This Just In…Transiting The Panama Canal and Computer Updates
We’ve been running around like chickens with our heads cut off recently. It’s exciting times and while we don’t have our regular Sunday video to share, we do have some news!
For anyone with limited internet who couldn’t watch the video:
The computer woes are over, so we hope.
Jason has his new, insanely bulky computer in hand and was able to retrieve the files from the broken laptop. Yeah! For those interested in all the detailed specs, here is the exact computer he ordered: https://bhpho.to/2i5sbAN It’s an Alienware and it’s still on Holiday discount (he got $650 off plus a $100 gift card, free mouse and some free video game that we’ll never play). Granted we haven’t even turned it on yet, but on paper it should be a screamin’ editing machine. Of course he’ll blow through $100 in data to update and install programs…but that’s half the fun…right?
We’re transiting the Panama Canal this week!
If you want to follow us through the Panama Canal we’ll be sharing live updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also watch on the Panama Canal webcams here: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/multimedia/index.html
The general plan for our canal transit (we can’t control the times, that’s up to the canal authority):
- Tuesday Morning 11/28/2016 – Arrive to Flats Anchorage in Colon
- Tuesday Afternoon – Evening – Gatun Locks
- Tuesday Night – Anchor overnight in Gatun Lake
- Wednesday early Morning Depart Gatun Lake
- Wednesday late Morning Begin Miraflores Locks
- Wednesday afternoon Final Lock and arrive in the Pacific Ocean
Our Crew/Line Handlers
We’re super excited to have Jason’s Mom (Mary) and our long time RV friends Peter and John of TheRVgeeks on board this week. The Geeks are posting lots of updates to their Instagram account too: @RVGeeks
Best part about having friends on boards…they can be our pack mules! HA, HA. Seriously though, getting packages here is expensive and tricky. Having them bring much needed supplies, parts and toys is a huge bonus. I’m sure our canal transit will be a blast, and of course we’ll be filming the entire experience to share in the near future. It’s wild to think we will be rising up, over and floating our way through the middle of a country. From the Caribbean to the Pacific ocean, simply incredible!
Patreons, don’t forget you can follow our tracks in real time through our InReach map (check the patron feed for the link if you don’t have it).
Once we’re through the canal we’ll get back to our regularly scheduled Sunday adventures. The next episode picks back up in Bocas for a sweet chocolate farm tour then we’re on our final sailing adventure with Dale, Justin and Dan as we head for Portobelo.
Thanks for being a part of the adventure!
Brenda Savage
Okay, The Ghostmaker??? I need that!
Keith Vauquelin
Jason and Nikki:
Really enjoy your postings, an encouragement and a motivator for me as I close the gap to 60 years old, arriving in February 2018. I live in Lewisville, so we were neighbors here at one time.
I am making some decisions after the first of the year, as I was like you both many years ago, then got sucked into corporate America, and am fed up with it.
Be safe, take care of each other – I have you on PayPal auto pay once per month for $50 – hope this helps you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
KV
Lee
WTG Jason. We know you got the new laptop so you could get the free Destiny 2 game. Dell has been good to me, but I think a laptop that big is going to be hot. I have only had Dell desktops in the past and they were all good computers. They lasted many years.
I hope you get many years of use from the new laptop. I always prefer to have a desktop and a laptop. My current laptop that I use daily is small enough to carry in a backpack.
Currently I am looking into building my own computer in a tower case with the new coffee lake cpu. It will be cheaper than your laptop, be cooler and do video editing at breakneck speeds. Laptops are overpriced, but one day when people are able to build their own laptops the same way they can build a desktop in a tower case prices will come down.
To all on board, have a safe transit of the canal.
Keith Vauquelin
Hey, Lee – I have a one year old home built which might meet your needs – please send me an email at [email protected], and I will send you the specs – it is juiced as they say.
Thanks!
kathy reeves
loking forward to your passage videos. we are finally off to go boat shopping in Hawaii over xmas. if shes our boat it will all work out . we are excited to bring her back to the usa and do our prep in our yard. the meet up we came to in fort lauderdale got me crystal clear , get boat sooner than later store rv. so i look forward to prep unfortunately all my dehydrating experiments will have to wait until we get back to Florida unless i get a sudden erge to get another dehydrater cheap in hawaii and dry several dozen avacados picked from my friends farm. next experiment ius waxing eggs.
Nikki Wynn
Wow, so very exciting! You are making me want a dehydrator for x-mas. Let me know how the eggs turn out, that sounds super interesting and cruiser friendly!
Phil & Rita
Hi Guys, just seen you in the Highfield Promo vid for 2018 – very cool! Equal air time with the Vendee Globe winners! I think it is fair to say you have arrived !!! Many congrats and fair winds on your next ‘larks and adventures’!
