Our river tour was the next day so we first found a room for the night and then a walkabout along the beach and through the village. Rooms for two varied from $20 to $200 US per night. Prices in the resorts varied greatly. We stopped at a beachfront hotel bar where a beer and bottle of water were almost $5 US later I bought eight beers, one water and a small bottle of rum for $9 US. Hey the resort hotel did have a nicer view. The room we did get was oceanfront for $125 US with air conditioning and TV. We got to watch the US election results and a replay of a US gridiron game. Hey the first real football I've gotten to see in several years.
The next day we met with our tour group at 9 am, they had departed Puerto Princesa at 5 am, we then boarded a local "banka" for the fifteen minute motor to where the underground river is located. The "banka's" are long and narrow with outriggers on both sides. They range in sizes from ten to perhaps sixty feet and are the boats used for pretty much everything here. It was a fun experience to ride in one. Once on the actual river tour we were in a small paddle powered "banka". The underground river itself is basically a river flowing through the limestone mountains creating a scenic series of caverns. It runs about five miles though the tour just takes you a small distance but it was well worth the trip. On return to Sabang we checked out of our hotel and made the return trip with the tour group. We were happy not to have done the whole tour in a single day.
We have lately been busy with some never ending minor projects. We are ready to head north to some other areas BUT!! First we figure it would be easier to get our next visa extension here, so we are waiting for payday, 1 Dec. We don't know if this is just a go in and fill the papers out deal or if it takes a couple of days. It will give us 59 more days though it costs about $150 US per person. The next issue is what is now tropical storm and soon to be typhoon "Bopha". Yes today it's 1800 miles west of us but moving closer as it intensifies. We will be keeping a weather eye open.
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Puerto Princesa, Palawan
We seem to have gotten stuck here in Puerto Princesa, having been here now six weeks and still counting. The plan was a stay of about two weeks and move on further north, well it seems that as usual those plans are laid in floppy jell-o.
Our first set back was whatever flu type bug that was affecting the yachtie population when we first arrived. The major setback was caused by a small mosquito bite and my coming down with Dengue Fever. This was not a fun thing at all. Headache, joint ache, fever, chills and a very strange rash which put me lying down for about eight days before I then started to feel better but took perhaps another week to be my chipper self again. I'm glad that is over!!!
We are enjoying our time here. Prior to my Dengue outbreak we took a short road trip across to the west coast of Palawan to visit what is listed as one of the seven modern natural wonders of the world. The Underground River of Puerto Princesa! We made this a two day trip. You first get your permit for the trip in Puerto Princesa. We then had a trike driver take to a tour operator to organize things. The trike driver's reward from the tour operator a five kilo bag of rice for each person he brought in. When your daily wage is 300 to 600 pesos, that's 7 to 14 $US a day those bags of rice were quite important to him and his family.
We were picked up from the Abonico Yacht Club where we left our dinghy and it was a two and a half hour drive across the island to the village of Sabang. Our river tour was the next day so we first found a room for the night and then a walkabout along the beach and through the village. Rooms for two varied from $20 to $200 US per night. Prices in the resorts varied greatly. We stopped at a beachfront hotel bar where a beer and bottle of water were almost $5 US later I bought eight beers, one water and a small bottle of rum for $9 US. Hey the resort hotel did have a nicer view. The room we did get was oceanfront for $125 US with air conditioning and TV. We got to watch the US election results and a replay of a US gridiron game. Hey the first real football I've gotten to see in several years.
The next day we met with our tour group at 9 am, they had departed Puerto Princesa at 5 am, we then boarded a local "banka" for the fifteen minute motor to where the underground river is located. The "banka's" are long and narrow with outriggers on both sides. They range in sizes from ten to perhaps sixty feet and are the boats used for pretty much everything here. It was a fun experience to ride in one. Once on the actual river tour we were in a small paddle powered "banka". The underground river itself is basically a river flowing through the limestone mountains creating a scenic series of caverns. It runs about five miles though the tour just takes you a small distance but it was well worth the trip. On return to Sabang we checked out of our hotel and made the return trip with the tour group. We were happy not to have done the whole tour in a single day.
We have lately been busy with some never ending minor projects. We are ready to head north to some other areas BUT!! First we figure it would be easier to get our next visa extension here, so we are waiting for payday, 1 Dec. We don't know if this is just a go in and fill the papers out deal or if it takes a couple of days. It will give us 59 more days though it costs about $150 US per person. The next issue is what is now tropical storm and soon to be typhoon "Bopha". Yes today it's 1800 miles west of us but moving closer as it intensifies. We will be keeping a weather eye open.
