Tug Boat in the Rain

Traversing the Panama Canal means getting up close and personal with tug boats.  They nudge and push to position the large ships for transiting the lock system.  Sometimes it's early in the morning and they're right at your porthole.  Yep, 4:30 in the morning and I get these bright lights.  But since it's raining, the lights take on an ethereal look.

"Tug Boat in the Rain"    © Kathy Dunham 2010

Lil' Toot

The first time I went through the Panama Canal this tug was pushing the ship right outside our porthole at 4:30 in the morning. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy about being awakened that early. But I was able to get this great shot later when it was light outside. The Herrera stayed with us until we entered the first set of locks on the Caribbean side. Last year I transited the canal again and we saw the same tug on Lake Gatun, the man made lake in the mid section of the canal.

"Lil' Toot" © Kathy Dunham 2009