Leaving the Panama Canal

We reached the locks on the Pacific Ocean side of the canal.

 

 

The container ship on the left is the MSC Anisha R from Monrovia.  We followed her into the canal that same morning.

 

 

We shared locks with this sight-seeing yacht and the Leto, which can just be seen coming into view around the bend in the background.

 

Entering the locks.

 

Mule drivers were friendly.

Entering the first chamber.

 

 

 

We waited for the Leto at every lock because she was so slow.

 

Bob touching the side of the Panama Canal.

 

Fuzzy touching the side of the Panama Canal.

 

 

Going down slowly.

 

 

The doors opening to allow us into Lake Miraflores, another man-made lake.

 

At the other end of the lake is the last set of locks.

 

Here comes the Leto finally.

 

Going down again.

 

Doors opening.

 

Entering the last chamber.

 

 

 

Going down for the last time.

 

Doors opening.

 

Toward the Pacific Ocean.

 

Entering the Pacific Ocean!

Cruising the Panama Canal

 

We took a bus from the Zuiderdam, drove to the other side of Lake Gatun and boarded a sight-seeing boat.  The crew took us all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

The new Panama Canal

Panama is building another canal that should be open later this year, to accommodate larger ships.  And get more money, too.

 

Recycling bays.

 

The workers were pretty cool!

 

This is where the new canal joins (or splits from) the old canal in the Pacific Ocean.

Entering the Panama Canal

On March 22, we cruised the Panama Canal.

 

We approached the northern locks from the Caribbean Sea at about 6:30am.  We were allowed to enter about 7am.

 

 

We got the western lock while the Monrovia container ship, MSC Anisha R, took the eastern lock. Ships are allowed into the canal in the morning and out in the afternoon.

 

Approaching the first gate.

 

Entering the first chamber.

 

One of the "mules" that held the Zuiderdam in place.  Our ship moved through the locks under her own steam but the mules are there to guide her, because she had only 2' clearance on either side.  The Zuiderdam is in the Panamax class of ships, which means she is the largest type ship that can use the canal.

 

We arrive at the second gate.

 

They flood the chamber with water and we rise!

 

 

Into the second chamber.

 

 

At the gate at the end of our chamber.

 

 

Going up!

 

Entering the third chamber.

 

The last gate before Lake Gatun.

 

Almost full.  Note the railings across the gate are lowered.

 

Into Lake Gatun.

 

Look how far we haven't come in 1 1/2 hours!  It cost the Zuiderdam about $380,000 to use the canal.