Panama and The Canal Day 9
Panama and The Canal
Day 09 - Friday, December 20, 2010 - Continue Daylight Transit of the Panama Canal-Visit Fort San Lorenzo-Cruise the Gatun Locks
As soon as we had our breakfast we disembarked the Discovery at the Gatun Yacht Club to explore the surrounding area and Fort San Lorenzo. We met Jorge, our driver who took us on a tour of this northern-most area of the Panama Canal.
The bus tour took us on a roadway and swing bridge directly on top of the water of the canal. We had our first view of the Caribbean Sea and Ian welcomed us to North America.
We traveled on the earthen dam that was built with the debris from the canal and forms the barrier of the Chagres River for Gatun Lake. At one time in the early 1900’s this was the largest earthen dam and the largest man-made lake in the world.
The lake is high from the rains and the Canal authorities had opened the spillway and let thousands of metric tons of water flow through. We were able to walk over the bridge and get a close up view of the hydroelectric plant, the spillway, and the dam.
All along the trip we stopped to see wildlife. Jorge had a great eye and between him and Ian we spotted: spiny lizards, fork-tailed flycatchers, howler monkeys, great blue heron, three-tailed sloth, rainbow or keel billed toucan, two-toed sloth, and slide turtles.
The bus stopped so Ian could point out the only remaining portion of the original French Canal cuts. These engineers began on the Caribbean side but because of disease and the faulty design of the canal it was abandoned and many investors lost all of their savings.
The day was sunny and when I took a weather reading it was 80º with 92% humidity. We entered what was once Fort Sherman during the American occupation of the Canal Zone.
Now a national park, we saw the rundown army barracks and a new Shelter Bay Mariana at Limon Bay. We stopped at the Ranger’s Station at Parque Nacional San Lorenzo for a bathroom stop.
The area is lowland forests, mangrove swamps, and secondary woodlands. We walked on to the grounds of old San Lorenzo Fort.
This fortress, on the edge of a steep cliff, at the true mouth of the Chagres River was the entry point of Columbus and his crew when he explored the area. The fort was originally built by Spaniards in the 16th century to protect their trade route from pirates.
Signs along the self-guided tour told that the fortress was conquered several times throughout its history, including capture by explorer Sir Francis Drake in 1596, the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671, and Admiral Vernon in 1740.
The weather here was wonderful; 79º and the humidity was 80%. The breeze from the Caribbean made this a very pleasant hour’s stay. After touring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, we were offered cold water and a treat of sliced pineapple, watermelon, and cantaloupe.
We left the park at 11:30 and returned to the Gatun Locks and the Yacht Club where the Discovery was docked. After our lunch the pilot for the transit through the Gatun Locks boarded our boat at 2:30.
Down loading to the Caribbean Sea took about two hours as we dropped 85 feet in three chambers; the largest of the Panama Canal locks.
We sailed into the Atlantic Ocean and cruised to Colon. Before dinner we had about an hour to walk into the town and look at the shops. We came back onboard and to get ready for our farewell dinner on the ship.
Ian and Gustavo gave everyone a certificate in recognition of transiting the Panama Canal and an OAT pin to add to our collection.
After thanking the crew one more time, we worked on photos and completed the journal before turning in for the last night on the Discovery.
Accommodations: Discovery Northbound Cruise - - - Meal: B, L, D
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Comments
As always your photos and commentary are great. Have a happy @ healthy holiday. Think about often.
Post a Comment!What exactly is left of the French effort to build a sea-level canal. It had worked in Egypt, so why not in Panama? So what if there were mountains in the way. Really interested in your pictures and daily activities. Sounds like something I would like to do.
Gatun Lake Spillway
Howler Monkey and Baby
Fort San Lorenzo
Gatun Locks Center
Ship Entering Gatun Locks
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