----------
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012
AS PROMISED PHOTOS
We're still anchored in Puerto Princesa and with luck I hope that these photos will upload
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| VILLAGE BOAT HEADED TO TOWN |
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| OUT FISHING |
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| DALAWAN VILLAGE |
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| LOCAL BOAT AT RIO TUBA |
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| KATHY MAKING HER WAY THRU THE WATER VILLAGE |
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| BATH TIME |
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| ANOTHER BATH AND READY FOR TONIGHTS FIGHT |
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| HAPPY |
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| LOADING SUPPLIES- RIO TUBA |
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| TRICYCLE TRAFFIC |
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| THE MAGIC BUS |
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| READY TO GO |
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| LOCAL CRAFT |
Friday, October 26, 2012
RAIN
Anchored Position 09° 45.83 N 118° 43.7 E
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Not a busy week here aboard Po oino Roa as we remain anchored in Puerto Princesa. Kathy did also manage to come down with whatever this "bug" is and we are now both in recovery. It seems that it has affected the whole fleet of yachties here.
We have had quite unsettled weather lately. I guess that is what you would call rain all day today. First has been a change in the monsoon from the southwest to the northeast. We had hoped to be further to the north before this change but it will be what it will be. Next affect the weather was a low pressure area forming to our east and moving across the central Philippines. It stayed a low pressure area until making it to the wast of us where it is now a tropical storm ready to impact Vietnam. such is the weather here that they hay tropical systems about nine months a year. Hey it keeps us on our toes and watching the clouds.
So with the "bug" aboard Kathy has been watching her movies and I reading, no junk but a little of Jules Verne, Mysterious Island. Having several thousand books on a Kindle comes in handy now and then.
We now hope to get moving once again soon.
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radio email processed by SailMail
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Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Not a busy week here aboard Po oino Roa as we remain anchored in Puerto Princesa. Kathy did also manage to come down with whatever this "bug" is and we are now both in recovery. It seems that it has affected the whole fleet of yachties here.
We have had quite unsettled weather lately. I guess that is what you would call rain all day today. First has been a change in the monsoon from the southwest to the northeast. We had hoped to be further to the north before this change but it will be what it will be. Next affect the weather was a low pressure area forming to our east and moving across the central Philippines. It stayed a low pressure area until making it to the wast of us where it is now a tropical storm ready to impact Vietnam. such is the weather here that they hay tropical systems about nine months a year. Hey it keeps us on our toes and watching the clouds.
So with the "bug" aboard Kathy has been watching her movies and I reading, no junk but a little of Jules Verne, Mysterious Island. Having several thousand books on a Kindle comes in handy now and then.
We now hope to get moving once again soon.
----------
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Monday, October 22, 2012
ARRIVED CHECKED-IN
Anchored Position 09° 45.83 N 118° 43.7 E
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
It seems that I am always trying to catch up with our goings on. So here is an update of our last week. We still have only limited internet so no photos yet.
We had a short motor from the anchorage off Malanao Island to here in Puerto Princesa with calm, no wind conditions. We made our way in to the back area of this large natural bay to the yacht anchorage. There are about 20 yachts here, a couple that we have known since Darwin, Australia and have not seen for the last six months. We were able to catch up a bit and get some information on the Puerto Princesa area.
On Wednesday the 17th the first order of business was to look into a problem with our fresh water pressure pump. The system had been acting up and I now had the time to give it a look. I changed out the pump along with some other plumbing issues and things once again are working. Next we launched the dinghy and made our way to shore. Here the dinghy dock is at the Abonico Yacht Club, a waterside restaurant run by an ex-pat Australian and his Philippine wife. There is a 500 Peso charge at an exchange of about 40 to 1 U.S. only about $12 for use of the facility where they have bar, restaurant, wi-fi etc. From there we were given a ride to the town by Cissy the owners wife. We did a bit of shopping to see what was available before a tricycle ride back to the yacht club.
Thursday after pouring some of our stored on deck diesel fuel found us heading off in the other direction from town to a newly opened shopping mall with a fancier grocery store and a station where we could begin to replenish our fuel supply. Kathy said the grocery store was nothing special but I did find a large "Best" hardware store. I'll have to make a trip back for a few odds and ends. We did also get diesel at a price more like that in the US of what would be $4.75 per gallon. Twice what we had been paying in Malaysia.
