August 11-12- They’re off!
August 11
We are on our way to Arkhangelsk, Russia! Yay! The water has a calm, blue-green glacial hue with a few small white caps.
What does one do while at sea for two days and scientific research has not begun? The mooring technicians are kept busy with final repairs to the A-frame and checking scientific equipment. The rest of us took the opportunity to catch up on laundry, read, play games, watch movies, and sleep. Once the research begins there will not be much time for such luxurious activities.
A little later in the day, the water got choppy and it started to rain causing the ship to roll- move from side to side. Anything hanging from the ceiling took on a gentle sway.
Breakfast: porridge, bread and butter
Lunch: seafood chowder, meatballs with mushroom sauce and buckwheat, and salad
Tea Time: Russian Salad- a cold salad consisting of peas, potatoes, carrots, cucumber and ham,
with a mayonnaise base; and pineapple wedges
Dinner: Steak topped with cheese, sautéed eggplant and zucchini, and salad
Beverages: coffee, tea and compote- a fermented fruit drink
August 12
We have been cruising all morning with a view of mainland Russia on our starboard (right) side. We passed Murmansk and are now at the Pilot Station. As we wait for the pilot boat to guide us into Arkhangelsk our ship drifts in the middle of the water with the thrusters (thrusters play an important role in navigating and maneuvering the ship) running occasionally to keep us in the right spot.
Arkhangelsk is located in the White Sea, the smallest Arctic Sea. After the rain yesterday, it is a glorious sunny day, 18˚C (64˚F). This is probably the only day I will be able to run around on the deck in shorts and a t-shirt!
While we wait, I got a tour of the Bridge with Vladimir Ivanov, the Chief Scientist of the cruise. The rest of the science team decided to set up their labs and equipment.
Breakfast: porridge, bread and butter
Lunch: meat, olive, and potato soup; spaghetti carbonara, and salad
Tea Time: pigs in a blanket
Dinner: chicken topped with cheese, potatoes and salad