Morpheus Canal Transit - Day 2

Morpheus entering Gatun Lock

After entering the canal yesterday and overnighting on Gatun Lake, Morpheus was finally cleared to proceed from her crocodile infested anchorage...


...through the Gatun Locks...

This was the only screenshot I got of Morpheus in the Gatun Locks.
She is in the far lock partially obscured by the flag.
Click image to expand.

...and into the Caribbean.


UPDATE: Jim just posted a YouTube slideshow of the transit -

Might as well rip it here. Yes I have no shame.

Where's Morpheus? Canal Transit

We've been tracking Jim, Deb, Ita and Morpheus as they've made their way down the Pacific Coast, and it looks like they are about to transit the Panama Canal. You can track them here, and watch them with live canal webcams linked here.

I'll update this post with screenshots when (if) I catch them on the webcam.

UPDATE 1: Miraflores Lock


UPDATE 2: Canal Transit

This is the Morpheus SPOT track on google maps as she makes her way under the Centennial Bridge...
...and across the Isthmus.

There is supposed to be a webcam that is focused on the bridge, but for some reason it was focused on a bush for the entire time that Morpheus was in the neighborhood. Must be a security issue.

Morpheus anchored in Gatun Lake overnight. I received this cryptic e-mail report from Jim while on the Gatun Lake anchorage:

"It was pretty cool to spend the night in the lake. Sort of a bonus. I jumped in for a swim and suddenly all five locals on the boat nearby jumped up and yelled at me while making crocodile movements with their arms!!!!"

This struck me as odd behavior for Jim. He generally refuses to get his feet wet when Morpheus is in salt water due to an irrational fear of shark attacks in the Pacific. Apparently he also has an irrational lack of fear of crocodiles, snakes, and piranhas when Morpheus is in a tropical fresh water lake. Go figger.

UPDATE 3: Morpheus completes the transit the next day.

NFC North Rules. Bears Rule NFC North.

My nephews show their true colors.

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but in week 16:

The Chicago Bears beat the 10-5 New York Jets by a score of 38-34
The Green Bay Packer beat the 9-6 New York Giants 45-17
The Minnesota Vikings beat the 10-5 Philadelphia Eagles 24-14
The Detroit Lions beat the Miami Dolphins 34-27

The Norris Division is pretty much laying waste to the entire NFL, and...

...the Chicago Bears rule the NFC North.

The Bears are undefeated in the division for the season heading into the season finale in Green Bay. Quite the conundrum - the Bears have nothing to play for, and their best path to the Superbowl may be to lose to Green Bay - setting the second best team in the NFC loose as a wild card guided missile in the playoffs.. to whit:

Green Bay goes to Philadelphia and knock off the Eagles in the wild card game, while the Bears enjoy the Minnesota Vikings Christmas gift of a bye week. Then the Bears beat New Orleans in a blizzard in Chicago while Green Bays knocks off Atlanta in Atlanta. Then the Bears beat Green Bay in the NFC Championship game in Chicago - again.

I hate to say it, but the Bears should rest their starters in Green Bay this weekend.

It just may be time to drag out that old 1985 Mike Ditka Bear sweater.

Sunset at the Ab Shack

Nice finish after a fun day on the river.

Heading out. More pics and clips later.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Fishing the Gualala

My brother was in town for the weekend. The ab season is over, but steelhead season is just getting started. I've always been curious about the Gualala, so thought we'd give it a try.

This is new for both of us, and required some study and outfitting. He fished with a flyrod, and I fished with spinners and spoons. No adult steelheads, but had some fun catching smolts (younguns that have yet to make it to the sea). It's all wild fish, barbless hooks, and catch & release on the Gualala anyway, and we have a better idea what to do next time. In any case, any day on a river is a good day.

Some pics from our two days on the river.

Took pictures to show that we're not the only ones who obsess about water levels

Fish global, drink local.

Red Seal Ale - brewed in Mendocino County. My current favorite bottle.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

On the river... Day 2

The hot spot.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

On the river

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Gualala River Estuary

Open to the sea.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Getting outfitted for a day on the river

At Western Sportsman in Santa Rosa. Good outfit. They know their stuff and helpful getting us set up, although getting a new one day non-resident fishing license is practically impossible with the new Fish and Game automated system.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre