Casco Viejo, (Old Fort/Old Town) Panama City

So, after our canal transits we decided it was time to play tourist while waiting for our autohelm to arrive from the States.

We went to the canal museum, a very worthwhile $2! This is the view from the inside out. They wouldn't allow photos inside.

This fellow wasn't happy with Ralph for taking his photo. Usually we ask, but didn't this time.

We came upon a Kuna Indian stand on the waterfront. I was amused by the kids sitting in the shade, under the table, working away on the molas.

Here I am looking like I might purchase something. However, I really want to wait until we get to the San Blas Islands (on the Caribbean side of Panama), should that ever happen.

The Kuna are tiny little people, as you can see. It is a matriarchal society, which is quite a refreshing thought!

The ladies wear very colourful clothing and many beaded bracelets and "leglets"?

Here we are in front of the Panama City skyline. We haven't made it to that part of the town, yet, but those are supposed to be mostly apartment buildings.

There is real poverty here and it seems that there are a few very rich, and many very poor. One street over from the main shopping street can be very dangerous for tourists and cruisers. We were advised to take a cab, rather than walk the one block, to a marine shop we wanted to visit.

I feel a painting coming on!!

One of the tourist shops had these lovely cane/grass masks.

They were very detailed and colourful.

Yet another painting coming on!

Our camera is great for taking candid shots, as it has a viewer that is adjustable 360 degrees. So, Ralph gets some great shots!

Dave, from Nuage, chatting up one of the local kids in a square. We don't think that was her baby, but here you never know.

They are trying to restore this old part of the city but, as you can see, they have a lot of work to do.

I love the old balconies.

Very quaint.

This is Carol. For SV Nuage, she takes the photos.

"Patiently", Dave stands and waits for Carol!

Canal Trip on Susurru

So, gluttons for punishment that we are, we weren't satisfied with one trip through the Panama Canal and signed on as line handlers for a second trip, about 2 days after the first. Now, me being me, I hadn't actually recovered from the first trip and I WASN'T EVEN A LINE HANDLER that time!! Just the lowly photographer! However, we'd actually signed for the second before we'd left for the first...silly me!!!!! This trip through the canal was different in almost every way from the first. We were aboard a monohull, again, but nothing else was the same. We were to "nest up" with Southern Belle, a catamaran with all our friends aboard. Tom and Carol were the owners and had asked us and Linda, from Linda Lea to line handle. We really didn't know any of the people aboard our boat.

This is Carol, left, and crew Linda, right. Unfortunately, only Ralph and Tom were really experienced line handlers, and Tom had to drive the boat. Carol had been through before, aboard another boat, but didn't seem prepared to line handle. Linda brought a sewing project, so I'm not really sure what she thought was involved in this endeavour. She'd done no reading up and our captain didn't think it necessary to walk us all through the jobs and what would be expected. I, of course (if you know me at all) was very worried and apprehensive about the whole thing. This is someone's home/big investment/boat...I didn't want to screw up!! My feeling was we weren't really prepared. However, all went OK.

This is our happy captain, Tom.

This is our advisor, Edwin.

Ralph and Tom discussing what's what, or not! Note the stalk of bananas aft.

This is the Bridge of the Americas. We're on our way through to the locks.

This is the pilot boat and it is how they load and unload pilots on the freighters.

Anyone under 65 feet gets an advisor, rather than a pilot. As said previously, pilots don't really know small boats. Fortunately for us, this is Jose...he learned a lot aboard Hooligan as he was the advisor for them when we went sideways on our last passage through the canal.

This would be Southern Belle, with (from left) Mary, Carol, and Dave.

Another shot of Southern Belle alongside a container ship entering the locks.

This is Southern Belle cut free from Susaru and progressing through Lake Gatun. There were really no issues in the canal.

It was very difficult to stay cool and dry on Susaru as they didn't have a dodger.

One of the beautiful trees in Lake Gatun.

They are doing a lot of work for the new canal passage, and locks, that will take even larger vessels than can fit in the present ones.

Our happy captain and captainess after uplocking into the lake.

A relieved Edwin, although Jose was really in charge in the locks as Southern Belle was the larger boat.

George, captain of Southern Belle, and David his buddy having a nice watermelon breakfast.

Josh, George's and Melinda's son serenading us in the morning. Our captain and captainess went to bed before and right after dinner (respectively), so we were thankful to be tied to the Lake Gatun mooring along with Southern Belle. After everyone else went to bed, we crossed the huge buoy and joined the sing-a-long with our friends and spent the evening there. In retrospect, we wished we were aboard Southern Belle as they were our friends and it will be a long time before we see some of them again. However, they only need so many line handlers. Luckily, we were tied to the same buoy for the night!!

