Colon
09° 20.69 N 079° 54.64 W
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14 November to 31 December 2007 |
Colon is an interesting town. To quote a guidebook, "The tourist has no business being here and there is an excellent chance of being mugged" For us, Colon is a place to restock and visit the Panama Canal and the historical Chagres River nearby. A huge amount of shipping passes us daily, making its way to or from the Pacific Ocean.
Ships of all shapes and sizes, Tankers, Bulkers, Ro-Ro's, VLCC's, Liners, Reefers, even yachts make the 8 hour odd transit across the ithsmus. We are anchored in the "Flats" which, in any kind of wind is anything but flat!
Soon after our arrival, Liz had the opportunity to crew as a linehandler (four required by the Canal Authority) on a sportsfishing boat. Here she wrestles a fender as they passed us in a rainsquall.
Squeezed in with vessels many times bigger, the water rushes in lifting the ships to the level of the next lock.