March 14

Click on the question mark to ask the class about oceanography, Glacier Bay, or the cruise. Your question and answer will appear on the Questions page under Quick Links.

March 14, 2000. After a last day, filled with last minute preparations, nearly forgotten equipment and early finals, vans began shuttling people to the pier. Since the ship was not yet there, a few last minute beers were in order. Luckily Anthony’s was nearby. A few beers and an oyster eating contest later, the ship arrived and we all quickly boarded. The trip was finally beginning. Then the fun began… FIRE DRILL!... ABANDON SHIP DRILL!... roll call, safety brief, science brief, housekeeping brief, brief, brief, brief, tie the equipment down, and get ready to inventory chemicals tomorrow. Done! And somewhere during it all the ship slipped away from the dock. The Seattle skyline from the perspective of a passing ship is spectacular, but now it is slipping quickly astern. If the current plan holds we should arrive in Glacier Bay, Tuesday mid-day. Now all that is left are the important things, like where the tea will be set up, how to operate the espresso maker, where the internet connections are, and don’t call the Captain’s cabin on the electric phone. We have almost two weeks of “hands on science” not theoretical, not textbooks, not classroom, but wet and muddy. This is why we study oceanography.

-Josh