10/17/2009
Since we began our southbound journey, we have been reading the history of the Panama Canal in the book, Path Between the Seas, by David McCullough, graciously donated to us by Rebekah’s Aunt Cindy.  This lengthy tome provides a detailed account of both the French and American involvement in the construction of this amazing engineering feat, in a surprisingly page-turner form.

 Panama Marine Adventures offers both full and partial transits of the Panama Canal, however full transits from Pacific to Atlantic Ocean are scheduled only once per month.  We planned our visit to Panama City around the full transit offering and boarded the Pacific Queen at the Flamenco Marina at 7:30 on Saturday morning for our nine hour transit.  The experience of traversing the Canal is fascinating, exhilarating and a bit indescribable.  The Panama Canal was one of the main highlights of our trip and we highly recommend it in any form, since even a brief lesson on the history of the canal will prove interesting. 

In the meantime, join us on a photo journey from ocean to ocean through the Isthmus of Panama.

Waiting to board the Pacific Queen at Flamenco Marina

Panama Bay and Panama City

Panama Canal pilot boat

Each boat must have a Panama Canal official pilot aboard before entering the Canal

Inside the buoys, on the way to the Canal!

Panama City skyline behind the Amador Causeway

Under the Bridge of the Americas

Bridge of the Americas

Loading a ship at the Panama City port

Our partner ship approaches for the first lock transit

Entering the Miraflores Locks – note arrow indicating correct transit direction and men in rowboats waiting to attach cables between our larger partner ship and mini-locomotives

In the Miraflores Locks

Miraflores Locks Building – 1913

Locks doors closed – Low water

Going up!

Locks doors open – Exiting first lock chamber

Pedro Miguel Locks – note the height of our neighboring ship

Pedro Miguel Locks – looking back toward Pacific and our former partner ship - too slow FloJo!

Centennial Bridge (Panama City traffic bypass)

Continental Divide!

The first in many passing ships…

First “Panamax” vessel – largest ships able to fit through the Canal

Loaded to the gills! (With required tugboat)

A sailboat transiting the Canal – what a size difference!

Hapag-Lloyd!

Gatun lake at the bow of the boat

Gatun lake – rain clouds approaching

Panamax car carrier

Ships ships ships

Tight squeeze in the Gatun Locks

Gatun Locks neighbor – note mini-locomotives on each side that move large ships through the locks via cable attachments

Three chambers of Gatun Locks

First chamber doors opening

Our partner ship in the Gatun Locks – the Magnum Power

At the stern of the boat

Going down!

Covering up with our poncho from the daily Panamanian rains

Atlantic side of the Canal

Cristobal Port, Colon

Disembarking in Colon for bus ride back to Panama City. Best tour ever!