Grocery Shopping and Sea Monsters

Today was my first day off since arriving on Sapelo Island and so naturally I needed to get some grocery shopping done, but because Sapelo is such a small island with very few inhabitants there isn't a grocery store. Thus beganthe incredible journey that is getting groceries when living on Sapelo Island.

The only way on or off Sapelo is by ferry or private boat... which for us means ferry. And because there is minimal traffic on and off the island there are only three ferries in each direction each day. The schedule is set up to facilitate people working or children going to schoo  on the mainland. But on Sunday's there are only two ferries. What this boils downto is that there is no quick way to get grocieries... it is alway a full day outing.

So, my romate, Erin's and my day started at 8:15 am (remember this is our only day off this week) when we met the ferry to take us over to the mainland.

"Katie Underwood", our trusty steed.

Once we get over to the mainland grocery stores are pretty easy to find… (although avocados at these grocery stores less easy). There is a Pigly Wigly in Darien about 1o minutes from the Ferry dock and a Super Walmart in Brunswick about 20 more minutes from the dock. But because our ferry back to Sapelo isn’t until 4:30 in the afternoon, it isn’t like we can go buy a week’s worth of chicken and produce to sit in the car all day, so we have to plan strategically.

What did we do?

Well this was our plan: we’d head up to the Brunswick (the bigger of the two towns), do the majority of our grocery shopping there, get lunch, go see a movie (we saw “How to Train Your Pet Dragon”, it was AWESOME), and then pick up our cold items from the Pigly Wigly right before boarding the ferry home to Sapelo.

The problem was that it wasn't even 2pm when we arrived back at the Pigly Wigly.
 
So we discovered the Darien Outlet Mall, a mall that on it's own is not all that special, but when we went inside the Darien Visitor Information Office, you'll never guess who we met.
 

Altie, short for Altmaha-ha, Darien's Sea Monster, an ancient marine reptile who has been residing in the estuaries surounding the Altimaha river since the 1700’s, with more recent sighting by Boy Scout troops and fisherman since.

Erin and Altie.
 
Anyway after goofing around with Altie for a while Erin and I went to the Pigly Wigly, finished our grocery shopping, and caught our ferry ride back to the island. Nothing is simple when working in the field.
 

So where am I now?

Good question.

I am on a little barrier island off the coast of Georgia called Sapelo Island. I got here this past Tuesday. I have a research technican position here for the summer with Dr. Steven Pennings from the University of Houston. I am helping him, and his graduatestudents and post-doc look at how herbivores help shape the salt marsh community.

Now, there isn't a giant sea bird nest every three feet, like there was on Midway... but the Georgia coast has a charm all its own.

 Salt marsh at sunset.

Our private beach.

The fairy dock at sunset.

Update: Canada?

I GOT INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL!!

For those of you who don't know getting into graduate school in marine ecology is currently on a difficulty level compaible to getting into medical school. In fact I know someone who decided to go to med-school after being rejected by graduate program... who ever thought of become an M.D. would be someone's back up plan?

Anyway... I've applied three admission rounds and 16 applications. But I'me really glad it took me three admission rounds and 16 applications to get in, because it took me three admission round and 16 applications to find the right place for me.

Starting in September I am going to be a full time Master's Student at the University of Brithish Columbia in Vancouver Canada. I will be joining the Chris Harley Lab where I hope to be investigating the impacts of ocean acidification and increases sea surface temperatures on trophic ecology  (things eating eachother) in algal dominated communities. More on the project to come in the fall.

So what does one do to celebrate when one get's into graduate school?

I threw a Mexican Train and Moustache Party!

Everyone playing Mexican Train.

Family resemblance, much?

And a very beautiful picture of me feeding Sahel's beautiful baby boy, Sacha... oh, and, yeah, I have a Moustache?

Vancouver has no idea what's coming for it.

Update: Kauai

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for not posting in a month. Life is crazy, but here is a brief summary of what I have been up to since I left Midway.

After departing Midway, I went to stay with my aunt, uncle ,and cousin on Kauai for a month. We did all sorts of fun stuff: I learned how to paddle board, we went hiking, went to the beach, went zip-lining on, my cousin, Heather's birthday, and even avoided a Tsunami (which was actually the biggest none exent ever... but oh well).

Ok... pictures:

Me, Aunt Jenn, and Cousin Heather look so cute in our Zip-Lining gear.

Heather, Jenn, and Uncle Mitch prepare to cross the bridge... this is the scarriest part of the Zip-Lining tour.

Me at the beach where the filmed the beached Minnow  for Giligans Island.

Uncle Mitch makes a very nice pin-up at Giligan's Beach.

Heather and I swimming in the tide pools at Giligan's Beach.

The ladies having their picture taken with the Quest Crew!! (Last season's America's Best Dance Crew winners) We saw them perform the night before.

I love this picture of Heather and I by the red dirt water fall.