What a great day we had to go through the 77.1 KM of the Panama Canal. I got up at 5.30 in the morning as we were scheduled for the first lock at 6 AM. It was a beautiful day as we approached the Gatun Locks. The sun was just rising to a perfectly clear day. We were docked in the first lock by 6.30. This was followed by 2 additional locks to raise us to Gatun Lake that is 85 feet above sea level. Then we anchored as the ships were only allowed to travel in single file in certain sections of the canal because of dredging near the Culegra Cut. We were fortunate in that our passenger ship was given preference to the freighters and lead the line of ships that were headed for the Pacific Ocean. So we crossed Gatun Lake to the famous Culebra Cut and passed under the newly opened Centenniai Bridge. It had not been built the last time Dorothy and I went through the Panama Canal from the opposite direction about 23 years ago. It had been completed in 2004.
Soon after the Centenniai Bridge we got to the single lock called the Pedro Migel Locks that was the first lock to drop us down to the Pacific Ocean. In this area we saw new locks being built that will be able to handle much larger ships in the future. After that we went through the 2 locks of the Mirafieres Locks. This brought us down to the level of the Pacific Ocean.
Our ship moored in the holding area for ships that are to go through the Panama Canal. Tonight and tomorrow people from our ship will catch the tenders to get to Panama City. Dorothy and I are scheduled for a shore excursion by bus of the historic parts and the modern parts of Panama City.
We are well, enjoying ourselves and are looking forward to this shore excursion.
Map of Panama Canal
Entering 1st stage of 3 stage Gatun Locks
Lock gates opening on 2nd. Stage of Gatun Locks
Entering 3rd and final stage of Gatun Locks
Exiting last stage of Gatun Locks to Gatun Lake
Gatun Dam built to form Gatun Lake
Dorothy and Con viewing ships in holding area on Gatun Lake
Passing a ship in the Panama Canal
Large floating crane at maintenance facility at Rio Chargres
Railway Bridge over river from Madden Dam
Dredge working in the Calebra Cut.
New Centenniai Bridge over Calebra Cut.
New canal and locks being built for larger ships.
Entering the single stage Pedro Miguel Locks.
Exiting the Pedro Miguel Locks
Entering the 2-stage Miroflores Locks.
Dam forming lake between the Pedro Miguel Locks and Mireflores Locks
Entering the 2-stage Miroflores Locks.
Entering last stage of Miroflores Locks
Bridge of the Americas over the entrance of the Panama Canal
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