Revisiting the Canal.

[Duke Drennan]

Earlier tonight, I was sitting in a restaurant, on a balcony, that overlooks the Miraflores locks at the Panama canal. Four ships entered and left the locks while I was there, 2 in each direction. Apart from the modern look of the boats and the newer style of the mules, very little has changed since our time. It was a strange feeling to watch the deck crews sitting on the bits and hatch combings (spelling??) fore and aft, standing-by, in an almost silent atmosphere. The balcony wasn't any further than about 25 yards from the locks. I couldn't help thinking about the overtime hours racking up, we never complained about that.
Anyway, it was a nostalgic visit and over 40 years since I last went through it. I'll be there regularly and will probably be doing quite a bit of reminiscing each time. The grub wasn't that bad either.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Duke
Sounds like a good old days reminder for you ,and i can just imagine the feeling when you sat and watched those Ships going through the Locks!
I suppose there are many things in life that remind us old Salts of Years gone by,and its so good for the Soul!
Now where was this Restuarant and whats its name mate!
Must be a new thing?? Not that i had been there at all!
Glad to hear that it will be aregular thing for you,may i ask howcome??
Cheers and enjoy your good memories!

[Captain Kong]

Here is the view from the balcony in the Mira Flores Locks in Panama where Duke was, Not changed much over the years except for the ships, They are building a new set of locks to allow the BIG container ships through
Also a view of QE2 squeezing into the Gatun Locks for the very last time. The big Box boat on the port bow is the MSC EMMA.

There is a web cam on the locks, very interesting to watch.
I went through two years ago March /April 2008 on QE2, WE were stood on deck with a banner and the son was watching and sent a copy to the ship and while in Gatun Lake I went onto the computer and saw ourselves on deck. The magic of technology, Picture sent to UK and sent back to QE2 in the Canal.
The times were pre planned.

[Richard Quartermaine]

The pics below were taken sometime between 1947 and 1953. I think they are the Miraflores Locks.

Always a thrill going through and to think of all that cutting by water pressure. Sailing East with the Galapagos Islands on the port side and you were only a day away. Through the Canal and only a short hop to Willemstad through the pontoon bridge or Bullen Bay, on Curacao.

Those Were the Days My Friends.

[Gordon Turnbull]

ref post #4

Willemstad was always one of my favourite 4 ports in the world to sail into. Other three being Sydney, Cape Town and Grangemouth.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Only once did we negotiate the docking route to go into Willemstad - all the rest was the bunker anchorage where you could walk through the very hot sand near the expatriate quarters and be glad to get back on board. Willemstad was a clean, pretty little town and the soda pops were great. Grace Line certainly had a big sign on their wharf.

Wellington , New Plymouth and Lyttelton in New Zealand were attractive. Especially the Pub at Lyttelton where they served up hot sausages and Wocestershire sauce on the house at happy hour.

[David MacMahon]

Hi Duke - your'e absolutely correct in that very little has changed. I was in Panama last Xmas looking at property and it brought back many memories of going through the canal in the early '60's on the Rakaia (NZSCo)