2004 Panama Canal Cruise -- Panama Canal, Part II

Updated January 20, 2005

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The reason for this cruise, of course, was to transit the Panama Canal. The photos here are an extensive record of our (exhausting) day, spent in the Canal. This is truly a cross-roads of the world, with many, many ships in transit, and in port at either entrance. The engineering that made this canal is a marvel, and the setting is other-worldly. In some cases, the ships run alongside wild jungle, with no humans in sight. A website about that canal that may be of interest is: "http://www.panamacanal.com/map.htm".

Of course, we could not see or photograph a lot of our journey through the locks. We were fortunate that other ships were locking near us. In the final locks, we were descending, so it was easier to see the mules connected to our ship. The entire locking operation is pretty amazing, involving men and machines.

Or destination at the end of the Canal was Cristobol. We stopped at a pier complex in bond, and had a chance to visit the pier and buy local trinkets. The Legend was off again later that night. So we reach the end of Panama Canal section. Hope you enjoyed it.

These pictures were taken primarily with our new Kodak DX6490, which we love. The 10x optical zoom is great, and the electronics do a fine job of automatic adjustment and flash operations.

Canal map	Approaching the next lock	Panama Canal Railroad alongside canal; major earthworks in the background	Approaching Pedro Miguel locks	Pedro Miguel lock is emptying, getting ready for the container ship
Closeup of rowboats used to handle lines	Line handling by rowboat; "old" technology still the best	This shipyard looks a lot like the way we do it in Maui	Pedro Miguel Lock, completed in 1913	Its the 90th anniversary of the Canal
Our companion enters the lock	Lots of cell towers near the lock	We can see over the containers, right into the jungle	Door just about to close behind the container ship	Passenger train in background, middle ground are the yards where they repair the mules, foreground the lock and container ship
Upper gate is opening	Upper gate is opening some more; note that they are double gates	Upper gate is opening more yet	Legend is approaching the suspension bridge; gateway to the Gaillard Cut	Under the suspension bridge and into the Gaillard Cut (and on to lunch)
Buoy in the Gaillard Cut (the Cut is narrow!)	The Gaillard Cut was made by blasting and digging into the mountains of Panama	The passing is tight in the Cut; the other ship is entering from Gatun Lake	Many, many ships in Gatun Lake; guess what this is	Hmmm, yacht transport!
Rather than sail her through the Canal, pay them to carry her for you.	And another yacht transport, just behind the first one	What is this one?	We don't know, but guess she is a car carrier	The parade goes on, this one is an "ordinary" container ship
Small isolated island in Lake Gatun	Lake Gatun View	Ship ahead of us in the lake	Small island in Lake Gatun; stay on the right side of the bouy!	Island close-up
Looking along the bouy line to another ship ahead of us	In the distance are the final locks	Ships waiting in Lake Gatun	One of the ships in the lake	Another ship
Tug in Lake Gatun	Tender from Legend	Passengers leave by tender for land tours	Approaching Gatun Locks to leave the canal	Approaching Gatun Locks to leave the canal
Mule at Gatun Locks is waiting for us	Looking back into Gatun Lake from Gatun Lock	Ship in left lock is descending the stairstep set	Closeup of line handling in Gatun Lock	Another ship approaching the Gatun Lock [car carrier?]
Gate closing	Nearly closed...	We are descending now	Mule hooking up to us	The mule is going with us now
Looking ahead in the multiple lock	Ships ahead leaving the lock and a view of the channel ahead	Pretty crowded in the Gatun Locks	Gatun Locks finished in 1913	Gatun Locks buildings
Closeup of Gatun Locks display	More mules at Gatun Locks	Approaching Cristobal (our evening's destination)	Ships waiting at other end of canal

2004 Panama Canal Cruise -- Panama Canal, Part II

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