A few videos

Because I'm "time zone challenged" these days.  I thought I'd take advantage of still being awake at 4:30am and throw a few videos up for your viewing pleasure.  I don't think that I can get enough of being in the land of free and abundant wi-fi, so I may as well take advantage of my insomnia and be a little productive.

As an FYI... both of the videos posted below were made using our GoPro Hero 3.   It's a fun underwater camera and it helped us to get some great footage of our shark encounter, as well as, capture our trip through the Panama Canal.

The first video is of our shark "fiesta" in Fakarava.  It makes for a great screen saver if you turn down the volume, but I thought it would be fun to throw in the Jaws score just for kicks.  As I stated in a previous post, Martin and I dove with sharks over the course of 3 days and gathered footage which I spliced together for the short video below.  I especially love when one of the sharks got a little too close to the camera while Martin was filming and flicks the camera with its tail.  It was a thrilling experience to say the least.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.  It was really something I'll never forget because of the thrill of knowing that I was brave enough to swim with sharks.  Enjoy!

The second video is an extended version of AMARA and us going through the Panama Canal.  This time, the footage includes all three locks (it seems like going through the Canal was ages ago).  I put in a few fun facts about the Canal in the footage that I thought the viewers would be interested in knowing about the Panama Canal  If you have some time, take a look.  If you start at minute 3:15 on the video it shows the new footage that I added to the previous video.  Watch it, it's pretty fun and informative.  Plus, you get to see me running around 1,000 miles an hour (which is pretty true to life these days).

We Made it to the Pacific Ocean!

Monday and Tuesday were monumental for our family.  We made it through the Panama Canal!

These are two very happy people!

What an experience.  Throughout this whole adventure, Martin and I have kept saying to one another, "Once we get through the Panama Canal, we'll deal with this..."  Or, "Let's talk about it after we get through the Canal..."  Everything that we have planned for has led us up to this experience.

Here is a fun video that I made of our trip through the first lock (Gatun Lock).  I am really having fun making these videos.  I hope you are enjoying them!

As always, check the volume on your computer!

When we went through the last lock and out into the Pacific, I burst into tears because it was such an emotional moment knowing that we had DONE it!  Even more so because this is the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal (Built in 1913).

My sister, Chelsey, was able to get some photos of us taken from the Canal video camera passing through the last lock into the Pacific Ocean.  These photos will be treasured by us.

Martin working the lines through the Canal.

We made it to the Pacific.  Time to celebrate!

We hope to leave tomorrow for the Galapagos Islands.  The trip will take us around 6 days to sail, pending wind. Which is none.  This translates to us motoring the entire way since the wind patterns on our charts show no wind all the way there.  Okay, maybe 5 knots.  (Typical for the Galapagos.)  Doldrums.

When we get to the Galapagos.  We will be meeting up with Meredith and will be going on a 4-day cruise through the islands to explore and see all the wildlife.  I can't wait to see all the turtles.  Meredith will stay with us as we make the passage through the Pacific.  It should take us around 21 days to get to the Marqueses islands and then she'll have to head home back to her life again at home in Utah.  We are so happy that she is coming.  She has been my helper running and grabbing things that I forgot to bring back home (7 boxes and I still forgot to bring things) and she'll be a huge help on the boat with Lily, with crewing and doing watches.  (Safe travels, Mere.  We'll see you soon!)

More updates as internet permits.  Hopefully I can figure out the satellite phone blogging tool and keep you all up to date on our little family traveling around this big blue ocean.  Enjoy the video!

Panama Canal or Bust!

********April 29, 1:52 Panama Time********
Update 2: Looks like we will be going through around 4:30-5:00 today.  Turns out the camera of the locks is not a video, so you have to refresh every few minutes to get a new image.
********April 29, 12:51 Panama Time. *********

Update:  Pick the GATUN LOCK camera.  That is the one that we will be going through today.  Probably in a few hours.  Around 4-9pm.  No definite answer.

The first set of locks at the canal.

Looks like a miracle came through and we will be going through the Panama Canal today!  Our time is set for 1:00 p.m.  However, that depends on how fast everything falls into place.  Fingers crossed. 

The Panama Canal is 48-miles long and the journey takes about two days to get through it.  If all goes as planned, we should be through the Canal by Tuesday afternoon.  Then we will be in the Pacific!

If you want to try and find us.  The Panama Canal has a live camera that runs 24-hours focused on the first two locks—I'll be the girl in the large catamaran wearing a pink shirt if anyone wants to try and find Amara.  When you go to the site, you can even request an angle change if you see us.  They will focus right in on Amara. 

The website to view the locks is: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

We will go through one lock at a time and probably be tied to one or two smaller boats.  Depending on the speed of your internet, you can watch it in regular and high-resolution (Mom, you can watch it in high-res on your computer ;)   If anyone does watch it and sees us, could you take a few screen shots for us?   If you are on a mac you can take a snap shot by doing: command + shift +3.  If you are on a PC just push the the “Print Screen” (prtSCr) on your keyboard.   Please end to sailingamara@gmail.com.

Wish us luck!  We are a little excited down here in Colon.