Welcome to Our Space in Cyberspace: April 2017

April 30, 2017

Panama Canal and the PTD - Part 2

After breakfast, we continued our Perfect Transit Day (PTD) from our very own, practically private viewing platform on Deck 2. Two deck chairs made it a comfortable place to wait, read and watch as we made our way from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Just think!

This is the way we will cross the Continental Divide!

The Canal is 46 miles long. The Gatun locks had raised the ship 26 meters or about 80 feet higher than the Atlantic. But we have only just begun. Just think! This is how we are crossing the Continental Divide!

The Canal is truly an engineering marvel.

This afternoon we still must go through Gatun Lake and the narrow Culebra Cut before we get to the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks which will lower us the same 26 meters or about 80 feet down to the Pacific and sea level again.

The Canal is flanked by jungle on both sides, and the Captain, in the narrow and shallower areas, needs tto align the ship with the navigation aids on shore.

This afternoon we go under the beautiful Bridge of the Americas and the transcontinental highway.

As beautiful as the trip is,

Going through the locks is what everyone looks forward to.

Before entering a lock, each ship is assigned two engines, sometimes called "mules." These tram-like vehicles run on tracks parallel to the Canal and on both sides of the ship at the stern.

Cables are let out from both mules and hooked to the ship's "rear end." The cables keep the ship centered in the lock so that it won't hit or scrape the chamber walls. For a big ship like ours, there are only a few inches of wiggle room.

This is when our PTD manifested itself again. As the saying goes: Location, location, location. We are stationed at the stern where this maneuver takes place!

We are probably the only two passengers on the ship who could actually watch the cables being pulled inside the ship and hooked to huge bollards on Deck 1.

Why am I so sure of that? Because we were in the only location on the ship where you could see through the openings in a staff-only stairwell and watch the cables being hooked to the bollards and then, later, released.

We were also up close and personal with the lock walls as the gates closed and the water level dropped.

Best of all, we were also within smiling distance of the engine operator on our starboard side. Once again I was close enough to exchange a wave. (And I'm including a cropped close-up photo as proof!)

Leaving the Pedro Miguel lock...

. . . we motored into our final lock on the Pacific side: the Miraflores lock. The Canal's visitor's center, with several observation decks is here.

The Miraflores Lock was another big "downer."

By the we left this lock, we were once again at sea level and ready to continue our journey with the Pacific under the keel.

Looking back--which is what we did during 80 percent of the day--it was a uniquely Perfect Transit Day (PTD).

The Panama Canal and the PTD

We've been through the Panama Canal several times, but this passage was, by far, the best ever.

We usually have a midship cabin on Deck 3 where there is a wrap-around promenade deck. This time, however, our cabin is on Deck 2 and we are in the back of the ship.

Going through our hallway's back door, we discovered a small, secluded deck that almost no one else knows about. Granted, you can't see where you're going or what is happening in front, but you have a perfect view of where you've been and what is happening in back.

I overslept and missed the start of the transit. Tom was still sleeping, but I decided to make on a quick trip up the stairs and forward to the bow. When I went out our back door, I saw that the rear tug was getting into position. What a nice surprise. Such a good view! I was close enough to the water and the tug to wave to the tugboat captain -- and he waved back!

That wave was the start of a Perfect Transit Day (PTD).

The best view is supposed to be on the bow of the ship, which is open to the public for the occasion. I was on my way there for the view, but mostly for the traditional Panama breakfast buns that are served there on Panama Canal mornings.

My bun, filled with custard and bits of orange, was delicious. The view? It was like I knew it would be: Not so good. It is disappointing, especially if you're short, not there early enough to get a position at the rail, and too shy (polite) to worm (push) your way in.

So I wrapped up a bun for Tom and headed back to the room. A better view can be had right in your room because you can hear the commentary and watch the scene on your cabin TV! And that's how Tom and I both watched the entry into the Gatun Lock.

On the way to breakfast, we stopped on the promenade deck. From there, we had a good view of the whole length of the ship while it was in the lock. There was not much room between our ship and their wall.