Through the Panama canal

Transiting the Panama Canal

We had originally expected to begin our entry into the canal at 7 am. But around 5:30 I felt the engines begin to work and when I looked out, it we were beginning to move into the area of the canal. I found a signal on my cellular and it said the locks re 1.3 miles ahead.

So I woke up Ed and called some of the folks who wanted to be on our balcony for the transit. Ed called for nibbles, coffee and tea.

Gatun locks

These are three locks each raising the ship a few feet at a time. There was a large container ship that went into the lock channel next to us and then we maneuvered into the lock on the right.

The pilot had come on board before all this and the videographer and photographer had disembarked to take photos as the ship transited. Everyone had made posters to say hello or whatever. We had made a green and a red one. The creativity of people was amazing. And the simple solutions to problems such as attaching a hanger to the back of each poster with the tape we had brought along on the trip, and then hanging it over our balcony and retaping it down. Great solution so we didn’t have to hold it and wave.

It was predawn when we began to approach the lock and soon enough the sun was rising quickly into the sky. The weather was always moderate today but very very humid which simply wears you out. Over the day, we went in and out.

We were well prepared as we had seen and read many things about the canal. There was ongoing commentary on the TV from the bridge. One of our guests has a GoPro and he mounted it so that we will also have a great video of the transit.

We were prepared to understand the terracing along the sides, appreciate the enormous crane (one of only 4 in the world and tgis one came via Long Beach). We saw the Smithsonian research center on a island in the middle of Gatun lake.

We passed under the Centennial and Bridge of the Americas.

The Pedro Miguel is a single lock. The Mira Flores is two locks and then you are out into the Pacific again. The cost is a little over $100K for this ship: we think around $130K. At the last lock, there is a visitors center where 3000 people visit each day. We had then whooping and hollering and waving at our posters and craziness. Folks from a suite on the back also wandered in an out all day.

Overall a very fun day; one I enjoyed more than most and I really feel I have enjoyed the transit of the canal.

The trough

This is what we call going to dinner. We always have so many laughs both among us passengers and with our wait staff.

Entertainment

None of us went as we didn’t find the fare very appealing. Ed is catching up with his political programs.

Connectivity

I did occasionally have a cellular connection while going through so posted some live feeds, and several panoramas. The little “mules”, the tractors that pull the ship along, are so fascinating to watch do their work. Some things are very primitive (such as grabbing the tie lines) and others very modern (ship traffic through the locks.)

Sale

There were a few things from the local San Blass Islanders so I picked up a  few things. The T-shirts are still the same price and while it’s good, I’m not interested until they are a real steal if ever.

Tomorrow is a day at sea before Nicaragua.