Friday, 20 March 2009

Gatun Lake, 19th March

Ashore first thing in the morning for Jonny to get our lines and for Kate to do a last minute supermarket shop before the transit.

Back on the boat, Jonny tidied things away and put out our tyres and Kate prepared the meals for the next couple of days. With the life raft stowed in the pilot berth we were ready.

Jonny had rung the scheduler yesterday and was told we should expect our pilot at 4.30pm - he rang this morning to check and was told 3.30pm. We were abit worried that Andy and his mum wouldnt arrive in time from Balboa so we sorted out back up line handlers.

At 2pm we got a vhf call from Andy to say they were at the yacht club. Lizzie (english GAP year student) was still very keen to come so we said as long as she was happy to sleep in the cockpit she could come as an extra person.

By 3.30 we were all on Newt ready but no advisor! Finally at 5pm the advisor arrived. His name was Edwin and he was very friendly although not as informative as the guy we had on Calysta and abit demanding ... drinks, biscuits, sandwiches!

The locks went well - We were rafted with Vagabond Heart and Sunchaser - Andy did bow with his mum, Don did the stern with Kate, Jonny steered and Lizzie was videoing and by 8.30 we were moored to the buoy in the lake. After a tea of chicken and rice we sat drinking beer and discussing the next day - the next advisor is due between 6 and 7am.

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