A Bump in the Road......

Many of you are likely aware that cruisers are said to "write their plans in the sand at low tide"...implying that our plans are always changing.  Well...this turns out to be the case for us and Serena Ray.  Our last post described our planned departure to Bocas del Toro, Panama and and then on to Providencia, Colombia and Roatan by Christmas.  However, two days before departing Shelter Bay, Panama, John took a fall and injured his left shoulder.  We delayed our departure for a week+ expecting that the damage was minor and would be "fine" in a few days.  This was not to be the case this time, however, as it became painfully apparent that it was not going to heal (no matter how much John "willed" it to). 

We decided that it would be best to make a trip back to the States (we did not have health coverage in Panama) to have the problem diagnosed.  We returned to Blaine, WA on October 26th and within a week John's doctor had set him up with Orthopedic surgeon.  We were amazed that the doctors were willing and able to squeeze him in so quickly.  We think it helped that they are also sailors and seemed sensitive to our need to return to Panama as soon as possible.  An MRI revealed what John expected....that he had a complete tendon tear (rotator-cuff) which would require surgery to reattach it.  The surgeon was able to schedule him for surgery November 11, in Bellingham, WA, conveniently near our Blaine home.  The good news is that the prognosis is very good for full recovery....if he follows Doctor's orders ..... 6-weeks in an arm sling with no lifting (a glass of wine or cervesa is allowed), followed by a few months of rehab/PT, most of which can and will be done in Shelter Bay, Panama, back aboard Serena Ray. 

We are currently scheduled to return to Serena Ray on November 30, which will likely need to be pushed back a couple of weeks.  The good news in all this is that the damage was to John's left shoulder (not right) and we are getting more time with our grand kids!!

This years cruise plans will obviously be impacted by this "Bump in the Road"...we will not be able to work our way north to Florida and the Intercoastal Waterway as planned, it will be too late to spend the time necessary to enjoy the stops along the way. 

We will instead enjoy Panamanian waters, spending this cruise season in the San Blas and Bocas Islands.  That is really not all that bad....both are beautiful archipelagos...warm weather and water. 

Serena Ray will likely spend another hurricane season in Panama (probably in Bocas del Torro this year) and we will resume our journey north next November.

In the meantime we are enjoying Blaine, family and.....eating lots of salmon and dungeoness crab!!!.....

Blaine, WA Sunset

Until our next update.....