Daily Log, May 20

Friday May 20, 2005

Morning Position
Henry Hudson Park
42˚ 32.6' latitude
073˚ 45.5' longitude

Midday Position
Albany
42˚ 38.6' latitude
073˚ 44.9' longitude
Evening Position
Albany
42˚ 38.6' latitude
073˚ 44.9' longitude

Breakfast on the weather deck.

 

0730 hours: We rise to greet the last day of our Voyage of Discovery. The weather is warm and dry, with azure blue skies dappled with soft white clouds. Considering the storm warnings that we've recieved during this week, it now seems that the good luck we've had at avoiding rain on this voyage will see us all the way home.

(Or will it?...)

0900 hours: We gather to enjoy our final meal before arriving in Albany: a breakfast of bacon and scrambled eggs.

Mr. Weisse hoses off the anchor on the channel.

 

0930 hours: We are due to dock at Albany at midday, so the time has come to raise anchor and move on. For the last time, our students man the capstan while adult crewmembers Mr. Linehan and Mr. Weisse work on the channel to secure the anchor. As often happens, the anchor has risen from the river bed coated in thick mud. To prevent a gooey mess, Mr. Weisse hoses down the anchor and its line as they emerge from the river, spraying the mud back into the Hudson where it belongs. (Better there than on our orlop deck, at any rate.)

Bryan whips up cookie batter in the galley.

We are now underway. It's a short trip from Henry Hudson Park to Albany. Although this is the last day of the voyage and their educational projects are now complete, the student crewmembers still have a full day of work ahead of them.

One duty that still needs to be performed is preparing food in the galley. We've discovered that Bryan is a talented cook, so during his watch rotation Mrs. Barton puts him to work whipping up a batch of cookies for the crew to enjoy later on this afternoon.

Daymien and Dylan on the foredeck.

 

Meanwhile, Daymien and Dylan spend a final hour standing lookout on the foredeck as we motor upriver.

How low can you go? Limbo contest around the capstan bars.

 

1000 hours: The student crewmembers who aren't on duty this morning a free to hang out around the capstan, socializing and enjoying the scenery.

 

The capstan isn't in use at the moment, so it's safe for the students to use in the impromtu limbo contest seen here. As it happens, yes, many of our students can go pretty low.

 

Of course, were the capstan in use, the students' behavior would be very different. Our standard operating procedures ensure that all crew working the capstan keep both hands on their capstan bar and their mind on their work. Safety is always our primary concern.

Half a dozen students gather around the capstan to beat out a tune.

 

The students also soon join the regular crew in the realization that the top of the capstan makes for a fine metal drum. Mr. Weisse , our resident musician, quickly joins in to lead the students through a few basic beats.

Captain Reynolds casually gathers the crew around the capstan.

 

1040 hours: We are now nearing Albany. Captain Reynolds gathers the crew around the capstan and briefs them on what to expect when we arrive.

Captain Berg and Mr. Dawson perch on the foreyard while Ms. Farrel stands lookout.

1100 hours: Places, everyone, places! The adult crewmembers relieve the students, freeing all of them to enjoy their homecoming. Mr. McDonald takes the helm while Ms. Farrell stands lookout on the foredeck.

Of course, it isn't just the students who are excited about our imminent arrival. To the right, Captain Berg and Mr. Dawson hover above Ms. Farrell, pondering whether to greet Albany from their perches on the foreyard.

Dylan snaps a photo as his crewmates hang off the rail, watching Albany come into view.

 

Albany soon appears around a bend in the river. Its rapid approach is matched by the excitement building among the crew.

We're ahead of schedule, so we spend some time lingering down by the Port of Albany before making our final approach.

Students look on as the Half Moon approaches Albany, with a water cannons visible in the background.

 

1200 hours: Once again, we've come home to Albany. For years, the New York State Office of General Services has graciously allowed us to dock at the Albany Waterfront Pumping Station. The Pumping Station's mission is to provide cooling water for all of the cooling systems in state government. The Pumping Station requires constant attention; if it ever shut down, state government would follow it within hours.

