South American Tour: Panama Canal, Canal Zone to Buenaventura, Columbia to Long Beach

Wednesday, March 17, 1965 Enroute to Canal

St. Patrick's Day! The Nelsons, Bradfords and Dorothy Willison hosted a party in honor of the Finnertys and the other passengers. It was Planter's Punch and hors d'oeuvres for cocktail hour, red and white wine for dinner and cordial following games were played in the lounge. 

We had arrived in Limon Bay inside the brian water at 1 PM. There were a dozen other ships anchored nearby. We received the "news" shortly as an official boat came by and said we were scheduled for 8 PM tomorrow night, Thursday -- a 31 hour layover. Life hasn't changed a bit -- its still "mañana" -- Par for the course. The party helped to pass the time. Last year we went from the Pacific to the Atlantic. One can't say from west to east as the eastern end (Atlantic) is 27 miles west of the Pacific entrance.

 

Thursday, March 18, 1965 Panama Canal

This was the most uneventful day of the trip. We walked the decks and looked at the ships thru our glasses and tried to figure what was causing the delay. We didn't. Today there were 17 Northbound (Pacific to Atlantic) and 23 Southbound ships put thru the Canal, according to the official report. The Canal Pilot arrived by boat at exactly 8 PM. Our Captain came to lounge a few minutes later and said the passengers might use the flying bridge to observe progress thru the Canal. The anchor was hauled up and we were on our way. The moon was full as it had been on February 26, 1964, the last time we went thru. The ship traveled slowly. 

Gatun Locks

We are disappointed that we are going thru a second time at night. However, there is a possibility we may still see part during daylight. The Captain has been informed that the ship is to stop, anchor and wait for orders to proceed, as soon as we leave the Gatun Locks and enter Gatun Lake. If we stay there all night it will be a daylight trip for the rest of the way. It's midnight and all the passengers are going to bed. Starting of the Disel's will wake some and they will arouse the heavy sleepers. The ship has covered only 8 miles of the 50 to get to the Pacific. We decided to sleep thru the trip thru Gatun Lake and be called as it entered Gaillard Cut. It seems we only stop for two hours. That's the way the cards fell and we were on deck at 3 AM. It was slightly cool and very humid, with a full moon shining. The Canal is very narrow but well lighted all of the way. At the 40th mile we were into Pedro Miguel Locks and at 41 the two at Miraflores which lowered the ship back to sea level. Then we passed Balboa and saw the lights of Panama City and out into the Pacific where the ship headed south for our second stop at Buenaventura Columbia. We weren't impressed on our first visit January 4 and 5, 1965 so we will try to go over to Cali and then hope we can fly to Bogota the Capital.

Friday March 19, 1965 Enroute to Buenaventura

 Today's cool and humid we are 7°-8° North of the equator. The passengers spent all or part of the day catching up on lost sleep. I went to bed at 5:15 AM while Millie and Bea made toast and tea in the kitchen. Tomorrow, Buenaventura. There is a Question of whether we will be able to dock or must anchor and wait.

Saturday, March 20, 1965 Buenaventura, Columbia

The ship anchored a short distance from shore at 6 AM. At 7:30 AM it moved into dock. We were told then that we would sail out Sunday Night. This short stay eliminated the train trip to Cali and then a flight to Bogatá. Millie was sick during the night and was not interested in going anywhere. The Finnertys and Nelsons hired a taxi to go to Cali, about a four hour drive, stay all night and to return tomorrow. In mid-morning Millie and I took a walk around the town. We liked it better than when we were here in January. It was quiet and humid in the sun. Millie went to bed in PM and I walked over to town to get a haircut. The barber spoke no English and understood less. It was the cheapest I’ve ever had. Next one will be in the States. That last one cost me 4 pesos, about $.28 U.S. and that’s what it was worth.

Sunday, March 21, 1965 Buenaventura, Columbia

Victor Bradford has arranged for a small motor boat for the morning. Six went along. The little boat had a capacity of 12 and was powered by a new Johnson Twin outboard motor. It was an unusual trip. We went far into the jungle, the Rio Agua Clara rapidly narrows and we went in until there was scarcely any room to turn around.

Monday, March 22, 1965 Buenaventura Columbia

Buenaventura Columbia

Sailing time has been changed several times. This morning it is set at 4 PM depending on coffee. We are to take on 5000 in 4 pound bags. In the AM we visited the Grase Line ship Santa Mercedes. It carries 120 passengers and cargo. This Afternoon some of the passengers visited us. Word came at 3:30 PM that sailing would be at 4 PM and so it was. 

It was alos raining very hard at that time, the first time on the trip that the ship has traveled in the rain. Next stop Los Angeles, understand English is largerly spoken there!

Tuesday, March 23, 1965 – Wednesday, March 30, 1965 Enroute to Long Beach

This will be the longest non-stop run for the ship. It is 3046 nautical miles to Long Beach from Buenaventura. We move from 7°26’ to 36°25’ N. Latitude and from 79°00’ to 122°03’ N Longitude. The first three days the sea was quite rough and then it became delightfully smooth.

It was not quite a non-stop run. On Monday, March 29^th, the motors stopped while we were eating dinner a few minutes later the Captain was called from the table. He came back later and said that one of the pistons had gone bad and there would be a 4 to 5 hour repair of it. The crippled diesel was staled and the ship was moved about five miles out of the ship lanes and then stopped for the overhaul. It was too deep to drop anchor so we just floated around. The air temperature stayed around 86° to 81°  the first 4 days, dropped to 77° the fifth day, to 63°  the next- the day we had motor trouble. As we neared Long Beach the air temperature dropped to 62° with wind and rain and then to 54° at San Francisco.

The ship was supposed to dock at Pier 41 in San Francisco which is adjacent to Fisherman’s Wharf. This would have been most convenient for us as our motel was only ten minutes away. We had also made reservations for the Bradfords who had joined the ship in Buena Aires.

However, there were so many bags of coffee in the hold that had to be unloaded before getting to the other cargo, it was necessary to dock at the Alameda Encinal Terminal across the Bay. The U.S. Custom Officers permitted us and the other passengers to leave the ship that night with overnight bags and leave the rest of our accessories (32 bags and boxes) on board until Monday when the ship would be at Pier 41. We were fortunate in having a ship supplier salesmen who came aboard offer to take the four of us over the Bay Bridge to San Francisco as he lived in the neighborhood, he dropped us at the Alpha Motor Inn. It was just midnight and our South American Tour was over.

Note from B-Dog: This is the end of the South American Tour by Ernest and Millie Saegart. I found the journals very interest especially as a time stamp from two people living in Southwest United States in 1960's. Just a note on Ernest. He was born in Connecticut in April 28, 1898 to Arthur Saegart and Cora (Sackett) Saegart and Died December 9, 1966 so about a two years after this trip was taken. 

A note about Mildred "Millie" (Elwell) Saegart she was born June 17, 1905 in New York to Raymond S. Elwell and Grace (Hutchinson) Elwell. She lived until February 24, 1994. Which means I have vague memories of her, which mostly involve dressing up her dogs in doll clothes, and trying to avoid getting lipstick on my teeth.