Punta Maria to Puerto San Andres, August 23rd 2011.

I had a long day planned, 21 miles as the GPS flies, so I got up at 4:00 AM and packed to go by 6:00. I was discouraged by having to travel so far with my rash hurting. I had a custom dive skin made with the underarm seams on the outside, and it still gave me a rash. Usually this goes away after a few days, I assume I develop calluses on my underarms. It had lingered this trip and I had tried several things to help: Aloe vera gel, “New Skin”, antibiotic cream. Usually I use triple antibiotic ointment but my big tube of that was missing. Without that, nothing else was working so I tried peeling the wetsuit and rash-guard down and just paddling with the PFD on. Instant Relief! I had to put sunscreen on and missed a few spots low on my back where I got burned. Normally I expect the dive skin to protect me from the sun from wrist to ankle.

Paddling “topless” without the rash bothering me made me feel like a new man! I paddled fast and made great time. I considered going past the planned spot. But it was still a long day by the time I rounded the point at Puerto San Andres and I was happy to quit. I landed on the nasty hot windy sandy beach next to the “village”. A place in the sand was available next to lots of tire and dog prints. I decided to go back to a rocky beach on the point. Better to sleep on rocks out of the wind and sand. My rocky beach didn't have a flat spot to camp on, so I made one just big enough for my sleeping pad. Then I set the tent up at a steep angle over that spot.