Showering in a Subway Car
[This post written 6/7/08; position: lat -57’49”, long -44’28”; temp -5C; wind chill -24C]
My sea legs seem to have decided they want a vacation in the Bahamas. They are nowhere to be found today, so this one will be short. The sea is black and rough, and there’s a lot of wind out there, which is causing various problems for the scientists and engineers. But we have found our iceberg of dreams — see above. It’s a nice thick tabular berg, about 120 feet high and a couple of miles long, vaguely wedge-shaped when seen in map view. We determined this by sailing the ship around it and looking at the shape of our path, much as the ancient cartographers did — except we have a nice display screen and a computer to plot our path. Heh heh.
[Added later: This iceberg’s official “name” is SS-1. Icebergs are named by the National/ Naval Ice Center, a U.S. government interagency organization whose sole job is to keep track of the world’s large chunks of ice, presumably because ice is a constant navigational hazard for maritime traffic. Icebergs are given a letter name depending on the longitudinal quadrant where they are first sighted, followed by a sequential number. Normally, the letter in the name is A, B, C, or D. I haven’t yet figured out what SS means. It doesn’t seem to fit into the usual naming pattern. Still seeking the answer. Stay tuned!]
Steve E. managed to place some marker harpoons in the iceberg this afternoon using a shotgun-like device that launches the spears with a gunpowder cartridge. The kickback looks fearsome. I suspect his shoulder will be sore tomorrow. As I write this, we are taking water samples and John Helly is using a laser device to measure the iceberg. Tomorrow we will try to place a GPS tag on top of the berg using the airplane, if the wind dies down. And if it’s windy, we’ll use the backup plan of the giant slingshot. The guys procured a supply of small sandbags in Punta Arenas which they will use for practice before launching the real beacons, which are delicate and expensive. Don’t want to miss!
I managed to work out in the gym and then shower this morning before I got too sick. It is quite an experience. The gym workout is a double-whammy because you’re using all kinds of additional muscles just to keep your balance. As for the shower, imagine showering in a moving subway car. Well, okay, it’s more private than that, but you get the idea. It helps that the bathroom is tiny, which makes it possible to wedge yourself into corners fairly securely, but, ladies, forget shaving.
Phil, you’re right. Getting locked out could well be a matter of life and death in this environment. Walkie-talkies are a good idea. I will ask about that. Thanks for the suggestion. [Added later: See the note about this in my previous post. Problem solved!]
Okay, going back to bed.
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment