Life's a Stitch

And more recently life’s a creative adventure with some travel thrown in.

Sounds so restful, that engineering term. The angle of repose: is the minimum angle made by an inclined plane with a horizontal surface such that the body lying on the inclined plane is just at the verge of sliding down along the inclined plane. So relaxed is that body, it's teetering on slippage. Just so long as it doesn't drop any stitches along the way:


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I learned that concept while sailing through the Panama Canal. Never gave the canal much thought, just accepting its benefit in permitting ships the ability to avoid an eight day sail around South America. But it is really fascinating, not as you might imagine – a skinny concrete sea level passage from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific. It's actually a series of locks at each end of a mountain range with a fresh water man made lake in the middle. It's 50 miles of sailing, 8-10 hours, with deep steamy jungle on either side. The toll for our ship was about $300,000, a considerable savings over the alternative roundabout route. 
 

Entering the Panama Canal at sunrise:


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In the locks, a foot of clearance on either side:


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Beautiful scenery on Gatun Lake:


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A neighbouring ship enters the end set of locks:


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Pacific sunset:


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12 responses to “The angle of repose”

  1. Monika Avatar

    Wow gorgeous pictures!

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  2. Dorothy Avatar

    Ah – we need to talk! Hubby and I were just talking today about if we did a cruise, where we would go. The Panama Canal came up on the list. You look so very relaxed.

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  3. Carole Avatar

    That looks wonderful!

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  4. Jane Toumpas Avatar
    Jane Toumpas

    Welcome back to reality 🙂

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  5. Yarnhog (Suzanne) Avatar

    Wow! I’ve always found the Panama canal fascinating, but I’ve never been there. Looks like you had a wonderful time. 🙂

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  6. Lene Lonnov Avatar
    Lene Lonnov

    I’m so glad to hear that everything was wonderful – it sure looks like it!!! The pictures are gordeous.
    I miss you all and want to be there with you. Maybe next year …
    Love you,
    Lene

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  7. Rebekah Avatar

    Looks absolutely lovely. I have never thought about the canal either, or that there would be a cost to go through it. Funny the things we take for granted.

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  8. Uli Avatar

    Mmmm, lovely……..

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  9. LoriAngela Avatar

    Thanks for taking us along. I was on that cruise a few years ago and you really captured it.

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  10. Suzanne Avatar

    Love the pictures. Looks fun and relaxing.

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  11. Kristen Avatar

    Amazing and beautiful, the engineering feat as well as Mother Nature.

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  12. maureen Avatar
    maureen

    Oh my! You wouldn’t happen to be on the Island Princess would you?
    If you are, then you’re sharing the journey with my mom and cousin.
    Hope you had, or are still having a wonderful time.

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