Panama Day 9 - into the Canal

Sunday October 7

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Official itinerary::

You'll wake up this morning to find yourself at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, where you'll begin your northbound canal passage. You'll witness a new chapter in the canal's 103-year-old history: a new set of locks, completed in 2016, that now allow the world's largest cargo ships to pass through.

The notion of building a path between the seas here is as old as the voyages of Christopher Columbus, but it wasn't until 1879 that Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, made the first attempt. The scope of the effort proved too great, and the project languished until 1902, when Teddy Roosevelt brought the dream to life.

In 1913—a full year ahead of schedule and nearly $23 million under budget—the Panama Canal was completed. It officially opened on August 15, 1914, and a dream became a reality. A journalist who witnessed its opening wrote, “This canal is both a first and a last … man will never again build with such scope, such imagination.” Now, more than 40 ships a day, or more than 14,000 annually, traverse its 50-mile length—eliminating a 9,000-mile trip around the tip of Cape Horn.

Begin your own transit by cruising beneath the soaring Bridge of the Americas, which connects the two land masses that were separated by the canal's construction, to join today's convoy of ships from around the world for your northbound canal passage. As you cruise, you'll take in the full spectrum of everyday life on the canal's banks, from the bustling activity at the commercial port of Balboa to crocodiles lounging in the sun.

You'll pass through the Miraflores Locks and the Pedro Miguel Locks, experiencing for yourself the thrill of these engineering marvels. Then, your ship will navigate the Gaillard Cut; the narrowest section of the canal that bisects the Continental Divide, it is named for the American who oversaw its construction and then died just before it opened. You'll see up close the dramatic landscape 6,000 canal laborers toiled to cut. At the peak of construction, up to 600 holes daily were drilled and then blasted with as much as 50,000 pounds of dynamite. Steam shovels dug out the rubble, which was loaded onto 160 trains a day for the twelve-mile trip to the dumps. Your Trip Leader will describe how, nearly a century later, this section of the canal requires continuous maintenance due to its susceptibility to landslides.

After a leisurely lunch onboard, experience the highlight of the day's cruise when the Discovery is raised 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake. This man-made lake was created during the construction of the canal by damming the Chagres River, which supplies the Gatun Locks with more than 52 million gallons of fresh water per ship that passes through. You may explore the lake by kayak today, if you wish.

The Discovery will anchor for the night in Gatun Lake, where you'll enjoy dinner together followed by an exclusive Discovery Series discussion that will prepare you for the rest of your cruise: the expansion of the Panama Canal and history of the Chagres River. Because ours is the only ship small enough to moor at the lake overnight, you'll drift off to sleep onboard, listening to the lullaby of the rain forest around you.

Please note: Today's activities include boarding and deboarding fiber glass boats. 

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Woke up to glorious weather. At 7 am we were ready and went to find some tea/coffee. At the same time the motor was turned on and we were moving. Can’t miss that.

A boat is bringing the pilot. Every ship/boat/vessel has to have a pilot to go through the canal. Some even 2 at the same time.

We were informed that we will enter into the first lock probably at about 9 am. Gosh, there was a lot to see. But breakfast had also started. Buffet of course. Interesting things. The crew is so nice and attentive. 

I had to get up several times to take a photo I didn’t want to miss. The catamaran was moving. First the bridge of the americas ... several stages ... including looking back. And there were cranes for the big cargo ships. Some are too laden, too heavy and some of the load is taken to the other side by train and then out on again when the cargo ship is through all the locks.

We are going through three locks today. The first is “Miraflores Locks” and has actually two steps. Big ships like the cruise ship in front of us only fit into the locks alone. Ours is so small that we are joined by another smaller sailboat and two tugboats and there is still a lot of space to spare. Gosh, there is really a lot to see and observe, including the pelican. I can't possibly start explaining how everything works. I am impressed though how complicated the logistics are though. I took way too many photos. At about 11 am we were through.

VIDEO!     (2:39)     Entering the first lock. Ian talking.

VIDEO!     (0:36)   I had fun watching the pelican. Probably one of my favorite birds. You can see him in the next picture sitting on the top of the gate.

The gates are opening and we are through the Miraflores Locks. Two steps up done!

Of course there was still plenty to see. The second lock was “Pedro Miguel Locks” and is one step.

Then there is the new Centennial Bridge, which is not even on the maps which are laying out in the big room.

Neither are the new locks on those maps. Here a photo where the new locks join the canal, right before the new bridge.

The bridge is fascinating.

So is the Culebra Cut. This was a very crucial and difficult part of the construction. The mountain where the Continental Divide is. It is narrow and only only one ship at a time can traverse this section so they plan all ships going north go through in the morning and those going south pass through in the afternoon.

(shared by Octavio - he caught me)

(shared by Octavio - still me)

Right after we see the old railroad bridge with the one lane road to Gamboa over which we went yesterday morning with the bus to Soberania National Park.

And then we are in the Gatun Lake. Now it is two way traffic. We are passing big cargo ships.

Lunch time at 1 pm one floor up, a very nice shaded deck. It’s also were the bridge with the captain and the pilot is. We are encouraged to visit it. There are plenty of places on this to have a good look from.

Lunch is a kabob stick grilled on that deck with corn and a very delicious salad ... with wine or beer ... and a breeze ... the weather is great. Everything perfect. 

I can't say enough good things about the crew. They are trying very hard to make us happy ... with the food and everything.

After we anchor we rest a little in our cabins. We change clothes and apply sunscreen lotion. At 3 pm more adventures. There are choices. You can go in a two-person kayak, or in a motor boat, or both. James and I decided that the motorboat is good enough. Life jackets on and off we go.

We are so pleasantly surprised. The motorboat is so much more comfortable than we could hope for. We even can lean back.

Octavio is our guide. We go around the Las Brujas Islands looking for wildlife. The first we see is a female three-toed sloth. Hard to see because its her back but the head keeps looking around.

We see three different kind of monkeys (tamarin, howler and spider), different birds, no crocodiles. It was very nice and took about 90 minutes. What I like most is just "hearing" the silence. Nothing but the water and birds. It's nice to see the animals but I would not be disappointed if we were not lucky with that. Relax. It's not a competition who sees the most. Lovely.

Back at 4:30 pm. We took a quick shower and changed back into better clothes. The hallway in the lower deck with 6 cabins on each side. 

Then James and I sat on the back deck with a beer. No idea were everybody was but it was lovely. 

Dinner at 7 pm. Very delicious. Nice table talk.

A lecture from Ian about the canal and what we are doing tomorrow. He also told us that we are extremely lucky with the weather so far. Unusually gorgeous. Well, we take it. Thank you, Lord.

Ha-ha, I don’t think the steps are worth mentioning today. (ok 3621)

Night, night.

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