Yesterday brought a very slow day for science. We had helicopter operations planned for the afternoon and once they were completed, it was 181 nautical miles to the next Science station. We had a full team science meeting regarding what we are going to cook for our Morale Night dinner. We will be cooking for the crew on December 16. Our menu includes salmon filet, pork loin, vegetarian chili, brown rice, couscous, brussel sprouts, spinach, Phils' rolls, salad bar, lemon bars and chocolate chip cookies! It will be fun to be in the kitchen – I do miss cooking!
I had some time to answer a few very good questions in the Ask the Team section of my journal that required me to seek out the answer. Engineering Officer CDR King was helpful in answering my engineering questions. Thank you CDR King – and be sure you check out the questions and answers in the Ask the Team section of this journal!
We came within three miles from Nome, Alaska. We arrived when it was still dark, and the lights of Nome were shining brightly.
Lights of Nome from the Healy Aloft Con Camera
Helo ops were planned for 12:45. Another person was being evacuated from Healy. This time, I watched the flight operations from the Bridge. It is so amazing to watch the precision of something like Flight Operations.
Helo Ops - the view from the Bridge
It was nice to see land...the mountains and ice were very beautiful and changed in appearance as the sun rose above the horizon.
It has been days since we have seen land!
Something else very interesting occurred. When we arrived at our location for Helo Ops before lunch, Healy stopped moving. I snapped a photograph that shows the wake Healy made as it headed towards Nome.
The wake of Healy as we reached our Flight Ops location
After lunch, we started to hear a terrible screeching, ice breaking noise, but we were not moving. I went to the fantail to see what was going on. The ice was closing the wake Healy made. Here you can see how our wake looked after a few short hours.
Our wake closed in within minutes
Last night, Dr. Okkonen gave a Science Lecture in the Science Conference Lounge on Set Net Fishing in Cook Inlet. His wife's family has been set netting in Cook Inlet for more than 50 years. They catch mostly red salmon and deliver it to the cannery within 15 minutes! He showed great photos of the fish camp and talked about how the business has changed over the years.
I will end my journal with another breathtaking view of the Arctic Winter...
Gorgeous sun and blue skies!
Stay tuned as we continue our exciting voyage on the USCG Cutter Healy. Until then...
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mohandas Gandhi