Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Panama
sePtember 17
I'm afraid I know little about Panama, except for the canal and Pan-
ama hats. When we arrived, it was like emerging from the jungle into
the space age. I feel good about Panama, apart from a glitch when
it became clear that an experienced adventure guide named Javier,
whom we had paid to organise a smooth passage through customs,
had fixed nothing at all, and we had to wait for more than two hours to
be processed by the officials. I have a theory that most of the world's
shady characters lurk around border crossings.
I knew that Brooke and Dillon were flying into Panama City
today, so as I ran I watched the skies, imagining that every plane I
saw was delivering my children. Could that one be their plane . . . or
that one?
At noon, I was caught in a terrific thunderstorm, which made my
clothes heavy and added to my blister count as my feet slid around
inside my shoes. As I ran through the province of Veraguas, I was
swamped by the media: TV news teams, a newspaper journalist and
photographer, and a radio broadcaster. I hear there will be around 100
people running with me in Panama City tomorrow. I don't know how I
will cope with this, seeing as I am having problems with the five or six
who are alongside me today. It's always difficult to maintain a steady
pace when other runners fade in and out for short periods. They are
fresh and always try to run faster than me. I shouldn't compete, but
I can't help myself. My pride kicks in and I run at their pace or a bit
quicker, and I pay the price at the end of the day. I desperately need a
physiotherapist.
Suddenly, Brooke and Dillon showed up with Bernie and my
old friend Rachael, who has come over with the kids. I shared my
dream to run the length of this planet with her many years ago and
