December 26, 2023 Panama Canal

 I seem to remember pictures of my Grandma Blanche in the 1960's taking a Panama Canal cruise. In my memory she was wearing a suit and nylons standing outside on the ship watching her ship travel through the canal. Today many people were standing out on the deck, and on the balconies watching our ship, and the other ships going past making the Panama Canal crossing. Our day started out beautiful but cloudy in the 80's with high humidity. This afternoon we had a crack of thunder, and rain. They really need rain, so we are not complaining.

 First a Gramma and Papa proud moment. Eric and Katie sent us a family Christmas PJ picture. We love the smiles, and miss them terribly.

This is the Atlantico Bridge, all ships go under this bridge on their way to the canal. All ships waiting their turn are further out in the ocean. Someone counted, and thought there were about 27 waiting their turn. There is another bridge at the Pacific end, called the American Bridge, that we missed getting a picture of as it was dark by the time we got there.

Here is our view as we wait our turn to enter the lock. Ships are going both ways, so watch the progression.

Gates are opening for us on the right. The ship on the left is already down and ready to move out of the canal. See the blue and cream ship on the left in the background?

Here it is passing us. It is a car carrier, and we learned that fully loaded they have to much draft to go through the canal, so they unload some of the cars at one end, and the cars are driven the 48 miles across and reloaded after they are through the canal. An interesting fact, they have a lawyer at the other end that watches as the oedometers are turned back to zero. 

We are through the Gatun Locks, and moving into Gatun lake. Our tug boat following us through the Culebra Cut, the narrowest and most unstable part of the canal. We were traveling very slow, it is a no wake zone.

These are the mules, there are 8 of them, 4 in front and 4 in back. When we move from lock to lock, they pull the ships through, and keep us centered in the lock. 

This building is the lock control center for the Miraflores Locks. It was built in 1913.

Our ship as it is preparing to enter the last Miraflores Lock before we enter into the Pacific. The ship has been raised and lowered 85 feet in 48 miles. It has been a full day.

This is the extent our restaurant staff goes to to feed us, Roasted suckling pig anyone? We think our friend Dave will think it is a large squirrel. LOL