Transiting in the rain..... Panama Style... 3

We were up early this morning to catch us entering into the Panama Canal... We thought that 5.30 am was early but from the reports in the lift, others were up the front with lounges from 3am that morning.... Probably straight from the casino in Colon.

We thought hmm we might be a little late so we jumped off the lift at deck 11 and decided to use the secret deck out front... Not many were there which was great ... what was not great was the downpour just as entered the locks.

Our arrangements for this morning were to actually experience our transiting of the locks from comfort of Ros and Arnolds portside balcony.....  but we were entering the locks nearly an hour early and I didn’t want to go knocking on their door....So after witnessing the first lock, and Garry kept filming on deck, I made my way to our friends cabin....

We decorated the balcony with our flags and watch and waved our way through the locks hoping that we could be seen back home on the webcams.... Vision was not that great on the cams as it was still pretty grey from the overhead thunder storm,  but when I looked at the captures our friends from cruise critic posted we could see exactly where we were. 

Once we exited the first of 3 sets of locks we anchored in the Gatun lake for an hour or so until we could start our transit.... during this time we enjoyed a wonderful champagne breakfast catered by Ros via the Horizon Court ......

Finally on our way again we sailed along the Gatun lake with its many little islands... it was nothing to look out from the balcony to see a large cargo vessel  passing so close feel you could reach out and touch it... From the lake we passed into along narrow passage with what looked like rainforests on either side...

By now we had left the coolness of Ros and Arnolds cabin and ventured up on deck to see what everyone else was doing....  Every available deck chair was lined up against the windows along the ship where I presume people had reserved the minute they woke up this morning.... There was a BBQ lunch and a small shop set up selling souvenirs from Panama...

It was so hot up on deck and the only relief was to have a quick dip in the pool.... that is if you were game enough to leave your chair unattended.

Passing by a couple more points of interest like the Gamboa Moorings and the Centenary Bridge , we then arrived the second set of Locks, the Pedro Miguel Lock.  This was just made up of one chamber that started our descent. Just a mile further down  were the Miraflores Locks.... these are the final locks that lower you down to the Pacific Ocean....

We were so excited about these locks as they had the closest webcams and we were really hoping that we could easily be spotted as we sailed pass.... But the heavens were not kind to us and just as it happened at Gatun the minute we arrive at the entrance the skies opened up.... Thunder Lightening and rain poured.... Webcam was a disaster as everything just looked like a grey blob... At least the weather didn’t  deter the hundreds of people that packed the 3 levels of viewing platforms at the Miraflores visitors centre.  They say they get over 1000 visitors a day.... they waved and cheered as we passed.... Cars slowed down and caused traffic jams, just so they could sound their horns and wave as we passed. Just like this morning the minute we exited the locks the sun was back out.... We knew we could put our rain coats away now that we had no more locks to pass through..

It was here that you also started to get your first glimpses of Panama City.....Banking capital of the world... supposingly the most high-rises you will find in one city.... as we passed under the Bridge of the America’s a city that looked like it was emerging from the sea came into view...  Such a stark contrast of the richness of one city and the poverty at the other end of canal at Colon.

Even though we still have another month you still can’t help but feel that now in the pacific we are on the downhill run home..... but we mustn’t forget we still have so much to see.....  Costa Rica here we come....

 

Side note:  just heard on the wake show that the 3 photographers that were in the helicopter taking aerial views, actually got off in Colon at 3am just before we set sail.  After their morning of filming they were taken back to Panama city  at the other end to wait for us.... A taxi was to pick them up from the hotel and take them to catch a tender back out to the ship.... it was running late and by the time they reached the wharf the ship was way off in the distance... oops....

An investigation was required as officials are very wary about crew not returning to their ships... They were cleared and flown to Costa Rica to await our arrival.  They managed well on little money and one set of clothing for their 3 day adventure.

Garry’s Princess Bread Roll Count - 189

Joanne’s Lobster count – 15