We are on our transit through the Panama Canal today so just adding a little background information which I’m sure everyone knows anyway……

The Panama Canal is a 48 mile ship canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. France began work on the canal in 1881 but had to stop due to engineering problems and high mortality due to disease. The United States took over the project in 1904 and the canal officially opened in 1914. It was built to reduce the time taken to travel between the Atlantic and the Pacific and to avoid the lengthy and hazardous Cape Horn route. It is considered to be one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.

When we did this transit in 2015 we held a cocktail party so thought it would be good to repeat it. One of the couples Terry & Diane, who joined us today were also with us in 2015! Another two couples Ray & Leonnie and Liz & Neil from 2015, Barbara & Alan from last year and Jan & Mike and Lynn & Keith who we’ve made friends with this year. Our butler did a great job with the food and drink and we all had a really great time. I think everyone’s got back for a nap now!