It's the last day of our holiday sadly, but we do have one final outing. First we go to the Panama Canal. This seems to be a real highlight for most people, and we spend at least an hour just watching a couple of big boats passing through the locks.
Stuart spent quite a bit of time explaining how locks work, how tugs work, how ships work and other maritime trivia. The Americans listened attentively. What they didn't realise is that "Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about".
Jane in particular loves this part of the trip, as she is involved in shipping type things back home. Her mum would be proud of her carrying her thermos flask of coffee everywhere.
After the visit to the canal, it's our final bike ride. We all line up for a group photo, just before we set off on our ride along some more tropical rain forest. It's our last chance to spot any of the wildlife that we might have missed.
We see a few coatis crossing the road in front of us, and I spot a beautiful blue morpheus butterfly. Unfortunately, Stuart does not get to see any toucans which he had been really hoping to photograph on this holiday.
At the end of the ride, the three of us who struggled the most with the cycling celebrated the end of the journey. Barbara and I are both absolutely delighted that we never resorted to the bus to get us through, despite some very challenging cycling conditions. Michelle had her own unique style of surviving the cycling, which may well have involved the use of the bus! However, I think she is going to have some fantastic photos of the trip, which I am very much looking forward to seeing.
After crossing a very rickety bridge we arrive at a delightful riverside restaurant for lunch. We also witness a crocodile catching its lunch, probably one of the three cute water piglet creatures that we had spotted when we arrived.
Finally, after lunch Stuart manages to get the photo he has been looking for....
In the afternoon we are dropped off in the historic quarter of Panama City. I'm not sure who these lovely ladies are, someone said that they were on our trip, but I don't recognize them!
There are lots of interesting buildings in the historic part of Panama. Some very beautiful, and some very derelict.
We thoroughly enjoyed the company of these guys.
Michelle and Steve (the Biffa) we will come and visit you in the South of England, possibly for cycling round the Isle of Wight? Michelle, this will involve you getting on your bike!
Sveinn and Unnur, you have been so much fun, we are looking forward to seeing you in Iceland. We will visit you, even if there are no bubbling volcanos or northern lights!
Our last group meal is held in an excellent restaurant downtown. Brynn thanks Memo, Luis and Sabo on behalf of the group.
Memo, was a superb guide who looked after us brilliantly and handled the unscheduled change of plans very professionally. Luis was the trusty mechanic, kept busy by Sveinn, and he also looked after us well (apart from sending us up the 4 son of a bitch hills at the start of the trip!) and Sabo who safely negotiated all the crazy traffic in Central America.
Stuart and I would just like to say this has been a fantastic trip, and it is the people on the trip who made it so brilliant! We miss you guys.
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