by Hillary Smith
Thursday, October 4, 2018
I woke up to the sound of voices and pop music. Bleary eyed, I checked my phone for the time–8:05 AM. Having overslept, I get ready in a rush to make our 8:30 AM start. In the Baltic Room, down stairs on the main level, the CTD was being prepared for a drop. This time, instead of just getting data from the instrument’s many sensors on the way up and down to water column, we also collected water samples. After the CTD was raised from the ocean we filled numbered vials with water. These will be sent to a researcher at University of Illinois for her to analyze the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. We also got another sediment sample with the claw. This sample was then sieved and dried. Next we had an introductory geology lecture given by Dan. He went over the different types of rocks.
At some point we got the news that there is a second storm expected. We had planned to wait out the first storm sheltered behind an island. But now, we must go into the first storm to get ahead of the second one. Rough seas are in our future. We also found out that starting today we will each be expected to complete two watches, one on the bridge and one in engineering.
While there was pretty good turn out for the CTD, the waves took a toll on many of us, and eventually only a few remained. The group took a break from the lesson since so many have gone to their rooms to try to feel better. The remaining people did a group discussion about our career goals. Afterwards we put our newfound geology skills to the test, doing rock identification.
Later in the day there was a second CTD cast and sediment grab. While several people showed up to get some fresh air during the cast, most left shortly after. Since so many people were ill, and we have begun sailing into the storm, the rest of the day’s science events were postponed. The healthy ones played charades for a little while after dinner.
That night I was assigned to bridge watch. There I met Steve who showed me the bridge. Watching the sun set over the ocean was very peaceful. I learned how to check our coordinates on the map, and compare the map position to our radar position. Additionally, I got to see Mars. By now the waves were huge. I enjoyed watching the ship crash through them, even if it did make the rocking worse. I stayed past my assigned shift so that I could check our coordinates again, and because I was enjoying talking with Steve.
Once I returned to my room I realized how big the rocking felt inside the ship. I set my water-bottle down, only to have it whiz halfway across the room a second later and knock into the wall, waking up my roommate. Out of fear I too would fly around the room in my sleep, I decided to “taco”. I pushed my immersion suit bag underneath the mattress so I would roll towards the wall instead of out of the bed.
