Cruise Day 5: Nick's view

Day 5. We're going through stations like they're chocolate-covered espresso beans.  With the ideal weather and the almost gratuitous wildlife, it sometimes feels more like a Gulf of Maine vacation cruise.  I'm telling you, it's non-stop action.  Alas, I fear our poor young grad students may be getting spoiled.  Yet there are likely many more Maine cruises in their futures to set them straight...

I'd like to take a quick interlude to make a mention of our vessel, the R/V Stellwagen.  She's a 70ft converted shrimp trawler, 20ft wide, 50 tons.  The engine is a truck engine, manufactured to move tractor trailers.  This is uncommon, but works well and is really neat.  I've included a picture, so you aren't forced to imagine a tractor in a hamster-wheel powering the boat.