We have just been given the following information:
We will be in the third raft of three yachts going through the Gatun Locks tomorrow, 23 January, sandwiched between two monohulls.
This transit is booked starting at 6.15 pm local time (this is 11.15 pm UK time). We will be approaching the locks in daylight and they are floodlit when dark.
The webcam address is
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html
On Sunday 24 January, we should be going through the Miraflores Locks between 12 noon and 1 pm local time (5 pm to 6 pm UK time). The web address is the same. Just choose the appropriate lock tab.
There is also a camera at the Bridge of the Americas which might catch us just after this.
Penny and Peter arrived around 10 am this morning and immediately present me with lots of goodies; books, magazines, coffee from Costa Rica and really important, a 500 gig hard disk full of films and TV recordings. That should keep me occupied on a long passage. I might even forget to be sea sick! Amazingly they met a friend on the train, Derelyn, who used to live on Tortola and now lives in Equador and is also crewing on one of the boats through the Panama Canal.
We get rafted up with another boat yet again, although the crew promise to take their shoes off when they cross our boat to get to shore, as Jim is sick of washing it down!
Penny, Peter and Jim go off to hunt for howling monkeys in the jungle and when they get back Jim makes lunch and Penny washes up. I could get used to this. Penny sets to and organises her washing, and while she is in the launderette Peter takes his posh camera to photograph the monkeys that he heard earlier and Jim, Mike and I have a nap, but not together!
We enjoy the barbecue organised by the marina (well it’s sort of a barbecue although you have no choice of food).
Photo: Derelyn, Penny and Peter
Photo: Jim, Mike, myself and Penny
I wander off to find Judith and the rest of the crew of Brown Eyed Girl and stop for a chat.
Photo: Tom, from Brown Eyed Girl and myself
Photo: Back with hubby
Suddenly I realise that the rest of my crew have gone and I am about to join them back on the boat when Nick arrives offering Sauvignon Blanc. How can a girl refuse?
Eventually I get back to the boat to find Mike still wide awake and waiting for me. We are both excited about the transit through the canal tomorrow and chatter for a while before we turn off the light.
Brilliant! I'll try and check out the webcam tomorrow evening. Sounds like you're all having a brilliant time :)
ReplyDeleteSea-Fever
By John Masefield (1878-1967)
I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
Can't wait for the next installment :)
All the best!
Vixta xx (aka Victoria to uncle Jim) :)
Hi Jean and Mike really enjoying your blog,am also follwing your route on a map, the pics are great too.
ReplyDeleteSending you all our love, stay safe T xxxx
Hi Jean
This is Tony and Maureen, taking advantage of Tracy's computer, i have been following your blog but unfortunately at the moment, my computer refuses to find the server, so i have a problem.
Your blog is amazing and we watched the dolphin video and heard your voice, what a tale you have to tell. We so enjoyed the weekend at Ann's retirement after braving our snowy journey. All went well exept that her sister Jean wasn't there. We will keep watching your progress one way of another. Our love to you both.
Tony and Maureen xxxx