Andrew Donn
Ray and Cyndi Blanchard
Tony Bielawski
Transferring the gas
The oxygen cylinders
DAY 5
Today, July 29, 1999, started with a severe thunderstorm. This kept us at the dock until nearly 1000 hours. We continued to check the weather at the dive site by monitoring a local marine weather broadcast and the web site for a NOAA weather buoy located near the Monitor, Diamond Shoals Light, NC. This web site is updated with wind, temperature and sea state conditions every hour and can be extremely helpful in determining whether we will go out or stay at the dock for some shore detail.
The indications were that the wind had picked up, but the sea state was still relatively calm. However, upon arrival on site, our marker floats had all been pulled under by the ever increasing current. We made several attempts to raise the floats and locate our downline. The team suited up and was prepared to dive, but, today was not to be.
After making it back to shore, the team turned to moving the supply gas cylinders from an outside location to the BMF (Boat Maintenance Facility) on the Coast Guard station in preparation for the next phase of the expedition. The next phase will have members of NOAA, NURC and the Cambrian Foundation once again working together on the preservation of the Monitor.
Once again, the Coast Guard came through by loaning us a large truck and fork lift to move the supply gas cylinders and various NOAA equipment that had been shipped to the station. The continued support by the US Coast Guard has made it possible to complete our mission.
The entire Cambrian Foundation wishes to congragulate Kyle and Cindy Creamer on the occasion of their tenth wedding anniversary. This is the third year in a row that they have spent their anniversary in the field on a Monitor expedition.