twangster

An infographic on display at this visitor center provides an overview of the Panama Canal. For the old and the new, each end of the canal has three locks chambers. The new locks have all lock chambers together on both ends while the original locks have the three lock chambers together on the Atlantic end while the Pacific side has small lake, Miraflores Lake, that separates one set of two lock chambers from the third lock chamber. From right to left on the infographic, matching our Radiance journey tomorrow, we will first encounter the three lock chambers of the Gatun Locks. A detail of the Gatun Locks: Once lifted by the three locks we will be around 85 feet above sea level on Gatun Lake. From right to left we will cross Gatun Lake, which isn't the straight shot pictured on this infographic, to the Culebra Cut, the section of the canal carved through a mountain in places. Through the Culebra Cut we first encounter the Pedro Miguel Lock, then the small Miraflores Lake, then the two lock chambers of the Miraflores Locks where I was standing to take these pictures. Then we will be at the Pacific Ocean.

We drove past the original Pedro Miguel Locks to the Miraflores Locks. More on that later. Here there is another viewing platform as well as an IMAX theater. The first signs of our arrival were of the flood control gates of the dam that creates the Miraflores lake. Up a couple of escalators and we came out to the view of the Miraflores lock complex. These are still operational and part of the original locks that Radiance will pass through tomorrow. Ships tends to go through the canal in conveys with ships going in each direction and passing the oncoming convey going the other direction somewhere in middle along Gatun Lake. Unfortunately that meant the timing of our visit was such that there were no ships using the locks at the moment. Instead they were performing some lock maintenance. In the distance the control tower for the new locks of the Pacific side was visible. These locomotives are called mules. That's a reference to how some of the oldest canals around the world used to work with small boats that were pulled through the canal by mules on the shore. Before there were engines to drive vessels it was difficult to hoist a sail and use the wind to move a boat along a canal so animals were used to pull the boats. These boats were nowhere near the size of ships today so it worked. One of the perks of going through the old locks is watching these "mules" keeping the ship centered with only a foot or two of clearance on either side. We will see them in action tomorrow. The deck 5 promenade deck is a great location to watch them. At times we will be face to face with the mule operators.

Back to the bus... After leaving the Agua Clara locks we drove for what seemed like a long time. The highways are mostly modern and interstate-like now. It is clear though that digging down to sea level through the land we drove across just wasn't even realistic. They'd probably still digging it to this day. Before there were roads it's hard to imagine what it would been like in the late 1800's for the French. Along the way we crossed the Chagres river. The river is tame now because of the dams but this was once a raging river especially after the heavy rainfalls that are common here. This is the view towards the Canal. We'll pass by where the river meets the lake tomorrow.

Dinner in Giovannis. I will get back to my excursion after dinner.

Yes it is! Although I can't help on the story.

There is a small gift shop here and some axles on display from carts used early on in the making of the Panama Canal. Ships moves slowly and carefully so it would take more time then we had to follow one ship through all three sets of locks. With our time consumed for this stop, it was back on the bus.

In the distance a ship heading Southbound has made it up through the Gatun Locks and is starting its transit across Gatun Lake. That will be Radiance tomorrow. The container ship is almost all the way into the first lock chamber. The tub is working to control the position of the ship. No "mules" are used on the new locks. It's all (or mostly) about the tugs along with the ship propulsion. With the ship progressing far enough they begin to close the first lock gate. Time to slow this puppy down. Once in position they set lines. Rinse, lather, repeat. The next ship in the convoy is lining up. This continues around the clock.

At the Visitor Center we first watched a 12 minute video in a small theater about the history of the locks and the expansion. Then we went out to the observation platform. A large container ship was lining up to enter the locks from Gatun Lake on the way to the Caribbean Sea. A claxon was sounding as they opened the lock chamber gates. Some perspective. Inching closer, ever slowly, aided by tugs. Looking towards the North and the Caribbean Sea you can see the Atlantic Bridge in the background. Another ship is in the middle lock chamber. In the distance you can see the Gatun locks we will use tomorrow. The second ship is moving into the final lock chamber. The container ship begins the entrance to the first lock chamber. That tanker is already in the final lock chamber. The container ship continues forward at a slow pace.

Our next stop was the Visitor Center at the Agua Clara locks. To get there we drove off the bridge and turned South following the canal. Part of the drive runs along the canal and we could see a ship that was through the locks on the way to the Caribbean Sea. The train tracks again. We'll see these throughout the day.

Now that I'm back on the ship with a functional web browser I going to start over, an excursion review mulligan, sort of. Our approach to the Atlantic Bridge to show some of the vegetation of the area. The train line between the coasts is as integrated into Panama transportation history between the coasts as much as the canal is, and its history goes back further. You can see the current rails here: The sign. Sort of got lucky with shot as the bus was moving and I didn't know it was coming. I was on the right side of the bus which I would recommend. Going over the bridge westbound we kept moving but when we turned around to go over the bridge again eastbound the driver stopped midway which is how I got these next shots. The locks of the Atlantic side of the canal. New locks on the left, original locks on the right. New locks - Agua Clara Locks on the left Original locks - Gatun Locks, on the right. Behind both in the distance is the same Gatun Lake. A slightly wider photo showing the approach to the Agua Clara locks: And the same for the Gatun Locks. The ships in the distance are 85' feet above sea level sailing on Gatun Lake. Another wide shot showing both sets of locks. New: Original: Either set of locks lifts or lowers a ship approximately 85 feet to or from Gatun Lake.

Having trouble uploading photos on mobile. I'll continue later from the ship.

The purpose for going over the bridge was sightseeing. So once over the bridge we turned around and went over again. This time the view was South towards the locks and Gatun Lake behind them. New locks on the left, original locks on the right.

Our bus took us over the Atlantic Bridge. The view North towards the Caribbean Sea.

We took a shortcut through the second largest duty free zone in the world. This was basically several city blocks of stores in a compound.

The adventure begins

This images shows a cross section of our transit.

We start at sea level, go through three locks to reach Gatun Lake around 85' above sea level. Then we cruise across Panama at 85' feet above sea level. On the other side there is one lock, a small lake, then two more locks. Once through them all we'll be back at sea level.

Yes! We passed it on the way in.

Royal could a little more thought into the excursion meeting points. This cruise has a lot of seniors who are forced to descend the stairs of the theater to collect a sticker only to climb all the stairs to exit. Quite a few are struggling with the steps.

The sunrise, stars and moon pics were passed through Lightroom. The rest are right from my phone, mostly posted from my phone.

Our terminal today.

To give you an idea where we are relative to the locks, here is a screenshot from marinetraffic.com. The NCL Sun is going through the locks right now. Colon is in the upper right where we are. The old Gatun locks on the left, the new Agua Clara locks on the right.

Colon

A break wall was added as a defense from foreign submarines who would try to destroy the canal during WWII. We'll go through the gap tomorrow morning.

Starlink report