Panama Canal

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After two days at sea filled with good food and drinks, good books and entertainment which included a an informative lecture on The Panama Canal by the author Wm Friar

we awoke at 7Am just as we were entering the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic Friday evening we had dinner with the Wests and Joanne and Danny Sprung from Philadelphia. They are the bridge hosts aboard and cong tacted us after receiving a note from our good friends in Naples , Gloria and Bill Weissman who we originally met on a cruise. The Srungs are young enough to be our children but obviously know their bridge. So far we haven’t played yet but are looking forward to it

After entering the locks we were lifted 26 meters above sea level and entered Gatun Lake, at one time the largest man made lake in the world, We have been at anchor for 5 hrs awaiting our turn to proceed on our 50 mile crossing through the Culebra Cut-13.7 kilometers through the rock and shale of the Continental Divide. While at anchor we were invited to go ashore by tender to visit The Gatun Yacht Club. This informal clubhouse was once an active yachting and boating the center for the US Panama Commission and their families. It’s not much now.. We had a taste of Panamanian hospitality provided by a group of you topless girls dancing to native music. Sal and I

returned to the ship on the same tender that took us over.

Because we had been through this Canal on The Seabourne with the Potts, Mckinnons and Wests in November of 2004 we aren’t taking any side trips. At that time we toured the lock facilities and museum on the Pacific side and took a helicopter ride over Panama City and over the Canal itself form Pacific to Atlantic and back..

Tonight we pass through the Pedro Locks from 7:00 to 8 PM and will exit The Canal at the Miraflores Locks between 8:30 and 9:40, And then two more tough days at sea.