Friday the 19 th was the paperwork "cha cha" day and our official check-in to the country. We had been forewarned of what to expect and the necessary papers to have ready. First was immigration. There the girl almost seemed upset when she started her list of the papers needed and Kathy just kept handing her what she requested. Several were different from what we had ever had to show before. No problem we were given our twenty-one day entry visa. Of course we need to return in the next few days to get a 38 day extension. The first 21 days were free, the extension will be U.S. of about $75. When the extension expires we apply again and get 59 days for about $105 U.S. every 60 days. Next was another trike trip to customs and a fee of 115P or a little less than $3 U.S. We had been told that there could possibly be a man at the bottom of the stairs going up who wanted 500P or $12 U.S. and it was a scam, we were not approached. The "cha cha" complete we returned to the boat.
Saturday dawned as a non day for me it seems I had come down with a variation of some flu like sickness and spent the day sleeping.
Feeling better on Sunday we had an important project to do. The covering on the leech and foot cords on our headsail were coming apart and needed replacing. First, down came the sail. We were fortunate enough to have been give a large section of an old main sail when we were in the Marshall Is. so we had repair material. This was cut into strips, folded over the edge of the sail and sown. Kathy certainly has put her "sailrite" sewing machine to good use. Repairs completed the sail was then put back on the furler and hoisted. Sunday is a buffet dinner at the yacht club and after a nap I felt well enough to accompany Kathy. It was a very good dinner.
Today has been a rest day as I am still recovering, but it seems as if Kathy may be catching it. Time will tell.
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
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Puerto Princesa, Palawan
It seems that I am always trying to catch up with our goings on. So here is an update of our last week. We still have only limited internet so no photos yet.
We had a short motor from the anchorage off Malanao Island to here in Puerto Princesa with calm, no wind conditions. We made our way in to the back area of this large natural bay to the yacht anchorage. There are about 20 yachts here, a couple that we have known since Darwin, Australia and have not seen for the last six months. We were able to catch up a bit and get some information on the Puerto Princesa area.
On Wednesday the 17th the first order of business was to look into a problem with our fresh water pressure pump. The system had been acting up and I now had the time to give it a look. I changed out the pump along with some other plumbing issues and things once again are working. Next we launched the dinghy and made our way to shore. Here the dinghy dock is at the Abonico Yacht Club, a waterside restaurant run by an ex-pat Australian and his Philippine wife. There is a 500 Peso charge at an exchange of about 40 to 1 U.S. only about $12 for use of the facility where they have bar, restaurant, wi-fi etc. From there we were given a ride to the town by Cissy the owners wife. We did a bit of shopping to see what was available before a tricycle ride back to the yacht club.
Thursday after pouring some of our stored on deck diesel fuel found us heading off in the other direction from town to a newly opened shopping mall with a fancier grocery store and a station where we could begin to replenish our fuel supply. Kathy said the grocery store was nothing special but I did find a large "Best" hardware store. I'll have to make a trip back for a few odds and ends. We did also get diesel at a price more like that in the US of what would be $4.75 per gallon. Twice what we had been paying in Malaysia.
Friday the 19 th was the paperwork "cha cha" day and our official check-in to the country. We had been forewarned of what to expect and the necessary papers to have ready. First was immigration. There the girl almost seemed upset when she started her list of the papers needed and Kathy just kept handing her what she requested. Several were different from what we had ever had to show before. No problem we were given our twenty-one day entry visa. Of course we need to return in the next few days to get a 38 day extension. The first 21 days were free, the extension will be U.S. of about $75. When the extension expires we apply again and get 59 days for about $105 U.S. every 60 days. Next was another trike trip to customs and a fee of 115P or a little less than $3 U.S. We had been told that there could possibly be a man at the bottom of the stairs going up who wanted 500P or $12 U.S. and it was a scam, we were not approached. The "cha cha" complete we returned to the boat.
Saturday dawned as a non day for me it seems I had come down with a variation of some flu like sickness and spent the day sleeping.
Feeling better on Sunday we had an important project to do. The covering on the leech and foot cords on our headsail were coming apart and needed replacing. First, down came the sail. We were fortunate enough to have been give a large section of an old main sail when we were in the Marshall Is. so we had repair material. This was cut into strips, folded over the edge of the sail and sown. Kathy certainly has put her "sailrite" sewing machine to good use. Repairs completed the sail was then put back on the furler and hoisted. Sunday is a buffet dinner at the yacht club and after a nap I felt well enough to accompany Kathy. It was a very good dinner.
Today has been a rest day as I am still recovering, but it seems as if Kathy may be catching it. Time will tell.
----------
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