Spring Survey Conclusion, VOSS Collaboration, Cleveland Rocks

The final legs of the Spring Survey went by quite fast with little highlights to report. Ontario finished up quite quickly with a steady transit to Superior following shortly afterwards. In Superior, we were faced with weather more often, delaying our progress on land and at sea. We were caught in a nice April blizzard which ended up with some minor injuries for those on board who left their hands on doorjams in heavy seas (10-14 ft). Duluth, MN was wonderful as always (smoked fish included) and soon we were back on Lake Michigan, helping out our friends at Environment Canada, before finally reaching Milwaukee.

Offloading Oil Boom at Lake Calumet Dock

The month of May on the Lake Guardian is very relaxed, almost an extension of the winter. We finish any loose ends that may have been interrupted by the Spring Survey and start the ongoing project of painting the boat (it's like painting a bridge, as they say). We did head down to Lake Calumet (south Chicago) for a US Coast Guard Vessel of Opportunity exercise, where the Lake Guardian would act as an auxiliary Coast Guard vessel in the event of an oil spill on the Great Lakes. The EPA invited their whole office to watch, so the day of the actual exercise, it was a bit crowded about the vessel (EPA office-types, Lake Guardian crew and USCG crew). This was also the first port that was more industrial than the one we see in Milwaukee. The entire Calumet River transit was by nasty industrial park after nasty industrial park. Not the best place to be for a couple of days. Luckily it was only for a couple of days, then we were off to Navy Pier, Chicago for a couple days hosting homeschoolers in an interactive collaboration with a nearby museum.

Our first trip in June centered around some transects on the western shore of Lake Huron followed by a quick trip to Lake Erie for a monthly dissolved oxygen survey. On Erie, we stopped in the port of Cleveland first my first time and the city (for all the naysaying) wasn't as terrible as advertised. The night we spent there was fine enough, there was plenty to do and the city was clean. Docked at the Army Corps of Cleveland, we were right in front of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium, which made for a good first impression from the water (aside from the rancid gull colony in the Stadium parking lot. Once back in Milwaukee (days later), I celebrated my one year anniversary with Cetacean Marine Inc. quietly and worked the 8-4 day in port as always, with a paintbrush.

Ready and Go

Where we dock in Milwaukee

City of Milwaukee from the Breakwater

After a brief 2 weeks after moving into the apartment, getting settled and used to the 50 minute commute (a smooth 50), it was time to start the surveying season. On the boat, we used these weeks to wrap up our self-designed benthic sled and set up the scientific equipment for sampling. There were a few minor snags at first, but in the end everything seemed in working order. Scientists arrived and on April 1st we cast off from Milwaukee and began the month long spring survey of the 5 Great Lakes.

The Mackinac Bridge

We soon found out that one of our instruments, the Turner C3, used for sampling fossil fuel concentrations and other organic matter was full of errors and needed to be sent away for fixing. No matter, the cruise went on. Lake Michigan flew by and soon we were in Huron.

Alpena, MI and the Mississauga

Huron forced us into the Port of Alpena for a night, where the crew were able to scout were we would be spending 4th of July week later in the year. A small town with empty streets, it seemed primed for summer tourists to waste their money on local trinkets. Soon we were out on Huron again and through to Detroit, where we stayed overnight for a crew change.

Canadian side of the Detroit River

Moonrise over the Detroit River

Downbound Flight Locks of the Welland Canal

Erie came and went and then (after a brief mechanical issue with the Welland entrance) we flew through the Welland Canal and immediately dove into Fort Niagara to dodge oncoming weather for these current couple of days. Here at Fort Niagara they have a Fort Knox (for those in the know) type setup and it was a nice way to kill an afternoon. I am eager to get back underway, for after Ontario and Superior, home awaits. Next stop, Rochester.

Fort Niagara overlooking Lake Ontario

Main barracks at Fort Niagara

R/V Lake Guardian docked at Fort Niagara 

Returning of the Technician...

It has been awhile since my last post, reflecting the work cycle of a marine technician. Once the season ended, so ended (temporarily) my mandatory work period. Prior to departure, each crew member put in for 'winter work' dates, that are extremely flexible, I had mentioned early December and late January as potential dates for myself. After a month living with my girlfriend and her family (October) and two and one half months at home, observing family and food-filled holidays, hiking and lazing around, I called up the Captain. I wanted to go back to the Lake Guardian, it was time to collect paychecks again. Time to do something during the day.

My move was to be a long term one, so I decided to pack more things than before, with the idea of setting up in an apartment somewhere between Milwaukee and Chicago for extended time spent laid up. I broke up the drive out to Milwaukee into three sections: Maine to Happy Valley, PA to Carmel, IN to Milwaukee. I stayed with a good friend from home who is studying at State College and was living right outside of where Jerry Sandusky was being tried (interesting) in PA and then stayed what ended up being two nights in Carmel, due to weather, before moving on to Milwaukee.

I arrived on January 21 to a ship under construction. The galley and the lounge were under construction (I won't tell you what the price of this construction is for your own health), leaving the Captain in charge of providing meals for the crew each night. 5 nights a week, we dine out on the town, giving me much more knowledge of the restaurant scene in the city (one should hope!) and the other two nights, dinner is done on the Webber grill, even if it is only 10 degrees F outside (though it has been a mild winter).

As far as work is concerned, it is much more laid back (for now) than the summer. We do small projects related to organization, book keeping and maintenance. I have spend much of the last month updating inventories and learning my way around the ship's network of servers, a tangled web of computers than communicate with the different instruments in the summer and general files that have accumulated and been littered throughout. The big project, that has just recently commenced is the construction of two benthic sleds. We are looking to upgrade the models that have been left at the bottom of the lakes with a simple design set atop 3 old Mercury snowmobile skis. It should be a good task for the coming days.

I have finally been to some Milwaukee Admirals games. I arrived in Milwaukee too late last year to see any games, so it is a nice thing to do every once in a while. The Bradley Center is a cozy venue to watch a sporting event, which makes it appealing. It was pretty neat to see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson's jerseys hanging from the rafters as I took in my first two games.

Retired Bucks Jerseys

View of the Milwaukee Admirals v. San Antonio rampage 

from the $3 General Admission Seats

To close today's post, some good news. My fantastic girlfriend and I recently secured an apartment in Zion, IL (about 50 minutes from Milwaukee, near the WI/IL border) and plan to move in on March 15th. We are excited for this event and are sure it will result in some added stressors and relaxors.

(Note: I actually brought a camera this year. I plan on using it in conjunction with this blog. Hopefully, any enhancements are well received.)