Our morning began anchored in Gatun Lake. As we got underway I held my early morning yoga class on the sun deck. Breakfast followed, and then we had arrived at Barro Colorado Island (BCI). Barro Colorado Island is a little island that was created when the Chagres River was dammed. Now this stands as a world-renowned research facility managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (founded in 1923). Here they study both tropical ecology and island biogeography.
After breakfast Dr. Egbert Leigh came aboard National Geographic Sea Lion to give the guests an introduction about what goes on and what is studied on the island. After his lecture some of us headed to shore to explore the rainforest by foot. Others took the option of seeing the wildlife and rainforest from a different view; cruising in our expedition landing crafts. In both groups we had licensed guides from BCI informing us of all the plantlife and wildlife that we were so privileged to see. Howler monkeys, American crocodiles, Central American agouties, toucans, spider monkeys, and turtles were among some of the wildlife we got to see. The sounds that come from the rain forest were one of the highlights for me, like the constant buzz of the cicada, the deep howl from the monkeys, the leaves rustling and raining down with the gusts of wind that fell through the trees.
After our morning outing we made our way back to the National Geographic Sea Lion, enjoyed lunch, and waited for our pilot. Once the pilot arrived we pulled anchor and the ship headed toward the Caribbean Sea. Gatun Locks was the next stop to complete our two-day transit of the Panama Canal. This second part of the locks took place in the daylight, and so was a difference experience from the previous night. Watching the line handlers and locomotive operators work was not something you see every day. Once the ship had reached the end of Gatun Locks we had been lowered 85 feet into the Caribbean waters.
We had reached the end of our voyage. It had been a great week making memories with photos, exploring Costa Rica and Panama, and passing through the Panama Canal.