Nikki Wynn
Thanks. Sadly, we didn’t give them permission to use our video clips. That said we do love our Highfield, just wished they would have asked first.
cindy
Fun times!!!!
Look like Santa delivered early!!! Safe travels
Michael Algermissen
To track Curiosity real time go to the Marine Traffic AIS web site http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/. Click on Sign In at top right corner, create an account (free) at bottom of sign in box. Once signed in go back to live map and type in vessel name Curiosity (top right again). You may have to zoom in and click on vessels until Curiosity is displayed (showed up as a round pink circle on my map). With the vessel box open select the option to add to your fleet. Now you can find the Wynns wherever they may be.
Marc & Sean
Through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific? I’m nervous and excited for y’all! You may have said so already but are you going to the Barrier Reef by chance eventually???
Diane Sanderbeck
I keep getting this message when I go to the canal webcam for a trial run this evening:
“Note: Several of our webcams have equipment problems. Once resolved, the images will be available.”
Eek! I sure hope it’s working tomorrow. Anyway, y’all just be safe and enjoy the trip. What an awesome milestone for SV Curiosity & crew! ❤️
Shirley Joiner
I tried the link to the Panama Canal live cams, but I just get a message that the cameras are not working. Has anyone else tried the link?
Curious Minion
Lots of people are reporting that they’re not working so it’s not just you. You can follow their location with an app like Vessel Finder or Marine Traffic.
Shirley Joiner
Curious Minion, thank you.
Deborah Kerr
Awesome, 2 of my 3 most favorite traveling bloggers all together on one giant adventure!! Thank you for letting us know in “real-time” – I for one did not want to miss this!! Imagine, from the Caribbean to the Pacific!! It is an engineering marvel!!
nikki wynn
It is so exciting and we’re so glad to have you along with us!
Bill
Hey!!!!! What happened to your Canadian Crew and the new Guy ? Sudden exit….Stage left… I haven’t seen any mention of their departure, Have I missed something?
We all know youz are busy so take it easy , eh?
Curious Minion
All the old crew departs in the next video – they just couldn’t get that finished before the transit and knew you would all want to know when they were going through. You can keep up with Dale & Justin on their channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaleOnolack
nikki wynn
I know it is a little confusing, sorry about that. This is a real-time update. Our videos are always behind real time. At the end of this post we said this but you might have missed it “Once we’re through the canal we’ll get back to our regularly scheduled Sunday adventures. The next episode picks back up in Bocas for a sweet chocolate farm tour then we’re on our final sailing adventure with Dale, Justin and Dan as we head for Portobelo”.
ernie le roux
just read all comments on panama canal wehave sailed 25 yrs [thats one or two trips a yr with msc on south africa coast now live in u.s.a. being 6 times thro Seuz canal so now need a change already booked for Panama canal trip 4-1-2019 so any interesting points will gadly be taken thanks ernie and dawn le roux
nikki wynn
Wow, we would love to have sundowners and exchange stories with you! The Seuz Canal is on our wish list. We’ve been documenting the whole canal process and will have detailed videos soon. Thanks for following along!
Caroline
We live in the US but we are originally from Switzerland and that cheese is called” tête de Moine “ that means a “monk’s head “ when my kids were little they use to ask for a cheese flower ?
nikki wynn
So cool, we love that thing. It makes cheese so beautiful and fun! Monks Head, I am going to have to google that.
jan mendoza
I can’t wait to see you cruise through the Panama Canal! I’m also wondering how you decided on what new computer to get for video editing. What were your “Must haves” in the system you needed? I’m shopping! Maybe that could be your next “gear” video?
nikki wynn
Oh, good question. I will have to get Jason to answer that because he did have a list of wants and needs.
Brett McFarlane & Paul Uphoff
Cannot wait to see all of this..and say HI for us to Peter and John for us!! Love those guys and know you will all have a great time!!! We are down in Palm Springs for Thanksgiving so said hi to the place for you.
nikki wynn
Awe, thanks guys! The Geeks are waving at you as I type this.
Peggy
Looking forward to seeing your experience. Your new crew looks nice and friendly. You haven’t mentioned the other couple you had with you for so long but I don’t miss them. Just saying. 😉
Michael Morale
Nikki, In your post, you said the final sailing adventure with Dale, Justin & Dan. Are they leaving Curiosity after this crossing?
Curious Minion
They’re all already gone. It will be in the next video – they just couldn’t get that finished before the transit and knew you would all want to know when they were going through. You can keep up with Dale & Justin on their channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaleOnolack
Lloyd Perkins
One tiny correction: From the Gatun Locks, you’ll be going through the Pedro Miguel Locks, and the last locks before entering the Pacific Ocean is the Miraflores Locks.
