Day 25 - The Canal Continued (Thursday, December 13, 2007)

We arrive at the staging area for Gatun Locks that will drop us back down to sea level, but this time it will be the Atlantic. We have made excellent time and will be rewarded by slipping two groups ahead, in front of a ship preparing to enter the first lock. Sort of like taking cuts, but with permission of course, it will take a couple hours off our transit time..

Electric “mules” , similar to tugboats on wheels, take bow and stern lines from ships and tow them from lock to lock and hold them in position.

We wait for the ship ahead to enter the lock and descend to sea level.

We are locked-in with another ship and have to position ourselves as far forward as possible to leave room. Once the plug is pulled and water level drops the massive iron gates loom above us.

In the lock the water has dropped to sea level. The doors open and off we go...

In the lock the water has dropped to sea level. The doors open and off we go...

...amidst onlookers.