October 10th, 2014
1158
Three days ago, at approximately 2130, we recovered our
final OBS and started our 36-hour transit back to Narragansett, RI. We began
docking procedures at Senesco Marine LLC at around 1300 yesterday and were all
tied up by 1400. After the lines were clear, both watches performed some
preliminary breakdown of the OBS equipment to help stage it for demobilization
this morning. It was impressive how fluidly we took and executed directions
after a month of working together. It was clear that the trip had bonded us as
a team. After everything was done, the group headed out to enjoy our first
night on land, which, as anyone whose been on a ship for an extended period
will tell you, is just an incredible feeling. One of the eeriest moments,
however, was all of a sudden being surrounded by people besides those you’ve
been on the trip with. Also, the “dock rock” is an interesting experience.
This morning, after a wonderful, final breakfast made by our
steward, Mike Duffy, we packed up the final gear and the crew began lifting it
off the boat, staging it on the pier. All that’s left now is to clean up my
stateroom, pack up all my stuff, and head on home. This cruise has been both a
great scientific and personal learning experience and I am happy to have worked
with these crewmembers, techs, researchers, and students. The lab seems so
empty now, as I write this post, and there’s a part of me that is sad that this
adventure is ending regardless of how excited I am to get back to life on land.
Anyways, time for me to go. For those who are interested in
the data we’ve collected on this cruise, look out for information concerning
workshops on data access and processing in the near future.
Signing off,
Dylan Meyer aboard the R/V Endeavor
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| Figure 1. Evening recovery of the last OBS, there was much rejoicing! |
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Figure 2. A crewmember, Charlie Bean, tossing a
leading line with a monkey fist to the dock.
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Figure 3. The WHOI OBS van and SIO OBSs staged on the
pier to be loaded onto trucks.
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Figure 4. The WHOI OBS van being loaded onto a truck
for transit back to Woods Hole.
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Figure 5. The, now empty, lab deck of the R/V Endeavor.
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