After we packed up New Morning for summer storage we had 4 large duffle bags of "stuff" that we were bringing home, plus our personal backpacks for laptops and miscellaneous, and a camera backpack with our good SLR and lenses. We checked the four duffle bags as luggage, but needed to carry the backpacks. Being slightly disoriented in the big city (Panama City) and making the transition to land, we let down our guard, relaxed at the Admiral's Club, got on the plane and had a quick mimosa. Arriving in Miami we looked around and realized, no camera bag!
The Admiral's Club in Miami called the club in Panama and sure enough we had left our bag in the club. So we thought easy, just send it on home to us with the next AA flight. Not so fast. To make a long story endless, the Admiral's Club will not package anything for shipment, and FedEx will not pick up a shipment unless it's packaged. Catch 22. Enter the cruising network.
Fay contacted Brad and Gloria of Kindred Spirit who put our dilemma on the San Blas cruiser's net the next morning. Rob of Akka responded. Rob picked up our camera bag in Panama City, cleared it through customs in Miami, hauled it to New York, placed it in a box and shipped it off via FedEx. We received it in Sausalito the next day. We spoke briefly on the phone, but have never met (though we hope to this fall). This is the kindness of strangers that is so rewarding, and so common, in the cruising community.
Thank you.
