[Stay Curious]

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/...mmsi:266259000

Fedora is parking Manzanillo Bay near the Gatun Lock in Panama. I wonder why it's parking at the terminal? Maybe they have to wait their turn? It's like living vicariously through our cars journey.

Here's the info that it's booked to go through the locks. There's all sorts of interesting info on the website. http://www.boydsteamship.com/booking.php

[ciwhamc]

I am sure its unloading cars for south/central america.

[ihonzawa]

Yup, it will be there for a day. Departs on the 18th.

[Stay Curious]

Just odd, didn't originally show it as one of it's stops. You could see from England to Port Hueneme, CA to Tacoma, WA, then on to China and Japan. Maybe they're dropping off, maybe there's a decontamination thing they go through, between both sea's? I stand corrected, though, with your posting. That was mentioned on one of the sites, now I can't find it. Still pretty cool.

[ciwhamc]

Interesting W&W showed manzinillo for me.

[ihonzawa]

18/06/2014 @0825 Hrs

"Hey Fedora, you're going the wrong way!"
lol...

[ciwhamc]

Gatun Locks right now

[ciwhamc]

Leaving the gatun Locks

[MaximumG]

Originally Posted by ihonzawa

18/06/2014 @0825 Hrs

"Hey Fedora, you're going the wrong way!"
lol...

I saw that too before I went to sleep last night. I was like, and then I remembered an article I read.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/mon...ion-runs-into/

The article mentioned that some shipping companies have started to move away from routes that go through the Panama Canal. One of the reasons being that there is usually a long queue for ships to get through it. Another is that the price of shipping through the Panama Canal has tripled over the past five years. But I digress....

It looked like Fedora drifted for around 5 hours just outside the port this morning before going into Limon Bay. Safe passage Fedora, safe passage. Don't be like this ship:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuK7qr_TY3g

[Stay Curious]

I came to post pictures, you you were all on it!

Here's a Milaflores webcam that works. http://www.lookr.com/lookout/1237657532-Miraflores

Very exciting.

I can hardly stand it!

[Stay Curious]

Here's a webcam for Pedro Miguel, the next lock, before Miraflores, http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/ca...cam=CerroLuisa

[Stay Curious]

Here it was coming through Pedro Miguel Locks at 12:05 pacific Standard time.

[ciwhamc]

It's Almost at Miraflores. Will post a pic as soon as its a good image.

[Stay Curious]

Here she comes. Milaflores lock, first step.

[ciwhamc]

Here she is.

[Stay Curious]

The ship is all gone, not to be seen again. First picture is last time it was technically still in the Atlantic; second is high in the lock; third is lowest in the Pacific.

It took about an hour to go from the entrance to Pedro Miguel Lock to the entrance of Miraflores Lock.

It took about 25 minutes to go through and out of the Miraflores lock. Well, the first of three steps of Miraflores. You can only see the first step on their webcam.

Quite interesting. The lowest picture in the Pacific cracks me up. The Chinese cargo ship coming in next to it is puffing out all this dirty smoke, and Fedora, the cleanest greenest ship on the water, has nothing.

FYI, this year is the Panama Canal's 100th anniversary. (1st ship on Jan 7, 2014) Our cars got to be a part of history. For more info on the canal, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_locks

[ihonzawa]

Awesome posts guys! 8 more days until Cali!

(And 8-10 days after Cali for Hawaii... lol)

[Stay Curious]

I REALLY have enjoyed going through these steps (pun intended), through the Panama Canal with you. You're as excited as we are. Ours may be Mini on the outside, but we're Beemers on the inside! Car cousins forever!

[ihonzawa]

Stay Curious, we are indeed on the same boat! (pun much so intended)

I couldn't wait any longer and had to get my bimmer-fix. Our local BMW dealership was hosting a drive event today. Fortunately I finished work early and the dealership was on the way home. As I walked through the glass doors, a team of demo specialists welcomed me and offered an unaccompanied test drive in either the i3 or 4-series. I gave them my driver's license and filled out a basic info form.

The demo guy asked me, "So which 4-series would you like to drive? We have a 428i or 435i."

I couldn't help but look at the other two specialists and their grins were just as enthused as mine. "Heh, if i can chooooose.... The 35i for sure." I replied.

After he explained the basics of the car he started to exit the passenger seat. (I had never been to a drive event before) As he stepped out he said, "So, a 10 to 15 minute drive sound alright?"

"Uhh, sure. Sounds great, thanks." I stammered back.
Never before had I driven a car from the dealership completely unsupervised. Sure I'd driven my friend's 3er before, but this was just a feeling of pure excitement on an entirely different level. I have been obsessing over YouTube videos and even dreaming my 228i arriving at the dealership... To sit in the quaint comfort and silence of a BMW cabin was enough to feed the addiction...

I drove the 435i around the lightly congested streets and took it for a short sprint on a public bypass with some 90 degree corners. The car felt grounded and very comfortable at the same time. The electric steering still gave feedback and I felt total control to the wheels. Even though I knew I wasn't getting a 4er, it was still exciting knowing a similar experience was less than a month away.

As I pulled back in to the dealership, the sales manager recognized me and waved before returning his attention to his customer. I told the demo guys that it was a little sad driving the 4 series knowing that I'll never own one. One of em replied, "Never say never..."

They gave me a gift bag with a white BMW hat inside and I completed a short survey on their one of many iPads. I checked out their i3 on display, took a couple of pictures and headed home.

It was a great way to end the day. A little "fix" to hold me over until delivery day...

[MaximumG]

Originally Posted by ihonzawa

They gave me a gift bag with a white BMW hat inside and I completed a short survey on their one of many iPads. I checked out their i3 on display, took a couple of pictures and headed home.

You didn't test drive the i3 afterwards? Have you driven one at all? I was at one of those drive events and, oh man, the i3 was a BLAST to drive. I'm sure an unattended 435i test drive was a blast to drive too... But seriously, that i3 was something else...

[ihonzawa]

Originally Posted by MaximumG

You didn't test drive the i3 afterwards? Have you driven one at all? I was at one of those drive events and, oh man, the i3 was a BLAST to drive. I'm sure an unattended 435i test drive was a blast to drive too... But seriously, that i3 was something else...

There was a line to drive the i3 and they were ending the event in 20 minutes... If only I had the day off... Haha...

[Stay Curious]

How fun was that?! Very cool. I laughed when we test drove the Mini, the dealer sat in the back, and I said "Really, you're gonna do this?" She did. I'm 5'9" husbands 6'3", there was no room in back, but she did it. Sort of stupid, let me drive the damn car myself!

We LOVE the BMW's, husbands parents had one, but we couldn't pass up the 42 MPG on the Mini, he's got a 65 mile commute, one way. (probably longer than your island is across?) So I suppose if mileage wasn't a factor, we'd be all over that car too. I'm not to picky, I'll take any of them! Well, the classic looking ones at least!

The worst part? With just one more thing, or just one upgrade, think how much it would be better. Pretty soon, the price is just ridiculous. It's a CAR! haha You'll be so happy with what you have. For fun, you should go test drive the 2014 Mini Hardtop. They're a fun little car, you'd be surprised. You'll also notice that BMW has put their little mark on the car, for the better. What the heck, you've got nothin else to do but wait for your car. It's no BMW, but it certainly is fun...like driving a go-kart on the road.