Monday, October 28, 2019 - Panama Canal

Monday, October 28, 2019 - Panama Canal

Following the failure of a French construction team in the 1880s, the United States commenced building a canal across a 50-mile stretch of the Panama Isthmus in 1904. The project was helped by the elimination of disease-carrying mosquitoes, while chief engineer, John Stevens devised innovative techniques and spurred the crucial redesign from a sea-level to a lock canal.  His successor, Lt. Col. George Washington Goethals, stepped up excavation efforts of a stubborn mountain range and oversaw the building of the dams and locks.  Opened in 1914, oversight of the world famous Panama Canal was transferred from the United States to Panama in 1999.  Bolstered by the addition of Madden Dam in 1935, the Panama Canal proved a vital component to expanding global trade routes in the 20th Century.  The transition to local oversight began with a 1977 treaty signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panama leader Omar Torrijos, with the Panama Canal Authority assuming full control on December 31, 1999.   Recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the seven wonders of the modern world in 1994, the canal hosted its one millionth passing ship in September 2010.

It is my understanding that there is a new canal built by China, right alongside the old canal - particularly for the larger ships on the seas. From my side of the ship, I don't see another canal.  Have been told that our ship being smaller than many others, is traveling the older canal.   I slept through our entry into the canal this morning and woke to find the ship in the middle of Lake Gatun.   Hope to stay awake for the passage through the locks into the Caribbean.

 Awaiting entry into the last locks of the canal.   Lots of ships here!

   

Am going to have an easy day today - hardly anything to eat and drink (except water, water and more water!) - some days you just need to rest the liver!!!f

 Did manage some photos as we approached the Gatun locks at end of our canal journey.
  

  

 Our trivia team really rocked today - we did very well, and believe moved up in the ranks.   Will find out more the next sea day. 
  • Out of what wood did Noah build the ark?    Gopher Wood
  • On what day did the Panama Canal officially open?  August 15, 1914. (one of our team did a little research on that one before trivia, and we were ready!)
  • In which state is Yellowstone National Park acreage mostly located.   Wyoming.  (Felt I knew this one absolutely but one Brit was certain it was Montana! - Stuck my neck out and wrote down Wyoming!)
As we left the last lock of the Panama Canal, the skies opened up.   It has been pouring since then, approximately two and a half hours, and it doesn't show any sign of letting up.  So wish I could send this rain up to the wine country in California.  Lots of traffic now that we are through the canal - much of the ships are container, or working cargo ships.  The seas are a bit rough tonight, so am extra glad that I stayed in.   Will order room service soon and settle in with a movie.

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