April 4, 2009, Panama
Long haul “lake day” today. We planned to arrive at the race start point,, at Gatun Locks at 0600 this morning. Unwelcomingly, the alarm sounded at 0530. Upon calling Rich and Diana, they had already been awake since 0430, not feeling very rested after the disappointment, frustration and exertions of yesterday’s paddle. However, a quick packing was commenced and the buffet at the Melia consumed. All of our hydration bottles and Gatorade was also made ready. It feels like a shame that Rich and I had such a short stay in the hotel since it is a very nice one. When Rebecca and Diana showed up, we were upgraded to a suite which included a happy hour with cocktails, and hors deourves , sadly that was not available to the master boat repair team.
The popular hydration method of the cayuco racers is to have a Gatorade bottle resting in the boat’s drink holder with a small, thin (aquarium) tube extending to one’s mouth. This method allows the paddlers the ability to hydrate without discontinuing paddling. In addition to the Gatorade contraption, our boat has also equipped each racer with a hydration pack innard from a Camelback, and GU energy gel. It is imperative to stay hydrated through this day’s 3plus hours through Gatun Lake. This being the longest stretch of the race, approximately 21 miles.
We launch NIC 5 minutes prior to the start below the South side of Gatun Locks. We are pointing directly at the Tiger Islands, while all the time continuing to tolerate the continuous loop of the song, “Eye of the Tiger” that continues to blare incessantly from the race official boats. It has become maddeningly repetitive, and I can only imagine how the boat drivers feel as the music is transmitted over the tinny sound system
Our seating position within the boat mimics that of yesterday’s finish: Geoff 1st, Rebecca 2nd, Diana 3rd, Richard 4th.
As the countdown begins for the start, Richard deftly maneuvers for a keen starting position, and as the start is commenced, we are off. We have another strong start and our craft is piloted directly towards the Tiger Islands, all the while the field thinning. Soon, we slow the start-sprint pace to “lake” pace.
Our first reach is through the Banana Channel, and NIC starts to catch some of the youth racers who had a 10 minute lead. Since it is still early , the sun is low in the sky, and mercifully, an intermittent layer of cumulus clouds provides some cover from the tropical sun.
As the pace setter for the boat, I receive continuous input from the racers to slow the pace for endurance. My natural inclination is for a faster pace. Periodically any of the racers to my rear will declare, “slow down!”
Our weeks of paddling practice has definitely paid off as we transit the lake from Gatun to Gamboa in 3 hrs. 24 min. a very respectable time. We have an exciting finish as we have been proceeding nearly at an identical pace to the cayuco BC Net, and have a sprint to the “photo” finish in the last buoy before the dredging division in Gamboa.
During the very last stretch prior to the finish, a large container vessel passes to our starboard in the shipping channel. The Patagonia Mystic passes as we hear cheers for our crew from the bridge wing, the pilot is our friend Andrew encouraging us on to the finish. That is some personal paddling attention, as we are getting cheers from a passing merchant ship in the Panama Canal.
The boat ramp exit at Gamboa is the usual zoo-like, organized chaos, and as we try to lift our craft, we easily recognize we have again taken on water making our stern very heavy. This will again make more boat repairs necessary on the morrow.
Returning to the old Canal Zone, our first priority if for a meal, and we head directly for Nikko’s. After lunch, we partake of another Latin cultural icon—the afternoon nap.
This evening, many of the former CZers converge at Napoli’s Pizza in Ancon for large carbohydrate laden dinners. Many stories are shared about today’s lake adventure.
After dinner, we make a brief visit to the Panama Vacation Quarters to say hello to more of the Grimi family CZ friends. It is a short visit since we must also proceed to El Rey on the way home for more hydration supplies.
It will be another early morning tomorrow, but our crew is pleased with their performance, this being the most challenging day of the 2009 Ocean to Ocean Cayuco race.
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