Our first morning anchored at the Dry Tortugas has been very busy.

This week has been literally filled with light: falling stars, lightning, bioluminescence, and the steadily increasing illumination of the menorah.

As we enter our final week at sea, a number of shipmates have been lost.

Hello!! It’s been 22 days on board and my conclusion is that time travels unbelievably weirdly here.

It’s one of the dark days.

Two fish being reeled in on lines, then cut up into neat pieces and served as –

As Katie was fast asleep at 0030, Caroline woke up for the first dawn watch of the trip.

We board the SSV Corwith Cramer tomorrow! It’s been a long road to get here already (literally and figuratively), and we haven’t yet set eyes on the ship. We’ll run you through some of the details.

It’s crazy what a difference 12 hours makes. Last night when C Watch took the deck, menacing clouds loomed, lightening flashed and the engine roared as we motor-sailed into yet another squall. Gathering today for our pre-afternoon-watch-meeting, we searched in vain for a patch of shade in which to hide. We gybe, heave-to, set and strike sails on most watches.

It is currently my third year doing the trip south, each one has been to a different destination with a different crew, different set of students and different adventures. I only planned on going on the first trip south two years ago but have somehow managed to be on everyone since.