April 6, 2014: Canal Day: Part One in Postcards 4

  • April 19, 2014, 10:43 p.m.
  • |
  • Public

The Panamanian authorities come to vet us.</font></center>

We both woke with great enthusiasm and made the dining room before most of the early birds. Pastries instead of croissants for breakfast.

On deck ten; G is on deck 11..</font></center>

We reconnoitered the bow decks, and found ourselves a place out on the front to see and photograph the Panama Canal as we passed through. Of like mind, our dinner table friends joined us. Our constant lens clicking accompanied the ship into the locks. <center></center><center><font size="1">Two MSC container ships going up the locks just in front of us.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">New much larger, lock construction.</font></center> <center></center><center><font size="1">New gates for the new locks. These will slide horozontally in and out of the walls unlike the old gates that open like doors.</font></center> <center></center><center><font size="1">A piece of the remaining French Canal.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">Tugs nudging the MSC Kim into the lock.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">Those are refrigeration units at the stern of both ships. Notice the vertically hanging lifeboats on both ships.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">Panamax indeed.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">As the locks close on the MSC Kim, a rowboat comes to collect our line for the mule waiting dockside.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">A mule waits for us. </font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">The locks are closing and a small bridge is also closed just in front of the lock gates.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">As the MSC KIM leaves the bottom lock, a truck and boat cross the narrow bridge.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">As we enter the first lock, a fire engine crosses the bridge and a tanker begins its downward transit.</font></center>

<center></center><center><font size="1">Up we go.</font></center>


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