Panama Canal
Thursday, January 18, 2007 –
Morning came early today as I was determined to see the sunrise over Colon, the entrance to the Panama Canal. Sipping hot coffee and munching on Panama Buns (a yeast-like roll that reminded me of my Grandmother’s old-fashioned rolls that she used to serve for Sunday dinners….only these were filled with a crème filling laced with mangos…yum) I was skeptical that our large ship was actually going to fit in the seemingly tight Gatun Locks that have operated for almost a hundred years. (Although the canal was finished in 1913, because of earth slides it didn’t actually open until a year later.) With only two feet to spare on each side and thirty or forty on each end, it was a snug, but comfortable fit. Tug boats assisted the Panamanian captain that boarded the ship as we inched our way into position. Soon, small row boats made their way to the each side where locals tossed numerous lines to the crew. Once attached to the ship these lines were secured to small locomotives that ran on railroad tracks on each side of the ship. These “mules”, as they are called (apparently because on some canals….not sure on this one!....mules actually performed this task in years gone by) pulled us forward in a steady and even pace to ensure that no wake would disturb the water. Since there are two lanes where ships progress along side one another we were partnered with a large cargo freighter. While the mules slowly pulled us forward toward the locks we watched two ships in front of us that were already secure in their slot, rise some 28 or 30 feet to the first level of this first dock. Once there, they continued to move forward. Once the water level in the first chamber equaled that in the second, the gates opened and the ships proceeded to be towed forward eventually rising once again to the level of the Gatun lake. We watched in awe as these huge ships sailed…almost floated… high above us on the lake in the distance. Once there, however the gates of the lock opened and flooded the ocean with fresh water…millions of gallons…and thus created a space for us in the lower lock…all of this operated by gravity alone…amazing!. Then it was our turn to slowly rise to the lake level. Once there we had a casual but steady sail meandering through the plethora of densely vegetated islands eventually making our way past Gamboa into the Gaillard Cut on to the second set of locks…the Pedro Miguel Locks. En route we passed through this impressive cut through the mountains. Originally only 300 feet wide, it is currently under construction, and apparently will be for several more years, to widen it to 800 feet…which, when finished will allow two large ships to pass in both directions. Large dredging machines constantly work to remove large stones and slit from beneath the canal. This debris is terraced along side the canal. The Pedro Miguel Lock, a single lock lowered us some 30-40 feet to the Miraflores Lake en route to the Miraflores Lock and then on through the remainder of the canal along side the Panama Canal Railway to Panama City. All in all, the passage through the Panama Canal provided a most interesting and memorable day of 9-10 hours. The brilliant sun and strong breezes made for the beginning of a good tan…hopefully and not sunburn. Friday is a day at sea en route to Ecuador and my next adventure….stay tuned!
Thursday, January 18, 2007 –
Morning came early today as I was determined to see the sunrise over Colon, the entrance to the Panama Canal. Sipping hot coffee and munching on Panama Buns (a yeast-like roll that reminded me of my Grandmother’s old-fashioned rolls that she used to serve for Sunday dinners….only these were filled with a crème filling laced with mangos…yum) I was skeptical that our large ship was actually going to fit in the seemingly tight Gatun Locks that have operated for almost a hundred years. (Although the canal was finished in 1913, because of earth slides it didn’t actually open until a year later.) With only two feet to spare on each side and thirty or forty on each end, it was a snug, but comfortable fit. Tug boats assisted the Panamanian captain that boarded the ship as we inched our way into position. Soon, small row boats made their way to the each side where locals tossed numerous lines to the crew. Once attached to the ship these lines were secured to small locomotives that ran on railroad tracks on each side of the ship. These “mules”, as they are called (apparently because on some canals….not sure on this one!....mules actually performed this task in years gone by) pulled us forward in a steady and even pace to ensure that no wake would disturb the water. Since there are two lanes where ships progress along side one another we were partnered with a large cargo freighter. While the mules slowly pulled us forward toward the locks we watched two ships in front of us that were already secure in their slot, rise some 28 or 30 feet to the first level of this first dock. Once there, they continued to move forward. Once the water level in the first chamber equaled that in the second, the gates opened and the ships proceeded to be towed forward eventually rising once again to the level of the Gatun lake. We watched in awe as these huge ships sailed…almost floated… high above us on the lake in the distance. Once there, however the gates of the lock opened and flooded the ocean with fresh water…millions of gallons…and thus created a space for us in the lower lock…all of this operated by gravity alone…amazing!. Then it was our turn to slowly rise to the lake level. Once there we had a casual but steady sail meandering through the plethora of densely vegetated islands eventually making our way past Gamboa into the Gaillard Cut on to the second set of locks…the Pedro Miguel Locks. En route we passed through this impressive cut through the mountains. Originally only 300 feet wide, it is currently under construction, and apparently will be for several more years, to widen it to 800 feet…which, when finished will allow two large ships to pass in both directions. Large dredging machines constantly work to remove large stones and slit from beneath the canal. This debris is terraced along side the canal. The Pedro Miguel Lock, a single lock lowered us some 30-40 feet to the Miraflores Lake en route to the Miraflores Lock and then on through the remainder of the canal along side the Panama Canal Railway to Panama City. All in all, the passage through the Panama Canal provided a most interesting and memorable day of 9-10 hours. The brilliant sun and strong breezes made for the beginning of a good tan…hopefully and not sunburn. Friday is a day at sea en route to Ecuador and my next adventure….stay tuned!
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