Today was the final day of this year's Voyage of Discovery.

After a week of living on the Half Moon (or two weeks for many of the adult crewmembers), the time had come for everyone to pack up their gear and prepare for a return to life on land.

After breakfast, the students were awarded crew shirts and certificates noting each of their accomplishments during their time onboard.

The student crew and teachers from the second leg of the voyage, looking sharp in orange.

The student crew and teachers from the first leg of the voyage soon returned to the ship to join us for our official arrival in Albany.

Ms. Chermack once again found herself facing a perilous height. The gap at the dock looked no less imposing in full daylight...

...but with the guidance of Ms. van den Berg and Mr. Morel, she made it across with flying colors.

We motored up to the Albany water pumping station, which marked our arrival with a high-pressure water display. We greeted the enormous, welcoming crowd by firing salutes with our cannons and swivel guns.

However, the pumping station's pier wasn't prepared for our mooring lines in the way we needed. After a quick change in plans we continued on up to the Corning Preserve, temporarily docking there.

Our crew mingled with the crowd, rejoining friends and family. Together, we walked back to the Albany pumping station for the welcoming ceremony.

We were officially greeted by Mayors Jennings, Pratt, and Stratton of Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady, respectively.

After the mayors spoke, Captain Reynolds took the podium to address the crowd. He thanked the student and adult crew members for their contributions, and discussed the Half Moon's ongoing educational programs.

And with that, our 2004 Voyage of Discovery came to an end. Wave farewell to our able crew. Some of you might be joining us in 2005!