The Panama Canal

Today was canal transit day. As we approached the canal early in the morning the ships were waiting for their turn. The toll is determined by size and willingness to pay for expedited service, with the smallest charge ever being for a swimmer ($ .36) and the costliest being for a large ship which really needed to get through fast ($2.3 million)!

We had a great day for our passage because the predicted thunderstorms didn’t materialize until late afternoon. Just like on most waterways there are several bridges and the occasional fisherman and wildlife (both of the last two competing for the fish which pour out when the gates of the lock open).

The French had tried to dig a canal before the Americans succeeded and this shows what remains of their attempt. They say their plan was doomed from the beginning and would never have worked no matter how long they had continued.

The transit takes approximately 8 hours in total passing through several locks which raise and lower the ship 85 feet above sea level. Notice how close the ship is to the side of the lock and then notice how high it has been raised a few minutes later. The electric engines called mules guide the ship through very precisely!

The Panamanians say they are doing a better job of maintenance than the Americans did but I am not convinced.

The scenery all along the route was lovely — a beautiful country.