Tapestry of Ipswich    

Our arrival in Panama was greeted with a flurry of meetings to prepare for our canal transit. Chaotic meetings took place before we finally had all the relevant paperwork completed.

The canal is 50 miles long, and the rise from the Atlantic is 81 feet. This is done in three separate locks at Gatum before a long motor across the man made waterways created by damming off the River Chagres.

We came through the Gatum locks in the dark and spent the night anchored in the Gatum lake before continuing the following day. It is compulsory to carry four line handlers and a transit advisor, so we were somewhat crowded!

(Click on the picture to enlarge it)

In the Gatum lock	The raft behind us	The passage after spending a night in Gatum lake	A ship in the lake	Indian homes overlooking the canal	Another container ship in transit	Rafting up for the Miraflores lock
The raft. Tapestry is on the far side	We are the second raft to enter	Aerial view of our raft. Tapestry has the beige bimini	Fifteen Blue Water Rally yachts in the lock	The water drops about 20 feet each lock	Exiting the Miraflores lock	Tapestry passing under the Bridge of Americas to enter the Pacific Ocean

Our stay coincided with the carnival at which the Panamanians party for five days. But it had its drawbacks. Most shops were shut and clearing out of the country was a problem.                               We were entertained by Panamanian dancers  Colourful buses everywhere, though we were safer travelling by taxi

We visited the Gamboa Reserve where amongst other animals and birds we saw two species of monkeys, three species of toucans, crocodiles and turtles

A Capuchin monkey                            And finally a peaceful picture of the fleet in Flamenco marina at night before heading off to anchor in Las Perlas Islands

The islands were unspoilt and most of them are uninhabited. The beaches are glorious; inland is typical rain forest.

Tapestry anchored                                     A mangrove swamp                                        Pink clam shells on a beach made the sand look pink from the distance

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