19 February, 1998

Gould-en Greetings!

We arrived in Punta Arenas at 7:30 AM and I awoke to the port (left side) thrusters pushing us toward the dock. The day has been spent unloading all the equipment that supported the science on this cruise. Over and over the crane hoisted science lab vans, gas cylinders, boxes, and crates onto the dock where they were loaded yet again into the truck that takes them to the warehouse. Some of the boxes will stay in Punta Arenas awaiting the next cruise, others will be commercially flown back to the scientists' home bases.

When asked what was the difference between a microbiologist and an oceanographer who does microbiology work, Dr. Karl answered, "We lift boxes." Field oceanography is an exciting yet rigorous area of study. No knowledge is gained easily out on the ocean. Processes that are delicate operations in the lab still have to be performed with the same accuracy on a rolling, pitching ship. The jobs got done whether it was 2:00AM when the sample was ready to be run or 2 degrees outside in the howling wind where the incubators were. I am impressed and very appreciative of these dedicated scientists with whom I was associated. They are doing work that will help us monitor the changing conditions of the seas.

This is my last journal entry. I hope you've enjoyed the travel log down to the Antarctic Peninsula and back. If you have any questions please send them to me at <bdaw@flash.net>. Be on the lookout for other teachers also traveling to the extreme North or South at the TEA (Teachers Experiencing Antarctica/Arctic) web site <tea.rice.edu> and learn from the science-rich web site <www.glacier.rice.edu> There are new activities that reflect the science being done in the field being put out on the web sites on a continuing basis.

Warm regards,

Mrs. D