Admirals Log:
Panama 2nd visit and the Canal crossing
We went for an explore up the river Chagres - it was dammed off to make the canal - all of us on the look out for crocodiles as they are supposed to be all along the banks. We didn't see any live ones, BUT
While David, Fiona and myself went for a walk in the bush
We did find a big crocodile scull that David decided to harvest some teeth out of for the boys as souvenirs.
And Fi did one better and decided to bring the scull back for the boys as well!!
It didn't last long on the boat - it stunk too much - but it's brother would have taken a good chunk out of us if we had been inclined to go swimming! We didn't! We still have the teeth on the boat as they didn't want to try and get them through NZ customs!
Then it was back to Shelter Bay - staying at the Marina courtesy of Mark - (our budget doesn't stretch to many stays in marinas) to meet up with Kathy and Gavin.
Kathy and me, they had come to be line handlers in the canal for us and then spend some time with us in the Las Perlas.
Watching the gates close behind us in the 2nd loch before lake Gatun.
We were right beside the wall after the canal authorities had changed their minds FIVE times as to where they were going to put us!
With lines only on one side it was the worst possible position to be in, as when the water starts gushing out of the sides of the walls your boat gets really buffeted around, and David had a really hard time trying to keep it parallel with the concrete wall.
We felt very tiny and insignificant dwarfed by the massive ship in front and the big gates closing us in behind us.
The other catamaran had an easy time of it - just rafted up to the tug boat that was helping the ship move in and out of the lochs. We thought it was because they had 3 young scantily dressed girls on deck chatting to the guys on the tug boat. I didn't think me stripping down to my bikini would have the same effect!!
The next day after spending the night in the Gatun Lake we were again placed against the wall - this time with the other catamaran rafted up to us!!!!
David and Gavin helping them raft up to us. They had more clothes on today!
With the ship behind us we could see more of what was happening.