Dist. 46 mi. St.T. Net 6H 43M. Av.Sp. 5.04 ft. AT ANCHOR 9 H.7 M. WED. 18 FEB. 1953 TRANSITING THE PANAMA CANAL (ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC) TUG SHOWED UP AT 7: BY MISTAKE. AT 7:30 A.M. RUNNING AROUND MAKING SURE CREW IS ABOARD. SAILED AT 8:A.M. FIRST LINE ABOARD - 3 STEP GATUN LOCK 8:45. DIRECTION 189° #1 STEP - START FILLING 8:59; FINISHED 9:05. #2 STEP - START 9:15; FINISH 9:21. #3 - START 9:30; FINISH 9:39 - AT LEVEL OF GATUN LAKE, CAST OFF 9:44. THEN TO OUR SURPRISE WE SWUNG AROUND TO ANCHOR (AT 10:05) IN GATUN LAKE. SOMETHING TO DO WITH LOCK CLEANING AT PACIFIC SIDE OF CANAL. CAPTAIN ORDERED LADDER OVER SIDE FOR SWIMMING. FIRST IN - WATER NEAR 80° + FRESH + CLEAR, SWAM UNTIL LUNCH TIME WITH & GEOF CREW & AVICE. WHILE WE WERE IN, THE "REINO DEL PACIFICO" CAME EAST - A BEAUTIFUL PASSENGER SHIP (FROM AUSTRALIA), BEARING IN PEDRO MIGUEL LOCK 133° " MIRAFLORES " S 137° LEFT BALBOA 11:P.M. CANAL PILOT: CAPT. WHITE SAILED FROM GATUN ANCHORAGE AT 5:P.M. DELICATE COLORS IN SUNSET LIGHT UNTIL WE PASSED GAMBOA. LAUGHING GULLS FOLLOW- ING SHIP; AT TWILIGHT FLEW WEST, FAST, LOW + IN GROUPS, 1 NIGHTHAWK, 1 BROWN PELICAN, BLACK + TURKEY VULTURES, 1 CASPIAN TERN. FLAIR SOFT + FILLED WITH WONDERFUL FRAGRANCE (NIGHT OLEANDER?), PASSED BARRO COLORADO WHILE LIGHT - JUNGLE LOOKS VERY TEMPTING. NO LIFE VISIBLE FROM SHIP. CULEBRA CUT VERY IMPRESSIVE LOOMING ON BOTH SIDES. PASSED ONLY 3 SHIPS, STILL DREDGING E. OF CUT. FIRST QUARTER MOON GAVE GOOD LIGHT. GEOFF HAD LETTER FROM DR. TATE AT BALBOA COURSES FROM ANCHORAGE: 180°; 72°; 127° (PAST B.COLORADO); 168°; 102°; 55°; 99°. 90° IS DUE EAST; 180° IS SOUTH.