Journals 2004/2005

Linda Hoffman
Palms Middle School, West Los Angeles, California

"Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance, and Status of Humpback whales (SPLASH)" NOAA Ship McArthur July 28 - August 28, 2004

Journal Index: July 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 August 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11           12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19           21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28

August 28, 2004

We head into Dutch Harbor. The crew and scientists watch a ship lesson about how to tie up a ship properly and other procedures. We then have an abandon boat drill. Everyone does fine.

As we enter the harbor, the area is full of birds. I think about how Bob would have loved to see this, he is such a bird lover.

Everyone is excited about getting into town. There are phone calls to be made and everyone is planning to party. A big get-together dinner is planned tonight at the Dutch Harbor Hotel. I get off the boat and rush with others to make a phone call home. No one answers. I then call my mom. She hints to me about coming home now but she does not tell me why. (The rest is history. I realize something is wrong and she finally tells me that my live-in boyfriend of nine years had a stroke and he is in the hospital unconscious) My journal doesn't end here. When the crew found out what happened, they comforted me and especially the cook took care of me. After dinner, I went back to the ship with the cook. We were the only people on board this now lonely 224 ft ship. He watched television with me and made me some cocoa. I will forever be grateful for his company during my hour of need. He told me he wasn't interested in partying. What a gem.