![100years](images/Canal/small/100years.jpg)
100 YEARS PANAMA CANAL |
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![entering channel](images/Canal/small/entering channel.jpg)
5 AM: HALLO PANAMA - WAITING TO ENTER THE CANAL
ALL IS WELL AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT LONG. SOMETIMES SHIPS HAVE TO WAIT UP TO SEVERAL DAYS TO ENTER (WHEN SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG) THEN THE QUEUE IS DETERMINED BY HOW MUCH THE OWNERS ARE WILLING TO PAY - |
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![ship barely fitting into the canal](images/Canal/small/barely fitting in.jpg)
TWO LANES - TWO CONTAINERSHIPS BARELY FITTING IN - E.G., PANAMAX!
WHEN THE NEW CANAL OPENS - 2016 - MAYBE - "SUPERPANAMAX" SHIPS (ABOUT 2/3RDS LARGER) CAN CROSS - SOME OF THE NEW MONSTER CRUISE SHIPS ARE IN THAT CATEGORY - BOGGLES THE MIND! |
![before gatun](images/Canal/small/before gatun.jpg)
APPROACHING GATUN LOCKS |
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![gates closing](images/Canal/small/gates closing.jpg)
GATES CLOSING |
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![second locks closing](images/Canal/small/second locks closing.jpg)
2ND SET OF LOCKS CLOSING |
![HERDING DOG](images/Canal/small/herding dog.jpg)
ONE OF THE 'HERDING DOGS' |
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![container behind gates](images/Canal/small/container behind gates.jpg)
WE ARE IN, CONTAINERSHIP IS WAITING TO ENTER LOCKS |
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![gatun lake - zuiderdam behind](images/Canal/small/gatun lake - zuiderdam behind.jpg)
IN GATUN LAKE - MANY "DOGS" AND ZUIDERDAM BEHIND |
![in gatun - zuiderdam](images/Canal/small/in gatun - zuiderdam.jpg)
WE ARE IN, NEXT TO US THE ZUIDERDAM - "MULIS" ON THE QUAI |
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![container being herded](images/Canal/small/container being herded.jpg)
CONTAINER BEING HERDED INTO LOCKS |
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![muli&zuiderdam](images/Canal/small/muli&zuiderdam.jpg)
THE ZUIDERDAM AND HER "MULI' |
![mulis](images/Canal/small/mulis.jpg) |
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![goodby canal](images/Canal/small/goodby canal.jpg) |
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![bridge of the americas](images/Canal/small/bridge of the americas.jpg) |
VIEW OF QUAI, TAILEND OF ZUIDERDAM AND TWO 'MULIS': BETWEEN 6 AND 8 OF THESE LITTLE TRAIN ENGINES HAUL EACH SHIP THROUGH THE CANAL. SEVERAL PILOTS ARE ON THE BOAT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE MULIS VIA ONE-WAY RADIO. MULI DRIVER ACKNOWLEDGES WITH TOOT AND CARRIES OUT ORDERS. DOES NOT GET TO TALK BACK! |
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5 PM: ADIOS CANAL, HALLO PACIFIC: CROSSING THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA VIA CANALS AND GATUN LAKE TAKES 12 HOURS - ASSUMING ALL GOES WELL. |
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BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS AND ZUIDERDAM - SHE WILL TURN AROUND AND RETURN TO MIAMI, WE GO ON TO SAN FRANCISCO! |