Weather: Nice and Calm probably no more than a force 2, Significant wave height 2-3m
Location: Bhodaich, near the Isle of Ewe/Isle of May
Food: Mushroom and chiken pie!!!!
International talk like a pirate day, raiding party, still surrounded
When people hear I'm going on a cruise they think of exotic and sunny places - the reality is usually a lot different!!
Today promised to be a fairly average day since we set sail. The drill was deployed late last night and was still drilling when we woke up for breakfast. The ship was still in the middle of the NATO exercise and all manner of naval vessels and aircraft were in the vicinity of our operations. The day started with a lot of sleepy "Arghhhhhhhhhh" and "Ye Scurvy Dog" - today is international pirate day. International pirate day even made the daily RRS James Cook news bulletin and a few doubters had to search the internet to verify that it was a true event....
During our morning meeting we had a discussion about the DP's malfunction last night - this appears to have be caused by a drop out of the GPS signal at a point when we were surrounded by a large flotilla. We have now received a message saying that in certain areas of the NATO exercise they will be jamming GPS signals.......... Hmmmmmmm.......What can I say?
At around midday I learnt that the workboat was to be deployed for planned maintenance and training and would also to the nearest town (if it can be called that) - we needed batteries and some other items for the ship and crew. Four of us would make the hour journey to the one horse town that Eamonn had emailed earlier and organized the supplies. I phoned the bridge and volunteered to go on the exercise and was granted permission by the bridge. I turned up shortly after one in my full wet weather gear and we launched the boat. The journey would take roughly about an hour to the town......
The journey was pretty rough and within five minutes we were all fairly soaked!! The workboat was making heavy headway and there was a lot of spray!! I think HMS Chidingfold which was nearby was eyeing us with a bit of uncertainty after the mock attack by similar boats yesterday and as we passed her she cut across our aft-end and headed away in the opposite direction. The weather took a turn for the worse and it started raining. An RAF Tornado blasted overhead
The visibility got a bit poor and we lost site of the ship but luckily the workboat is equipped with GPS and we had taken additional maps with us. Soon the rain stopped and we made our way into the "harbor". We had intend to tie up to a jetty next to a hotel that was labeled on the map - the stakes for the jetty were there but the pier had long since vanished (probably during the 1940's)!!
We eventually tied up amongst the fishing boats and after making the workboat safe we asked directions from a local to the nearest shop. Interestingly, this was the only person we saw on the way to the shop. However, when we were in the shop everyone from the village seemed to turn out and the shop was soon full.... strange!!! We spent a lot of money in the shop and probably doubled their income for the entire year.......
Anyway the essential items were purchased for the ship and the crew were permitted to purchase tobacco (and lots of it!!). We were then hailed by the ship who informed us that they had recovered the rock drill and would come and meet us a bit closer. The journey back was just as exciting as the journey there - but with a lot more spray. The last part of the journey was spent with my eyes closed as I kept on getting blinded by spray by the time we got back to the ship I was thoroughly drenched. Due to the weather conditions and the large amounts of spray I was unable to get any pictures of the ship at sea :-(
The rest of the day was in contrast very tame - I worked on the scientific data and then went to the bar. However, the rock drill was being deployed at midnight so needed to be on hand to track it to the bottom.......
Our Navy friends have been back and forth all day and as it got dark HDMS Absalon made a number of passes around us.
Bed time.
The humor amongst the
cigarette
starved crew was strange to say the least......
International Talk Like A Pirate Day - Arrrrrrrrrr!
On deck this morning watching the navy ships get closer and closer again
Heather with some of the samples - by all accounts really geologists taste their rock samples.........
Some of the rock samples from the drill
Me getting ready to go out in the workboat!!!
The workboat is prepared for launch and the one-hour journey to shore.....
With the workboat safely berthed we went in search of the shop
Even me, coming from Wales - the land of strange place names found I needed to do a double take on this place name
After purchasing the neccessary items for the ship the intrepid party lined up to make their own purchases
No comment.
Our soaked return..
HMS Echo delays our launch by coming for a close look at what we are doing
Me having fun tracking the drill rig as it heads to the bottom
Julia on deck keeping a close eye on the rock drill
It is sooooo cold!!! Luckliy I'm getting my hair cut soon!!!! Hahhahahah - Dan, Me, James and Gavin
Windswept scientists!!!!
HDMS Absalon comes past the RRS James Cook
HDMS Absalon (L16) is, together with her sistership HDMS Esbern Snare (L17), the biggest ships ever in the Royal Danish Navy, and the two members of the Absalon-class of command and support ships. The ships are the first signs, of the changes taking place, in the Royal Danish Navy. The primary objective for the Royal Danish Navy will in the future be international operations, and these two ships will be the backbone of these operations. The ships are primarily designed for command and support roles, with a large ro/ro deck
When HMS Echo learnt that RRS James Cook had dispatched a small raiding party to the local market they urgently sent their fastest boat to try and stop us before we could clear the shop out......
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