Have fun and enjoy your transit through this engineering wonder.
(Retired, Panama Canal Maintenance Manager, U.S. Gov.)
JOHN SCHRETLEN
Hope the five of you have a really great time.
I doubt that people who follow both you two and John & Peter could have hoped for a better transition crew, and we are expecting some great video!
Louis Miller
After checking out the headache and cost of entering Peru, I have to say it’s not worth the trip , but that’s up to you , the fruit market is a fun place to visit ?
LIZ (aka you know who)
Dear N & J,
As the onlyest mother of P and mother-in-law-love of J, I gave them my permission to go on this trip with you.
BUT PLEASE, make them wear life jackets and don’t let them fall overboard, I need them for the holidays! : 0
Hugs and happy sailing
nikki wynn
Liz, I will take care of your boys! I’ll tie fenders to each of their limbs. 😉
Steve W
Don’t know if you got my email, but I suggested Alienware. Been using them since 2003.
Finally had to replace my Alienware desktop after 14 years. 750-watt power supply finally konked
out. Still have my 2004 Alienware laptop. But I’ve upgraded both this year. You can never go wrong with Alienware. Super reliable, Super powerful and fast, Best warranty over all other brands. Yeah, that’s the size of my laptop brick also. And you’ll need it. The battery can’t run that fire-breathing dragon for very long. Whoo ray for the 950 watts of lithium you’ve got. You might as well get Nikki one too:)
Dan Helm
When you get your MSI computer fixed, have them put in one 250gb drive instead of 2×125 raid 0. The raid 0 is faster, but doubles your risk of drive failure, which you have now experienced twice in a short period. (The ssd drives MSI must be using are likely not great drives as most ssd drives have a better track record. But raid 0 is inherently risky anyway.) It should not be a hard project to switch to a single drive. (Notice that a single larger ssd + standard hard drive is the configuration for your Alienware beast. ) MSI should be able to just ship you a 250gb or 500gb ssd which you can install yourself with some bios settings. (MSI should include directions with the drive or walk you through it via support chat. You don’t need to be an expert for that task.)
If you can, store your computers and such gear in waterproof\tight containers with desiccant packets or rice packets made of cotton. Normal electronics do not like salty humid sea air. Add padding if you can as vibration is also undesirable.
I have an ASUS ROG like your new rig. Not what I was expecting when I ordered it. I call my Aircraft Carrier
Carla
Love watching your adventures! Thanks for sharing. Can you share the info on the cheese wheel sliced thingy?
Curious Minion
It is a Beekman 1802 Ghoastmaker.
Mike
The locks should be very exciting. I’m just wondering why you brought extra hands for the trip. Are Dale, Justin and Dan still onboard? I would have though 5 of you would be enough for the transit.
Have fun and stay safe
Curious Minion
Dale, Justin and Dan are already gone. Jason tried to get that video out before the transit but it just didn’t happen. It’ll be the next video though! And you’re required to have a minimum of 5 people on board for the transit (4 line handlers and the captain) so RVGeeks and mom to the rescue!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner
So exciting! Have fun!
RVgeeks
We’re SO excited to be able to share such a great experience with you, Jason & Nikki. Thanks so much for having us on board. We promise not to drop any lines in the locks. 😉
gayle
Can’t wait to do the Panama Canal with you! My lifetime dream come true! I could have gone on a cruise ship, but no thanks. I don’t bingo, eat 13 times a day, gamble all day, shuffleboard, etc. I don’t sound like much fun, do I? Bon voyage1
nikki wynn
Ha ha, you sound like my kind of fun,
Cherie
So excited for you guys to all be together! Please pass some hugs around on our behalf!
nikki wynn
Thanks! Only thing better would be if you were here too! I’d raft up to you any day ;). Your boat repairs are looking really good!
Connie Woods
Awe! I love you guys! Yeah all around good news and happy faces, hi guys and Jasons mom! What a great time to be there! Thanks for checking in, was wondering if you had hit the canal yet! Exciting times ahead! Big Love!
????⛵??
Oh and I need a ghost maker…..?
Joe the Computer Guy
Originally when you said you needed line handlers I was so bummed you didn’t reach out to me! But then I saw who was sitting in the back there and know how good friends you are with the RV Geeks and all was well (LOL in my small little pea brain). I am booking a cruise in the next few months to do the Panama Canal cruise anyway. Hope all goes well and have fun!!
Nikki Wynn
We do have you on our crew call list Joe…so one day for sure! Very cool, as you are looking down from your big cruise ship at the tiny boats in front of you, think of us!
Sue Goetzinger
Nice to see the RV Geeks with you on the transit of the canal. Safe passage!!