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!