Under the Ice

The Observation  Tube

Last year, we heard rumors about an "Ob Tube".  A metal tube that was put down through the ice and projected into the water. Supposedly,  you could then climb down into and do some underwater Observations.   This year the “Ob Tube” was installed and we were able to climb down there!  It was awesome.  Because the tube is out on the sea ice, you have to formally go and get a radio and have a travel buddy.  For this Adventure, my partner in crime was Gracie.  When we arrived there was no one around so we could spend as much time down there as we wanted.   When you first get down there, your eyes are drawn to the ice above you and the shoots of ice that are growing down from the ceiling.  Then you start to notice the ground and wonder what all is down there.  There were long white slivers all over the ground and big white prickly urchins.  There were big blogs of purple or black all over the ground.   Next I looked into the distance and saw jellyfish slowly swimming through the water and as I went to take a picture of it I found my camera kept blurring and as i investigated I realized it was refocusing to the tiny tiny creature that were swimming all around the tube.   As my eyes adjusted to following those tiny things I realized that there was a swarm of orangeish minnows in the middle distance. I was shocked that I had missed them originally as they were clearly a cloud of fish and as I looked above them i noticed slightly larger school of silver fish that slowly circled the Ob Tube.  About this time I looked back down at the ground and realized the big blogs of color might be massive jelly like things that were alive because you could seem them periodically draw together and then spread out again.  Then I noticed some starfish and about this time I heard my first seal.  it was so clear and loud you thought they were going to swim right up to you, but alac and alas, they were nowhere to be seen. 

In general I haven’t been doing to much touring this year. I’ve been settling into my job and my schedule 2-12.  I’m hoping to get a bit more done as the season progressed but the Ob Tube has certainly been a highlight and i hope to get to go down there once more before it gets closed down for the season. 

Dad Keller in Memphis

Hello!

Not only do I love a good roadtrip, but my Dad does too.   He left MA on September 6th on his way out to visit his brother in Albuquerque and seeing as how we were going to cross paths he stopped in at Memphis to visit.   This was well timed as he arrived on my birthday and was able to come out to dinner with us.
I was expecting him to need to hit the road early the next morning but as he's not pressed for time he stayed the next day and we went to do a little sightseeing.

We started our day with, you guessed it, a meal! We went down to Beale street and had a BBQ lunch at the Blues City Cafe. We ordered the platter to share: a half-rack, a catfish filet, coleslaw, baked beans, french fries and texas toast.  At Matthew's recommendation we also ordered the Beef Stew. Everything was good.  Not over the top awesome, but tasty.  The ribs were tender, the coleslaw tasted fresh and the beans were cooked with peppers-a unique flavor.  The atmosphere, however, was festive and fun.

After lunch we wandered around Beale street be-bopping in and out of all the tourist shops selling Elvis tee-shirts, shot glasses with drinking slogans on them, bedazzled hats, "My aunt went to Memphis and all I got was this lousy shirt" shirts.   You know the store.   We went into a music store owned by Clyde Hopkins, The "Godfather of Blues".   He was standing outside saying hello to people and inviting them in.  I linked someone else's video of it. 

After wandering the half block of Beale street we got hungry and wandered into a store with an ice cream parlor where we got Milk Shakes, ice cream and root beer floats. While sitting there I convinced them of the excitement to be had at the Peabody hotel and we wandered over there next.

Peabody Ducks and the DuckMaster

                                                             














The Peabody Hotel is home to the Peabody Ducks.  The Ducks live in the hotel lobby fountain.  The attending DuckMaster (not kidding) brings the ducks down in the elevator every day at 11am and then brings them back up at 5pm.  They roll out a red carpet, play a loud orchestral number with trumpets and drums and march the ducks out with as much pomp and circumstance as possible.  The DuckMaster then hovers around the fountain all day making sure people don't poke or harass the ducks.  I chatted with him and this is what I learned:  The ducks are wild.  They come from a farm outside of the city. The owner puts out feed to lure wild ducks down and from the ducks that come he picks out the ones that are around 1 year old and seem to have the right temperament. He trims their right wing and brings them to the Peabody.  The work there for about 90 days and then he brings them a fresh batch of ducks and takes the other ones away to be released.  He tags their legs so they won't get accidentally chosen a second time.   Fascinating.