DUML 2009... Done!



Whew. Trip number 6 (I think) is in the books. Well, there are still a few bills to be paid that total around 10 thousand dollars... but for all practicality, the trip is over. We had a great week atDuke University Marine Lab. It started out a bit rainy and cold but quickly turned sunny, windy, and cold:) The kids seemed to love it and Zoe had a HUGE time. It was shocking to see your beloved 5 year old suddenly not need you – but it was also wonderful. Food was wonderful as usual (thank you Gilbert, Sly, and Sandy). Here is a quick rundown:
  • Day 1: Left the school at 7am and got there by dinner. Got settled in and then went for a walk to radio island. I totally remembered a gate preventing us from getting to the water – I was only wanting them to burn off some energy before bed – but the gate was no more and there by headlamp, a few brave souls plunged into the still sound water. As they squealed and splashed, I did inform them that this was prime shark feeding time...

  • Day 2: We split into 2 groups – one went kayaking and the other went to Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve (Bird Shoals). It was pretty rainy. I led the Rachel Carson group each time and we found some great stuff – though the water was murky and the second group was there at high tide. The kayaking groups had a good time (I hear) and even some close encounters with dolphins. Dawn Keller – the Pirate Queen took good care of us again.

  • Day 3: Weather cleared and we went into Beaufort for a double decker bus historical tour, Maritime Museum, toured the huge research vessel the Cape Hatteras, and then on the Susan Hudson for dredging and trawling. I got sick that night but it cleared on the night beach walk... thank goodness.

  • Day 4: We went to the NC aquarium in the morning (I had to take a student to the Urgent Care center, but it all worked out well) and then way out to Shackleford banks (via Perry Barrow at Outer Banks Ferry) for the entire afternoon. A perfect barrier island – we landed on the sound side, stayed there awhile, then marched across the island to the surf, found a well sloped beach and the mountain kids got to play in the (ice cold) waves. That night we spent time watching basketball, playing ping pong, pool, foosball, and working puzzles.

  • Day 5: We bid bon voyage to wonderful breakfasts and got back to Boone in time for dinner.

  • Now there is 4 inches of snow on my deck and it should snow the rest of the day. Ahh, Boone.

Here is a link to pictures

Great Spirit, thank you for a great week, great group, and good weather!

PS - the skirt is one Ash made for Zoe while we were gone.  Sorry I couldn't move around the pictures to make the blog flow a bit...















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