Panama Canal

​September 1991.  We continued to move south.  We stopped a couple of places along the way, but the goal was the Panama Canal.  To know that such an important and enormous fixture in nautical history would allow a small boat like ours to use it, seemed incredible. 
 
Weaving our way through the line-up of ships waiting to use the canal, made us realize the enormity and uniqueness of this experience.  To make it more exciting, it was raining—very hard—and finding channel markers was a challenge.  This was one of the few times, we liked having all the huge ships around.  Their presence made navigating easier.  

​We found the anchorage where we small boats wait to be inspected and measured for our transit.  It took a day or two.  We were amazed at the care and detail that is taken with every ship planning on transiting the canal regardless of size.  Our inspection took 45 minutes, but we were told it can take hours on the big ships.  When our inspector finished, he said we would soon find out our transit information and would be given a day and time.  Our intention was to go through only the first set of locks and then stop at a colonial-style boat club just inside, then carry on with the rest of the transit in a few weeks.  

After entering the lock. Bob took this picture, but Carl and I had our backs to the gates. We didn't even hear them close. We were going up before we realized it. From L to R: Grace, tugboat crewmember, Inar, Juan (Pilot), Carl, and Lori.

Lori contemplating the situation while tug crewmember watches and Juan handles lines and fenders.

​To make this trip, we need others to help with our lines.  As cruisers, everyone helps everyone else.  We got our crew together and began our transit on September 19, 1991.  I made cookies, muffins and Chinese Chicken salad for our friends and crew once we got settled at the boat club.   While I did that, Carl got Bijou ready.  He needed to get out all of our lines and fenders and have them sorted by size and ready to be used.  Since we weren’t sure how it worked, he had to plan for all contingencies. 
 

Juan, our pilot, making sure all is well. Lori handling stern line.

​A special mention should be made here about an excellent book that is a must-read for anyone going through the Canal.  Path Between The Seas by McCullough.
 
On Thursday, September 19, 1991, Juan our pilot arrived early morning, closely followed by our crew.  We had to make a dash to catch the tug with which we were going to share the lock.  Juan coached Carl on the process and got us side-tied to the tug without incident.  Carl, our crew, and I were awestruck by what we were about to do.  We got so wrapped up with the process, we missed the gates closing and the water rising in the lock.  It was all so quiet.  After nearly a century of working, to not hear a squeak or groan of metal on metal was impressive.  There are three locks to begin, but the boat club is between lock two and three, so we got cut loose after the second lock.  After two hours we were tied up at the Pedro Miguel Boat Club.  This day had been a once in a lifetime experience.    

A full lock and an easy ride up. Being tied to a tug is the best and easiest way to lock up or down. We were lucky for our first time. Crew: Juan, our pilot, Inar, Bob, Pat, Grace. Bob and Pat's boat was Maletar, Inar and Grace's boat was Egret.