May 12, 2000

Start of the Night Shift

Just after midnight on the 12th. Current position 55 07 S, 64 50 W.

Beautiful moon, reflecting off the calm seas. We will clear the tip of South America in the next couple of hours and head out across the Drake Passage. We cannot begin collecting data until we clear the 200 mile limit so there is not a whole lot going on right now. Everything is stored or tied down and most people are passing the time reading or watching videos.

Information about the Nathaniel B. Palmer can be found at:
http://www.nbp.polar.org/

The captain also has a web page but I have been unable to find the address so far. Try a search with the phrase rajun cajun and you might have some luck.

The plan of the day (POD), which was just posted, suggests packing mittens, hat and warm clothes with your survival suit along with a good book. This is a hint that a fire drill is upcoming and that we may be sitting for a while, hence the book suggestion. The ship is required to hold a fire drill within 72 hours of leaving port and tends to hold one once a week while at sea.

Cheers,

Dave Tewksbury
tewksbda@nbp.polar.org

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