Interlude is in the Pacific!

And other musings . . .
Help Wanted – line handlers
We flew in to Panama City Saturday night and took a cab across the continent to Shelter Bay, boarded Interlude and prepared to transit the Panama Canal. Well, we got on the boat and went to sleep. Sunday morning our final line handler, Tony, came aboard. We hung plastic wrapped tires among the fenders in preparation for the transit.

Noon saw us casting off in search of adventure and our anchor point in the flats (just outside the Canal).
1:30 – Francisco, our advisor, came aboard to guide us through the locks to Gatun Lake.

Guide is probably not the right word as I am unaware of anyone getting lost in the locks. But he coordinated with the Canal workers and the other boats. We rafted up to two other vessels - “Moondance” and ”Iris.” Moondance was in the middle, Interlude to port, Iris to starboard. We followed behind a large freighter “Emerald.”
This is where line handlers earn their money. Well, there really isn’t any money because most line handlers are volunteers who either want the experience for bringing their own boat through in the future or, like us, just think it is cool. So the overworked, underpaid line handlers (I may organize a union later) retrieve a monkey fist tied to a thin line thrown to the boat by canal workers on each side, fore and aft (nautical, eh?). The raft of three boats had a total of four lines, one in each corner to keep the raft in the center of the channel while the water went up or down in the lock. Monkey fist? Yes, about the size and weight of baseball, but softer. Ok, retrieve the monkey fist, tie the light line onto a big, thick line and let the worker on the side of the canal pull the heavy line up or over to the side and tie it off. Then, when your advisor (remember him?) tells you, tie your end off. The lock doors close and the water begins to rise.

When your rope gets slack from the rising water level, your advisor (yes, him again) will tell you to take up the slack to keep the boats in the center.

When the lock is full, the other side opens, you pull your rope over to get the monkey fist back on the boat.

The canal worker will walk (yes, just like when the canal opened) the light line into the next lock to repeat the process.
Up three locks into Gatun Lake where the advisor leaves (picked up in a boat), and you settle down for the night.
Monday morning 6am, new advisor (Harold) joins the team. We all agreed Harold was the best advisor we had that day. Harold told us we were by far his favorite boat that day.
We go across Gatun Lake (miles) and head for the next set of locks (“Going down, anyone?). This time we raft with Iris and Moondance rafts with a tourist boat ahead of us. We go through three more locks down to the Pacific.

Yea! We returned our rented tires and lines and anchored at LaPlayita at the mouth of the canal.

Tuesday was off to Taboga, a small island two miles or so off shore. A pleasant sail around the island, a beautiful beach, several picturesque hikes and the oldest church in the new world. This was also where we experienced Pacific tides and the games they can play with landing and launching your dinghy. Trouble was lifted up the beach to avoid high tide and lifted all the way down the beach at low tide. We seriously contemplated waiting an additional three hours for the high tide. Trouble is heavy (sounds like a t-shirt slogan).

Back to La Playita on Thursday in time for cocktails aboard MysticMoon (thanks!) with Somerset. A good time was had by all.
Friday we were off again on an adventure in the jungle with Enchantment. We were bussed to the Chagres National park and then took small kayuka’s to a waterfall (for swimming) and a native village.

The villagers performed (singing, playing and dancing), served lunch and allowed us to share in their heritage by purchasing craft items (baskets, carvings). Amazing artisan handwork.
We also had a tour of the jungle plants used for healing by the medicine man, at least I think so. My Spanish isn’t very good and the interpreter’s Spanish was only a little better. He showed us plants that cured cancer, controlled diabetes, replaced Viagra among other things.
Back to a Friday evening dinner aboard Enchantment (thanks!), a delicious meal, good conversation.
Saturday, into Panama City for a walking tour of the Old City from a 76 year old man born in the Canal Zone and proud of it. We saw churches and dungeons, government buildings and taverns, and, oh yes we got an opportunity to share in their heritage by purchasing a few items.
So now the stalling is over – Interlude is heading across the Pacific by way of the Perlis and Galapagos.

Safe Travels and Many Thanks!