PANAMA CANAL TO SECRET RIVER [Ep. 41]

At 2 in the morning, we picked up our Panama Canal advisor who bravely jumped on board. It went off without any major hitches, and thankfully nobody fell into the water as we headed up the canal.

We were only about five miles away from the locks, following another catamaran and a massive ship when our adventure took an unexpected turn. We had one advisor and one advisor in training on board along with us; all in good hands as I recall. But it was a bit nerve-wracking navigating the locks.

Panama Canal Locks Drama

So we tied up our starboard side to the port side of the other catamaran, with our helm on one side and their Captain on the opposite. Fenders were in place between both boats; no direct contact allowed. We threw lines off the port side, they threw theirs from their starboard. We ended up being nice and close together in the middle while everything unfolded.

It got pretty crazy with a huge roll-on-roll-off truck carrying ship named Mercury Ace entering the lock before us. We would be sharing the ride up the locks with this massive vessel. The linesman from above threw us a rope with a little ball – the monkey fist – attached, which we had to secure with our rented dock lines for them to pull up.

Navigating Through the Locks

We just went along the wall, and another boat came right alongside us. We had changed plans because we were initially supposed to be in the middle, but ended up against this massive concrete walls. When the locks closed, they pumped the water inside full of it until everything lifted up, and then moved on to the next lock, repeating the process.

The monkey fist at the end of the messenger line was incredibly hard; we had to play a little bit of fence to ensure it didn’t damage Supernova. After going through two locks, another one remained until we’d get a brief break.

Drama Unfolds Amongst the Locks

It was full of drama, excitement, and nerve-wracking moments with all that swirly water pushing us either port or starboard depending on which way our boat would go. Keeping it straight wasn’t easy, but we managed to avoid the wall thanks to ring fenders and a pole.

There were two line handlers aboard: one in training and the head supervisor. Things got even crazier when the Panama handler (who had been paid) started yelling at our line handlers in Spanish about taking jobs or similar complaints, even screaming at them while they were trying to secure the boat.

Fair Lead Disaster

Under immense pressure, our fair lead snapped in half, but luckily it didn’t fly off and injure anyone. This mishap occurred while the Panama handler was yelling at our line handlers about whether they were paid or not during this stressful situation.

Making It Through The Locks

We eventually made it through the final lock without further incident. After passing through, we had about a 3-hour motor ride to reach the other side and the locks that would bring us down into the lake beyond.

Adventuring in The Chagas River

We had heard amazing things about this secret river called The Chagas and knew we couldn’t miss out. Upon arrival, it was exactly as promised – an incredible spot hidden away from everything else.

The Monkey Business

We encountered our first crocodile and even spotted howler monkeys up in the trees. The river was calm, green, perfect for spotting more wildlife, especially during sunset.

Fort San Lorenzo

In an attempt to explore, we ventured to the nearby Fort San Lorenzo. It was built in the late 1500s during colonial times to protect this entrance of Panama City’s Caribbean trade route before the canal.

The fort has had a checkered history, with various pirate raids and battles over the centuries, particularly by Francis Drake in 1671. After spending only $10 each for entry and receiving our golden bracelets as souvenirs (bonus!), we learned about its historical significance through an English AI-video display.

Sunset Sundowners

With the help of coconuts found during our adventure, we created our first coconut drinks and relaxed under the shade as night fell upon us. This week was filled with exciting challenges (like navigating through the Panama Canal) and joyful moments (seeing howler monkeys in their natural habitat).

Reflections and Next Adventure

We reflected on our time, grateful for a safe passage through the canal. The journey taught us valuable lessons about managing stressful situations while maintaining focus during critical moments.

Looking ahead to the next adventure at the San Blas Islands, we planned our course with potential anchorages along the way that would allow us a leisurely two-day exploration. Leaving behind this tranquil jungle paradise, we embarked on yet another exciting voyage aboard Supernova.