This week started off with having a bit of a break before the next cruise. I used the time to explore Miami. I went to the Everglades – within them there was a place called Shark Valley – where there were tours on trams, bicycles, or on foot. The chief on the Walton Smith took me there and we walked around for a bit, but we decided to leave early because of all the mosquitos. I saw a dead alligator, which was interesting.
On the 4th, I viewed the fireworks at Coconut Grove. I enjoyed it a lot because not only could I see the fireworks they were firing in the grove, but fireworks were being shot from all over. I decided against going to one of the beaches to view the fireworks because they were packed with people on them.
In Coconut Grove, I also visited Barnacle Park (the front of the park is in the picture below with me and the large anchor). This park is a historical site within a busy shopping district.
Before we left for the cruise, on the 7th and 8th, I helped get everything on the boat ready for the cruise and did a little bit of fishing (as you can see below, I am a very skilled angler). On the 7th, I helped the second mate (Kevin) switch the Walton Smith’s small boat for a newer one. We went to a nearby boat ramp, I piloted the new one of the trailer and he put it the old on it. We then took it out for a test before returning to the Walton Smith.
Later on the 7th, Kevin and myself were trying to catch fish from the stern of the Walton Smith at dock. We baited them with old food the cook was going to throw out. This is the biggest fish I caught, Kevin caught a couple larger fish.
We departed the dock around 1130 on the 8th. The goal of this cruise is to sample sediment at a couple of dredge spoil sites. The scientists are looking at how the piles of sediment and rock have moved, they are testing it for things like PCB concentration and other things. The grab we are using is the one below. We are also using a CTD to gather water quality data.
The following day (today the 9th), they finished sampling at the first site, which I think was just off Miami. We should arrive at the next site (near Cape Canaveral) in the morning and resume sampling.
On this cruise so far, I have helped set up serial communication between the GPS and the scientist computer, deploy/ recover the grab and the CTD, and have lent a hand when needed.