A good friend in Boquete bid on and won a day trip on a yacht in the Pacific Ocean, off of Boca Chica. We were invited to be one of four couples (paying $100 each — hey, I said she was a good friend, not a RICH one) to enjoy this day. We all decided, however, that the day before we would all rendezvous at a favorite hotel of mine, the Boca Chica Plantation and Resort.
The Boca Chica Plantation
I wrote about the Boca Chica Plantation stay I enjoyed last June. Click here to read that post. And this trip proved no less wonderful. The same view out to the ocean from the infinity pool, with good friends sharing drinks and snacks the afternoon before launch was just loads of fun.
I could just move in.....
Dinner, as usual at the Plantation, was scrumptious. The kitchen offers 4 different entrees, each better than the last. Dessert was a hot chocolate brownie drizzled with chocolate sauce and snuggled in a martini glass with vanilla ice cream.
Early to bed in the luxurious king beds and up early to be on the road by 8:30 am. Although we did take enough time to enjoy the “included in the price” breakfast of fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee and any entree we wanted cooked to order. (I’m privately thinking I’ll just stay here at the Plantation and all of my friends can go on the boat themselves, but hey! I’m a trooper, so I steadily trudged forward, on to the next activity.)
We arrived at Boca Chica’s boat dock full of trepidation at the ominous clouds that were exhibiting major thunderbolts and lighting strikes. We weren’t particularly looking forward to a day spent inside a rocking boat’s cabin, riding out a storm. And if that were to be the case, I know I’d become intimately acquainted with the boat’s bilge systems.
Fortunately our ship’s captains and new friends, Dottie and Larry Thompson, assured us that we were going in a completely opposite direction and their radar systems showed nothing in that direction. So, fears allayed, we set off.
They own a 50 foot Fleming, one of the better cruising yachts, from what I’ve been told. With 3 levels of seating, no one felt crowded. There was an aft (that’s the tail end, for all you landlubbers!) deck to enjoy, an interior salon, kitchen, two bedrooms, the head (which I prayed I would use for only one purpose), and an upper deck.
We stowed our gear (that’s sailor talk for neatly putting away our stuff…..) and took off for Gamez Island, a roughly 40 minute ride away. Now, when I say 40 minutes, that’s because these cruising yachts are NOT built for speed. It’s not like you can hop off the back of the boat with a water ski strapped to one foot and yell “Hit it!”. Well you can, but not much would happen. These big boys work up a sweat when they’re going 6 knots, or a little over 5 miles.
So we all relaxed, chatted and enjoyed the scenery. We passed by island after island, wondering “hey, that island looks good, what about that one?” “No place to beach it,” replied our Captain. “okay, that one looks good, how about it?” “Nope,” said Dottie, “wait’ll you see Gamez.”
And the wait was worth it. A tiny little island, with a gorgeous swimming beach, a narrow isthmus revealing another beach on the other side. Dueling beaches!
Well, “the boys” of the trip instantly decided it was time to go for a swim after a little horsing around. Some people just NEVER grow up. If you look closely, you can see through the isthmus to another island beyond:
After a couple of hours spent on the beach, the boat’s horn sounded, signaling lunch. A quick swim back to the boat brought us to a feast! Curried chicken salad in pineapple boats, couscous, egg salad, crudité platters (to you unrefined masses, that means raw veggies with dip, heh heh), followed by chocolate brownies. And, of course, whatever we wanted to drink. Our group stuck with margaritas, beers, sodas and waters.
The afternoon made for just chillin’. Everyone became noticeably sleepy, including a couple of our friends:
Hmmmm.....to nap or not to nap?
Then, better sense prevailed and instead someone broke out the champagne. Please don’t offer the Captain alcohol while she’s working!
Diane (r) chatting up our captain Dottie (l) on the Captain's Deck.
Needless to say, just a tad bit of fun was had that day. By the time we docked back in Boca Chica, it was 4:30 pm, just in time a the drive back to Boquete and a shower before dinner. What a fun two days!
Sounds awesome! That is the hotel that we’d like to go to in May. Nice pics as usual. See you soon.
Hi, I just read your post for the first time. Do Dottie and Larry Thompson have a business with their boat? Or was this just a one time trip? Thanks.
I do not believe they have a business with their boat. This was a donation for charity….an offer to take 4 couples out on their boat for a day. So, I guess, yes, it was just a one-time trip.
Thanks for reading!
It sounded like a wonderful trip.