Teacher on Deck: 1405 or 2:05PM. Latitude: 02 42N; longitude 100 48W.

After five full days in transit, we'll arrive at our research destination in another three or four hours. We've been cruising toward the southwest about 300 miles northwest of the Galapagos Islands at a speed of 11.3 knots. According to Meredith, the third mate whom I visited with on the bridge this morning, we've been going faster than the Ewing's normal cruising speed on this transit. Everyone in the science party is eager to arrive and begin work.

Science Meeting

Our science meeting this morning was our last before deploying our data collecting equipment, and Gail gave an excellent summary of the geologic work she has done on past cruises to Hess Deep when she dived in the submersible Alvin to collect samples and make observations at the site. Mari Smultea, the head mammologist, also gave a presentation about the rationale and goals of the vessel-based marine mammal monitoring program that will now accompany all Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory acoustic seismic programs. Mari, I've recently learned, is also an accomplished photographer of marine mammals and has done previous photographic work for the Pacific World Foundation.

Slop Chest

1500: The "magic" opening time for the "Slop Chest" aboard ship--or the weekly ship's store. With the captain in charge of credit, almost everyone aboard lined up outside his cabin to buy navy R/V Maurice Ewing souvenir t-shirts or polos (my choice), work shirts, postcards, chocolate, or other personal necessities from shampoo to mouthwash. I noticed that AA and AAA batteries are also on the list, just in case I need some later in the voyage.

Harry Potter at Hess Deep

Gail has finished her complete collection of the 17 audiotapes making up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and I've asked to listen to them on the transit back to Panama . Right now, we are all looking ahead to the heart of the cruise: the next ten or so days of data collection at the Hess Deep. As a watchstander, my hours on duty become more fixed as of Saturday: 8 to 4 (with short breaks for lunch and snacks). I'll be working closely with Alejandro Escalona, a PhD graduate student from Venezuela, as well as Kirk, Gail, and Steffen, doing work both in the lab and on the deployment areas. That's where old clothes and closed toe shoes become important along with strict safety rules and a high level of alertness.

Mary