Panama Canal Day 2

Early start today as the Panama Canal pilot boarded our ship at 5:30 am. Each ship's captain temporarily transfers piloting authority to a PC pilot who navigates the ship through the locks. Of course, we never left the ship, but were watching all the activity from our balcony and other vantage points around the ship throughout the 10 hour journey.

We passed through the Gatun Locks, then across Gatun Lake - passing by Soberania National Park. Once across the lake, we passed through the Pedro Miguel Locks, then the Miraflores Locks, and out into the Pacific Ocean. The ship is raised and lowered 85 feet from sea level throughout the 48-mile long journey. Electric engines on train tracks take ropes from forward and aft on both port and starboard and guide the ship through each lock. That work was originally performed by mules. At one point, the old and new canal passageways swap sides. Very interesting.

Passing by the rainforest, we heard the sounds of animals/birds, but only spotted a few pelicans.

Tonight we joined two other couples at the dinner table in The Restaurant -- Linda & Joe, our next door neighbors, from Vancouver, WA, via Newark, NJ and Phyllis & Don from Durham, NC. Very enjoyable evening with, as always, excellent food and wine.