In the morning, after Southern Belle had had breakie, and before our's (as the captain and captainess aboard Susaru didn't rise till 9), most had a swim in the lake. Again, chicken Cheryl didn't partake. But someone had to take these fantastic shots!!

Alright, I've missed my calling, don't you think???!!

So, we entered the Gatun locks to downlock into the Caribbean. Alongside was a "Dam" ship. We didn't want to give them any extra entertainment, and we didn't.

Here is the crew of Susaru, still smiling.

Here's the crew of Fortuitous, on Susaru, and still smiling...well, I am!

Oh dear, is that a leak??

So, that's the trip with Susaru. All went fine, but it was a huge learning curve for us, especially me!

Panama Canal trip on Hooligan

We were only in Playita Anchorage a couple of days when an opportunity came up to travel through the canal on Hooligan, with our friends' Tim and Paula. They had enough line handlers with Ralph, so I just went along to take photos and help Paula with care of the crew aboard.

This is one of the large freighters going into the locks ahead of us.

Tim, our happy captain! Little did he know, at this time, we weren't going to have a fun time in Miraflores lock #2!

This is the entrance to the two lanes for the locks. They allow for travel in both directions or both going the same way. Today, they are up-locking in the same direction. Originally, we were scheduled to go into the right lock behind that blue freighter, but there was some problem and just as we were about to go in behind, they called us off.

This is a Panamax freighter which means it's the maximum size for the canal. As you can see, you probably can't get a credit card between it and the sides of the lock. They are building a new portion of locks to allow for even larger vessels. It is scheduled for opening in 2014, but it looks a long way off still.

This is just about the time they called us off.

So, here we are finally entering the lock behind a small tour boat.

We are side tying to the tug. Because we are tied to the tug, there is no need to have any lines from Hooligan to the side of the canal as the tug is tied to the wall of the lock.

The gates are closed and the water is pouring in creating lots of current.

The gates are opening for the first lock and the tour boat is getting ready to exit to the next lock.

Ralph on the bow and out we go!

This gives you some idea of the size of the lock doors.

At this point, we've already had difficulties in lock #2. The advisors don't really know much about small watercraft, but we didn't really know that. We now know you need to take control of your boat because you know how your boat will handle certain conditions. The advisor asked Tim to back away from the tug. When we let go of the tug, the prop wash, current, and wind hit us and we went sideways. We couldn't regain any forward motion in these conditions. It took us awhile to get Hooligan back in the right direction, after doing a 360 in the lock. I have no photos of all of this as we were all busy trying to protect Hooligan from the sides of the lock. By that time, they'd already uplocked the tug and tour boat in the last of the locks on this side, called Pedro Miguel, so we are going through alone. That's our line about to be secured on the side of the lock.

We have risen to the level of Gatun Lake and are waiting for the gates to open.

Our relieved captain, as we exit the last of the up locks and into Gatun Lake.

And out we go!

The bow crew: Paula, Mary (Carpe Vita), and Melinda (Southern Belle). And a fine job the did!!

A bridge very similar in design to Alex Fraser.

Just doesn't look possible that that freighter will fit under that bridge.

Look closely at the centre of this photo and you'll see an crocodile. The lake and canal are supposed to have lots of them.

Container ship passing us.

Now, this is a sail boat!

No tires on the side of this boat. It is 180' long. Everyone was having a party on the top deck while the crew took her through.

Ralph and boat dog, Nigel! Nigel couldn't quite figure out why there were so many people aboard his boat.

Our much happier captain, Tim, and his wife Paula.

Crew members, Mary and Mike, Carpe Vita.

Tying to the buoy in Lake Gatun. We had a late start so we can't go through all the locks in one day.

The crew for Hooligan's canal passage.

Bye-bye advisor Jose!

Those who weren't afraid of crocodile bites swam in Lake Gatun. A whole lot of billiard balls, if you ask me!

Freighter waiting, the next morning, for downlocking into the Caribbean. In front is Hooligan's syncronized swimming team!

Approaching Gatun Locks. Those are the mules that pull the freighters through the locks.

See, I was there!

Gatun Locks gallery.

This was our lock-mate!!

Oh My God!!!

First lock down, two more to go!

The gates fold agains and into the wall.

We had more problems in lock #2 going down and Hooligan went sideways again. This time the problem was that one of the canal line handlers was late to his post and late throwing off the line. We got her sorted out and headed out of the lock.

Exiting the lock with our friend behind us.

Thank you, God, says Tim!!