Pizza and Sunsets (29.37, 154.16)

Standing on the boat in the dark during OBS recoveries, looking out into the black distance, searching for a tiny blinking light somewhere on the horizon, the extent of the darkness undeniable. It is an odd feeling having no frame of reference to your existence. No moon or stars to orient you. As you stare out into the darkness, you can't tell where the sky starts and the sea ends. No reference of distance. You are so use to motion and without any point of reference you cant tell if the boat is bobbing in one place or if it is turning or moving. It is a bit alarming to feel so disoriented. It is not until the little blinking light surfaces can you get some perspective on where a distant horizon might be. Not until you see that blinking light move from the port to the starboard side, do you realize that the boat is actually turning around.

OBS recovery is in full swing, with two more successful recoveries today. Today we had our first day light recoveries. On the previous recoveries, all at night, we had a blinking strobe light to alert us to the OBS's location. In the daylight, however, you have to spot the tiny orange flag bobbing in the waves. There is also a radio signal on the OBSes, but we have not had the best of luck so far with it functioning properly. I got one point today for spotting one of the OBSes first. Can you see it?

The first one of the morning took twice as long as it was supposed to because the OBS only dropped one of its weights successfully. Slowly but surely, it made it to the top... 5 hours later. The recovery this evening was much smoother.

Tonight was Pizza Friday. It is amazing how knowing you get pizza for dinner can lift ones spirits for an entire day. After our evening OBS recovery, Tina and I grabbed a couple slices of pizza and headed to the deck to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful, clear evening and I saw my first green flash right as the last bit of the sun went down. I was able to catch a sliver of it on film. It was not a big flash, but a sliver of green light non the less.