Day 6---Transit of the Panama Canal

Up early to watch the ship entering the Canal. Pam counted 17 ships on just the starboard side of the Westerdam, all apparently waiting their turn through the Canal. Lots of people employed here, but as it is pricey to go through, about $200,000 for this ship, for example, there's lots of money to be made.

Entering the first lock was interesting, because although we intellectually knew the ship would fit, it certainly did not look like it would. There is about 18 inches clearance on each side of the lock...what a tight fit. Three locks later we were 65' higher, and entered Gatun Lake. This is an entirely manmade lake with an earth-fill dam which supplies the water for locks on both the east and west side. We spent the day zig-zagging through the lake, a line of ships about 2000' feet from each other going very, very slow. We followed a car carrier and tanker, and were followed by a container ship.

East and west side in this case is slightly confusing, as the east side, the Caribbean side is further west than the Pacific side. Pam and I both felt someone was fooling with our heads, as we “knew” we were heading west, toward the Pacific, but continued on a south south-east course. This meant that the sun, instead of setting in the west, set in the perceived north. Anyway, look at a map and you'll see what I mean.

Exiting the locks at about 6, sunset here in the tropics, we are now in the Pacific and headed north. Tomorrow is an “at sea” day, so I have a class, and it is also Easter Sunday.