The bay looked like a blue silk blanket when you shake it. The sky was like a rainbow sunset behind the beautiful lit up Sigsbee. It was like a fairytale. -Amna and Sarah
Monday, July 9, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Swimming With Sharks
Yesterday, after we left Horn Point, we went swimming in the Chesapeake Bay. It was fantastic even though the current was trying to push us out of our swim area. We all had life-vests and there were a couple lifeguards so you don't have to worry. We didn't really swim with sharks but there was an occasional jelly(fish) sighting.
We don't have pictures of us swimming in the bay but if we did we would have some trouble posting them. It's more difficult than we thought to get the pictures up while we are on the boat but we are still trying.
We think today will be our first shower day, even though we did get to use a solar shower after we swam in the bay.
We don't have pictures of us swimming in the bay but if we did we would have some trouble posting them. It's more difficult than we thought to get the pictures up while we are on the boat but we are still trying.
We think today will be our first shower day, even though we did get to use a solar shower after we swam in the bay.
Center for Enivronmental Science
We had a great time at Horn Point. While there we went to the AquaCulture Lab at the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science. We saw clown fish (Hello Nemo) and the pre-historic sturgeons that we being raised at the center but even more important to us were the oysters.
The center's goal is to put more than 350 million new spat in the Chesapeake Bay this year and we did our part. We cleaned huge tanks (they were big enough to play Ga-Ga in), cleaned the oysters (they have officially had more showers than us), and got to see what the center was doing at every stage of the oyster's lives.
We moved 200 30-lb bags of oyster shell with spat on them from the lab to the Choptank River. We got to go in the river but it was really shallow, only about three feet deep. The oysters seemed to appreciate our efforts. Here's what they had to say.
"Thank you for putting me in good water."- VALve
"Thanks to the people that helped me and my buddies move from my oyster tank to the bay."- Bubbles the Oyster
"Thank you for cleaning us up and putting us in salty water."- Squirts
"Thank you for putting me near other oysters and organizing us in the water so one day we can be free."- Shaq
"I'm thankful for the teens who cared about my health."- Fahloh
"I'm glad that the kids were willing to get muddy just to carry me to the water and save me."- Sarah Spat
"I would just like to say thank you for carrying me from my tank to the ocean so I can develop into a fine young oyster."- David the Oyster Spat
"Thanks for carrying me to the Choptank River. Thanks to you, I have a new home on an oyster shell."- Bob the Oyster
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Wish We Had A Picture
We don't have any pictures up just yet, but if we did this is the stuff we wish we had a picture of:
- waking up at 5:30am in a hall of the St. Mary's College student union (that's where we slept on our first night)
- working in the storm to put up our sails (we were a real boat crew)
- getting splashed/sprayed while on the boat (very, very wet)
- seeing pelicans bomb dive the fish
- steering the ship (don't worry, Captain Kate wasn't very far and she's a good teacher)
- navigating the course of the Sigsbee (again, don't worry, first mate Sarah taught us how)
- the crab we caught in a little strainer thing
- us at lunch after we worked through the storm or us at dinner after half the day on the boat (no really, we were on there for a long time)
We'll have tons of pictures up very soon plus an added bonus for all those following our adventures.
Favorite First Day Firsts
Happy Fourth of July.
On our first day on the Sigsbee we met our captain, Captain Kate, as well as the rest of the crew. After lunch, we went out for a short trip but had to change our plans because of the weather. Still, there were some memorable firsts for all of the students.
Some firsts had to do with the boat. Most people thought their favorite first was just being on the boat for the first time while others, like Matt, were more specific and said really enjoyed their first time running up the sail.
Though we learned how to set up tents, actually didn't get to sleep on them on the first day. Because of that weather we mentioned earlier we slept inside. Perhaps we'll tell you more about that when you see us...
On our first day on the Sigsbee we met our captain, Captain Kate, as well as the rest of the crew. After lunch, we went out for a short trip but had to change our plans because of the weather. Still, there were some memorable firsts for all of the students.
Some firsts had to do with the boat. Most people thought their favorite first was just being on the boat for the first time while others, like Matt, were more specific and said really enjoyed their first time running up the sail.
We had a great time on land as well, from making dinner to learning how to set up camp. Henry and Patrick were pros at making salad and Amna used a butter knife to cut tomatoes wafer thin (almost...). Mickey helped make spagetti that everyone loved and we quickly finished.
Though we learned how to set up tents, actually didn't get to sleep on them on the first day. Because of that weather we mentioned earlier we slept inside. Perhaps we'll tell you more about that when you see us...
Monday, July 2, 2007
Sunday
This was another great day on the water and at camp. We had very smooth sailing all day until we reached port at Point Lookout State Park in the afternoon. Weather conditions were gorgeous and spirits were high and we were all looking forward to our one call home followed by a swim at a lovely beach. Unfortunately, the phone by the beach was broken. So we ended up making phone calls from a parking lot next to a store, but as there were no people in the vicinity we had a good game of parking lot frisbee going before long.
For the first time we camped on gravel, which took some getting used to as it was much harder to set in our tent stakes. But we had great facilities nearby, so we each took our second showers for the trip. Then some Camp Hosts came by and offered us a hay ride, so we rode out to the point singing songs and enjoying the breathtaking sunset. We also washed out our tie-dye. The batch was a mixture of success and white t-shirts tinged with pink. We are all going to sport them proudly in the next few weeks though.
We can't believe tomorrow is our last day on the boat! We've all had a fantastic time sailing and camping, but we're also excited for the Notre Dame portion of the camp. AC and showers every day!
For the first time we camped on gravel, which took some getting used to as it was much harder to set in our tent stakes. But we had great facilities nearby, so we each took our second showers for the trip. Then some Camp Hosts came by and offered us a hay ride, so we rode out to the point singing songs and enjoying the breathtaking sunset. We also washed out our tie-dye. The batch was a mixture of success and white t-shirts tinged with pink. We are all going to sport them proudly in the next few weeks though.
We can't believe tomorrow is our last day on the boat! We've all had a fantastic time sailing and camping, but we're also excited for the Notre Dame portion of the camp. AC and showers every day!
On the bay again. We just can't wait to be on the bay again...
THIS BLOG IS FOR SATURDAY
Today we went fishing for the second time. We caught a bunch of fish and jellyfish and one Maryland blue crab that we named Marvin. Although Marvin was snappy, almost everyone held him. Later on we all created our own tie-dye t-shirts and then played a game of kickball. One team was winning for the entire time, but near the end of the game, the other team caught up and the game was tied. After the game we went to sleep and it rained all night.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)