2005 Panama Canal Cruise -- Panama Canal, Pacific Side Locks

Updated August 9, 2005

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The primary reason for this cruise, of course, was to transit the Panama Canal. Riding on a brand new, beautiful cruise ship was also an important goal. The photos here are an extensive record of our (exhausting) day, spent in the Canal. This is truly a cross-roads of the world, with many, many ships both in transit, and in port at either entrance. The engineering that made this canal is a marvel, and the setting is other-worldly. In some cases, the ships run alongside wild jungle, with no humans in sight. A website about that canal that may be of interest is: "http://www.panamacanal.com/map.htm".

Of course, we could not see or photograph a lot of our journey through the locks. We were fortunate that another ship was locking near us for some of the transit. The entire locking operation is pretty amazing, involving men and machines. This page contains the pictures we took as the Pride sailed through the last sets of locks on the Pacific side.

For us, it is one more transit of this remarkable canal, both a happy and sad time. Now, the Pride of America will travel to the Hawaiian Islands, to cruise entirely between those ports.

These pictures were taken primarily with our (no longer) new Kodak DX6490, which we love. The 10x optical zoom is great, and the electronics do a fine job of automatic adjustment and flash operations.

Canal map	We approach the Pedro Miguel Locks.	The big arrow directs us to enter the left-hand lock.	Line handling is started with men in a rowboat; low-tech but it works.	Approach as seen from our cabin balcony.
We turn the corner and approach the lock.	The excitement is too much for Bob.	The tug is positioning the Ludwigshafen Express for the right-hand lock.	We are entering the lock.	Panama Canal employees
The waiting rowboats	The waiting mules	The arrow has already switched for the next ship.	Tiles indicate the position along the lock. This lock is 1200 feet long.	The mule is attached to the Pride.
Positioning the mule.	Cable rig on the mule.	Quite possibly the world's narrowest bathroom.	The Express entering the other lock.	Continuing her entrance.
Among the many containers is what appears to be a very LARGE engine!	Closer look...	This mule has a very shiny bell.	Mule operator.	Our next door neighbors, watching the action in the locks.
The Express is fully inside the lock now.	When the mules are done, they are sent back to the other end of the lock on the other track.	The lock building.	A large ship, anchored alongside the lock.	Another one.
The Mireflores Lock building, decorated for the anniversary of the Panama Canal.	Large banners on the lock building show old photographs of the Panama Canal.	The Canal in the "old days".	Detail from the banner, showing the older mules.	The upper lock is full, ready to drain into the lower lock.
Small waterfall from lock gate.	Notice the cameras; some of these are used for the live feeds shown on the Web.	The stonework dates from 1913, but the mules are modern.	Another mule with a shiny bell.	Reeling in the cables used to connect to the ship. We are done, another Canal transit has been completed. The Pride of America will now spend her time entirely in the Hawaiian Islands.
A dredge ship holding just below the lock. Dredging is an on-going activity in the canal.	Yep, she's a dredge all right. [international day signal]	As is typical, she is from the Netherlands, where they are experts in dredging.

2005 Panama Canal Cruise -- Panama Canal, Pacific Side Locks

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