10 June, 1992

Wednesday, 10 June 1992

I left the deck and went to the lab to write in my journal; about 1300 hrs, Naomi showed up and we talked. I had seen very little of Naomi over the past five days for she had gotten involved with a different aspect of clean-up after our working together on the stoves. She had been emptying fuel drums into larger ones and moving them to the various collection points around the camp. Of all the Young Scholars, Naomi is by far the most aggressive, the most curious, the most well-known and the most liked (I'm biased, of course). She gets involved with everything. I worry about her; for sometimes I feel her curiosity superceeds her logic. Maybe this is sour grapes on my part, maybe it is simply her having more guts and energy than I do. It sure would be great to be 19 again!! Oh well, I have my Geritol, a wife and family to worry about.

Arnold Gordon, Chief Scientist, called a meeting for 1400; it should be interesting to see his opinion of the science we've done, the recovery of ICWI and what he feels about us Young and Old Scholars now. You may recall, he had told us up front that he had no desire to have us on this cruise and thought we would only be in the way and possibly, a safety problem. 1416 hrs we are told the meeting is on hold while data from the helo recon is evaluated. Good! I don't need a meeting now; I'm tired and depressed about leaving ICWI.

It is now 1423 hrs on June 10, 1992 and I received E-mail from one of my students, Tara Devarakonda. Good news-my wife has been receiving my E-mail. She and the kids are well and all is well in Milford. Great, I feel like a new person! I think I'll go up on the deck for some late afternoon photography.

1640 hrs we are told we were doing an ice station. Station went very well; only this time, I wore different boots and for the first time experienced cold feet. This won't happen again. You begin to concentrate more on your discomfort than on your tasks and this can be dangerous.

Cleaned up, ate and went to the wet lab to continue trying to dry out the calzone boxes that had been soaked in sea water. At about 2000 hrs, Vicky came into the lab and said that I had to see the Federov; it's "huge." I thought she had flipped (for we had seen the Federov many times) until she had me look out the main deck's port hole. The Federov was tied up along side the Palmer and we were about to start transfering water. Vicky was right; from this perspective, the Federov dwarfed the Palmer. I ran to the 01 deck; but it and the 02 deck were off limits so I grabbed my camera and went to the 04 deck and took videos. People were yelling back and forth between the ships (only 50' but the engines are very loud). I went below to get my 35 mm camera and met Kevin Wood. He asked me to spread the word that there would be no exchange of people between the two ships during this water transfer. I said I'd spread the word; but personally, I had no desire to go over to the Federov. Well, by the time I got back up on the deck, the Federov had already begun to sling people over to the Palmer and was in the process of bringing people aboard the Federov. I guess the natives decided that the plans were not of the type they wanted. A great number of the Americans who were being transported back to civilization aboard the Federov came aboard the Palmer for food and fresh fruit. Supplies are low on the Federov and also not very tasty. Therefore, many bottles of Tabasco sauce, Tiger sauce, catsup and most of the desserts disappeared from the Palmer. It was nice to have the chance to sit down with many of the guys I had only time to work with at the camp. Bruce, Tom, Kerri, Mike, Brett and I sat and drank hot drinks, talked and consumed probably two cakes among us. I lasted until about 0230 hrs, said my final goodbys and went to bed.

Wednesday, June 10, 1992; 0530 hrs:

I got up just as John Evans was going to bed. John said ICWI was complete, totally recovered and most importantly, without any injuries and with a tremendous volume of successful science, and we were leaving at first light. I congratulate John and asked him if he would like to get involved with ICWII. He mused for a moment and said' "I'm an adrenaline junky, so probably . Yes!!"

I went to the mess and sat to reflect for a while on what a fantastic moment in history I had personally taken part in. It is amazing that I was involved in a project with such scientific importance and of such magnitude. WOW! Went to the lab and found Vicky and Tony; they said I could help with some crates. Great, I wanted to be busy. Then about 1000 hrs, the engines of the Palmer started up and we began our homeward journey. I ran to my cabin to get my camera for one final shot of Ice Camp Weddell I, now nothing more than an empty ice floe that will eventually work its way to the northeast and melt into oblivion. We left only footprints (and unfortunately, some ashes) and took a lot of pictures (and a tremendous volume of knowledge); so I guess, the deviations from the old cliche balance each other out. When I returned to the deck, the Federov was leading us out of the ice, we to her stern. Off to our starboard side, about 75 m from the Palmer, was a lone Emperor penguin. He was showing absolutely no sign that the two mighty icebreakers had any effect on him. It was as if we were not even there; as if nothing had happened at Ice Camp Weddell I. His home was still intact and THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!!