Click to stop music.
The Transit of the Panama Canal was surreal under the sodium lights.
Follow the arrow to enter the Gatun locks and gain a little altitude.
Check out our 1st "mule" to guide us through.
We would be following The Madeliene until we made Gatun lake.
The Legacy seemed to be getting special treatment, as we went through the canal ALONE. Many people waved and took pictures.
Guess we weren't like any old containership, or oil tanker.
Closing of the 1st lock behind us!
WOW! We just rose 80 feet!
Looking up at the mule guiding us in....................................................
.......................................................Then DOWN at it after they let the water in.
The other lock was going slowly, but they had 2 ships to move.
Passing the Gatun marker to cross the huge lake!
TIME PASSES ON IN THE INKY BLACKNESS OF GATUN LAKE,
SO MOST OF US CAUGHT 40 WINKS.........
OUR FRIENDLY 2 AM KNOCKUP GIRL YVONNE, GOT HER LIST AND WAS CHECKIN' IT TWICE!
Yes, Our ranks thinned a bit through the Gaillard cut....
But we were no less enthusiastic!
We passed the Madeliene during the 3 hour crossing of Gatun lake.
Entering Pedro Miguel lock for the descent.
With everything so big, I began to lose perspective. Seeing how many large trucks
were on the deck of the ship in the neighboring lock gave it back to me.
Even at 3 in the morning it is a bit humid in the Canal zone.
Curiously enough, in
Pedro Miguel we followed a tug into the lock. It never put a line on us, so we figured it
must be there to make the transit too. NOPE! As they exited ahead of us,
she abruptly turned hard to starboard and spun it sideways. Then they threw it into
reverse and backed into the gate HARD! Apparently they were having trouble with
the primary lock gate sticking part way, so the tug was there to bang it the rest of the way open.
There! that's MUCH better!
The Gatekeeper's control house at Pedro Miguel Locks
Trishie's checking out the gate as were leave for Miraflores.
The last mule releasing us here.
Passing out of the lock heading for our final destination.
Out of the hazy darkness, the final set of locks, MIRAFLORES appears.
Approaching the entrance about 2:30 in the morning.
Lining up for our mules to guide us in
The Russian truck carrier had beaten us there and was already heading
down to the last lock as we entered the primary one.
Although these are not good photos, they DO show where the mule stepped on its own
tail and the tender had to climb under to unfoul it.
Entering the final lock
Note the Gatekeeper on the balcony saluting as we pass into the departure lock.
The pilot crew looks on as as the water is drained....
Looking aft from the quarterdeck as we prepare to move out.
Then forward to the Bridge of the Americas.
The last mule guides us past the Maintenance area.
Exiting The final Lock
As we round the egress point you can see the lights of Pedro Miguel Lock in the far distance.
We bid farewell to the Panama Canal
and are welcomed by the Pacific Ocean!
Aruba
On the Ship!
San Blas Islands
Panama Canal
Panama City
Costa Rica Map. Click the lower right corner to magnify.
Contadora
Iguana Island
Coiba/ Granito de Oro
Isla des Secas
Golfitos
Quepos
Herradura/San Jose
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