The Waterfront Pumping Station is also equipped with powerful water cannons, which its operators traditionally use to salute our arrival.

Even from a distance, the cascading water is an impressive sight, especially when seen from the river.

 

The crew looks on as the Half Moon comes into port, with the water cannons growing nearer.

 

Although this time, it looks like we're getting a little too close to those cannons for comfort...

Water cannons arc over the approaching ship.

 

...It's at this moment that some members of the crew realize that the weatherdeck is no longer necessarily the best place to be standing for those who want to stay dry.

Jamal breaks for cover as the water cannons produce a sudden downpour on the weatherdeck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like we were fated to get a little rain after all!

While some crewmembers excitedly scramble for cover, most stand their ground and enjoy the first cooling shower they've had in a week.

Soggy crewmembers in the aftermath of the downpour.

 

Oh well! No harm done, and on a hot day like today, no one grumbles over getting wet.

A hearty crowd greets the ship's arrival.

A teeming (and appreciated) crowd of the crew's family members and schoolmates comes out to greet the Half Moon's arrival in Albany.

A student snare drummer.

 

 

 

 

 

The crowd is accompanied by this intent young snare drummer as well.

Mayor Jennings and Half Moon volunteers greet the ship at the dock.

After we dock, Mayor Jennings and a group of Half Moon adult volunteers and student alumni gather to meet our latest crew as they disembark.

Sami, Emily, and other students are greeted by their families.

 

The student crewmembers reunite with their families, who have been missing them terribly and greet them with hugs and kisses. For some of these families, this voyage marked the first time their children had taken an extended trip away from home.

Our brand new alumni are eager to start relating their adventures.

Veronica is interviewed for the local newspaper.

 

Some students also take the time to meet the press. Here, Veronica talks to a reporter from the Times-Union...

 

 

Jamal and Jamar face the Fox 23 camera.

 

 

 

...while Jamar and Jamal do an interview for the local Fox affiliate.

Captain Reynolds at the podium.

 

1215 hours: Captain Reynolds leads a brief arrival ceremony, congratulating the crew for their accomplishments and thanking the community for its support.

Mayor Jennings at the podium.Mayor Pratt at the podium.# at the podium.

Captain Reynolds is also joined at the podium by Mayor Jerry Jennings of Albany, Mayor Mark Pratt of Rensselaer, and Robert Fleury, First Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Office of General Services.

 

Mayor Jennings presents Emily with her certificate.Mayor Jennings presents Jamal with his certificate.

Our new crew members are then presented with their well-earned certificates of accomplishment.

 

A gang of former student crewmembers, now off to college.

1230 hours: The ceremony soon ends and the crowds disperse. Of course, that doesn't mean the crew's work is done. The crew members still need to unload their gear and to help prepare the Half Moon for its month-long stay in Albany. Museum items need to be brought on board before the public tours start tomorrow!

Fortunately, we have plenty of help. Along with our current crew, we're joined by numerous adult volunteers, including former student alumni. The quintet seen here (left to right: Sarah Read, Carolyn Niehaus, Rachel Laufer, Chantel Gibson, and Danielle Garfinkle) have remained active participants on the Half Moon ever since their 7th-grade Voyages of Discovery in 2000 and 2001.

Captain Berg and Jamal climb the rigging.

 

1330 hours: While the work is going on, there's also still time for individual crew members to achieve personal goals or just have a little more fun. A few students go out on short trips in our inflatable support boat, while here, Jamal takes the opportunity to climb the ship's rigging, accompanied by Captain Berg. (They also happen to get their photo on the front page of the next day's Times-Union while they're up there.)

New and former crews join together for lunch on the weather deck.

 

As our past and present Half Moon crews merge to tend the ship and relax over lunch, the time has come to say farewell to the May 2005 Voyage of Discovery.

You can also see more of the trip and our crew on our Learning Pages.

Thanks go out to all of our volunteers and crewmembers for their hard work, to all of the adult and student photographers who helped capture this voyage for posterity, and to the friends, family, faculty, and sponsors whose participation makes these voyages possible.

The Half Moon will return to Albany on another Voyage of Discovery this September. We hope some of you will be onboard!