Saturday Night on the Seas

Hey gang,  a lot has been happening since last I blogged. The SCIMPI is planted.  Everybody is pretty excited.   A few of us School of Rockers got to help get the SCIMPI planted so we all had a part in the history of this new technology.  They will come back this way in about 3 weeks and collect some data.  The engineering and science that is going on is unbelievable.  We are sitting on the shelf about 50 some miles from the coast of Vancover Island.  In about 10 minutes we are going to put the logging apparatus down another drill hole.  The logger is lowered to the bottom of the drill hole that is about 200 meters below the sea floor.  They will than raise the logger up to the top and then lower it again.  The logger collects data as it is lowered and pulled back up.  The data it collects on the way up is what they really want to collect.  This entire process will take about 8 hours. 

After this we are going to drop another mini SCIMPI that the crew calls the SHRIMPI.  It is very similar to its counterpart but different in the fact that it is only about 20 meters long.  They are going to drop it to the floor and then see what happens. 

Found out today that we are probably going to be heading back to Victoria late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.  We will still be on board but able to hit the hotspots in Victoria come evening. Jon Lewis, the resident geology Dr., has set up a chance for some of us to go mountain biking.  Should be an interesting experience.  I have met some super people.  The other School of Rockers are pretty cool.  I know that I will keep in touch with them after this experience is finished.  Getting lots of great ideas from all of them for class next year.  Just got back from outside and the full moon is beautiful.  Haven't see any whales yet but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Well gang, until next we visit, keep feet on the ground and your eyes toward the seas.