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Two of us entering Admeasurer's office to start our canal transit paperwork.
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Chris on the bow of Slip Away as we depart Balboa Yacht Club and approach the Bridge of Americas.
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Iain & Aly checking out the breakfast food on Slip Away.
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Iain & Pat helping our advisor Meza board Slip Away.
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Carrie & Pat handled Slip Away's stern lines for the canal transit.
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Iain & Aly enjoying a snack on the way to the first lock.
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Our advisor Meza making arrangements by cell phone for the Miraflores Locks.
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Approaching the Miraflores Locks.
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Moving into position in the Miraflores Locks.
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Tying up to the tour boat in the Miraflores Locks.
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Pat on Terra Firma enjoyed photographing these pretty Panamanians on the tour boat.
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Although we didn't need the chart plotter to navigate, it dutifully kept track of where we were.
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Since we had no one tied to our starboard side while up-locking, Carrie had an easy job.
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Jan is happy that the up-locking is going well.
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Electric engines called "mules" help move the big freighters through the locks.
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Up-locking in the Miraflores Locks and leaving the Pacific Ocean behind.
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Prop wash from freighters can present a challenge for smaller boats, but we handled it with no problem.
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Since we were transiting on a weekend, there were lots of spectators on the observation platforms at the Miraflores Locks.
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Canal traffic between the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, with the Centenario Bridge in the background.
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Turbulence during up-locking is caused by millions of gallons of water being forced upward into the chamber through holes in the floor of the lock.
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The gates of Pedro Miguel locks open, as we finish up-locking.
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Panamax ship (the largest the canal can currently accommodate) maneuvering through the Gaillard Cut.
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With the up-locking process behind us, we relax a bit as we motor through the Gaillard Cut and across Gatun Lake.
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Carrie from Terra Firma is caught in a "Loon Sandwich"
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The Banana Cut - a Gatun Lake shortcut for smaller vessels.
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Wildlife sighting - a sloth - as we pass through the Banana Cut.
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Securing Slip Away to the mooring in Gatun Lake.
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Rich pops the cork on our first bottle of champagne.
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Does anyone want a little more champagne? Service with a smile!
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Iain & Aly enjoying some bubbly.
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Carrie & Pat also enjoying some bubbly.
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Rich and Pat looking a bit fuzzy after spending the night in Gatun Lake.
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Boat moored for the night in Gatun Lake.
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Our mooring mates who showed up at about midnight.
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Freighter traffic in Gatun Lake waiting to down-lock in the Gatun Locks.
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Our adivsor Guillermo arrives for down-locking.
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Rich driving and Guillermo advising as we move toward the Gatun Locks.
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The ship with which we will share the lock while down-locking.
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Tug assisting our lock-mate with moving into position in the Gatun locks.
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Canal personnel get ready throw a heaving line with a monkey fist, to which we will attach our lines.
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The monkey fist - you don't want to get hit by this when they throw it.
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Canal personnel walking our lines forward and into position.
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Canal personnel securing Slip Away's lines for down-locking.
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Pat gets a bit nervous as that big ship moves into the lock behind us.
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First down-lock complete, the canal personnel move our lines forward to the next lock.
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Carrie working Slip Away's port stern line.
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Chris and Aly handling Slip Away's bow lines while down-locking.
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Guillermo supervising the downlocking process.
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The Caribbean looking pretty windy and gusty from inside the locks.
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Final Gatun lock opening for our exit of the canal and entrance to a new ocean.
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Our lock-mate following us out of the Canal, with a cruise ship in the locks behind him.
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Slip Away has a new crack in her caprail due to an encounter with the pilot boat.
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Rich pours more champagne to celebrate our successful transit of the Panama Canal.
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Our line handlers - Iain, Aly, Chris, Pat & Carrie.
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The whole crew (line handlers, captain and galley wench) celebrating with champagne.
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