Dallas & Andy with engine manuals

In the meantime, we’re getting ready to start the process for our canal transit. A local “agent” can take care of all of the formalities for about $100 or so, but we’ve already navigated the Spanish-speaking port authority and immigration, so the English-speaking canal authority shouldn’t be too bad. Besides, none of the cruisers we’ve talked to have been thrilled with their agent experience. We’re at the end of the season here and from what we gather from others here in the marina that are at different stages of the process, we shouldn’t have a very long wait.

The general steps are: go the the canal authority to apply for transit, pass a visit by the admeasurer who inspects the vesel, pay the transit fee (about $600 plus a $900 deposit), and then wait for an assigned slot. We’ll do the first set of locks (Gatun up-locks) in the evening, anchor for the night in Gatun Lake, and then cross the lake and transit the down-locks the next day. Tomorrow I head into Colon to try to complete the first step.

Shelter Bay Marina is on the location of the old US base Fort Sherman and is surrounded by the San Lorenzo national rain forest, which we’re hoping to explore a bit some afternoon. Here are a couple of pics of the marina restaurant’s nocturnal inhabitants.

Nocturnal lizards

Late night guest for patio dining