Monday, May 30, 2011

On top of a mountain

Well its actually a cirque; is an amphitheatre-like valley head, formed at the head of a valley glacier by erosion.  After completing a mapping project in a bog, we moved on to our Glacial mapping . This was the main site we studied , in Doo Lough (like in Shrek). The sun was out, with intermittent light rain and wind. 


While it feels like I've already been here for awhile, there is still more work and other adventures to come.







Tuesday, May 24, 2011

So far

Everything is going swell so far. Turned in our first mapping project and had our first field day.
For mapping, we mapped Omey beach. It was a normal beach with some metamorphic folds. We were there for 3 days. The first and third(the irish pronounce it terd, hehe) days were normal, meaning cold windy and cloudy. The second day was miserable, raining sideways, huge waves and cold. After our project was done and turned in, we had Monday the 23rd free in Galway. We got bused down, I chose to go down early on the 9 a.m. bus. I got in and was surprised that none of the shops were open. After the drive we arrived at 10 and none of the shops opened till 10:30. So I wandered around, tried to follow the locale commuters as they went about their ways. I walked, tried to blend in as I watched the other people as  much as I glanced at the local buildings. I found a nice looking cafe and had my first full irish breakfast.

It consisted of eggs, bacon( more similar to ham), sausage, potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, and white and black pudding. I really didn't have more than a couple of bites of black and white pudding since everything else was so filling. But, I can't really say it even had a taste, just a bland puck.

After breakfast, I continued wandering till hitting up the town square, and spending some time in a coffee shop. After ordering a cappuccino and croissant, I chatted up the waitress. She told me she was from Italy, and here working.  My accent gave away my american-ness, and she went back to her work, as I did mine, continuing to people watch.  The time passed as fast as the passerbys did, and it was already 4. I walked back to where we were to be picked up, and I began to drift off as we drove off to the camp. Immediately after getting in bed I quickly feel asleep at 5 and didn't wake till the next mourning.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

What a start

Left Midland at 5 a.m. May 16th, arrived in Shannon, Ireland 7 a.m. May 17th. Loaded into a bus that morning and departed for our base camp which is the petersbourg education centre. We're four to a room with our own bunks, locking cabinet , one drawer , and a shower/bathroom. In order to get us on the right sleep schedule , we proceeded to go about and do some fairly easy geology exercises to keep us awake. We did a basic rock identification of two outcrops  . After that is was sweet, sweet sleep.


Second day, started with breakfast consisting of  of milk and cereal, rice Krispees, and instant garbage coffee. We also pack our own lunches in the morning,  so we can eat them in the field. Different lunch options were tuna, ham, turkey and peanut butter and jelly. Last nights dinner was baked chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and bread. We'll see what tonights dinner brings. Along with a sandwhich, there were muffins , and fruit. Todays excursion included seeing some  z fold metamorphic marble . 

We also ran into some locals as we entered the "property" ,after seeing us and the local professor from Galway University explained we were geology students and then the locals demanded we talk to them as they wanted to find out what part of the U.S. we were from. 

As the town is about a kilometer away I'll see if myself and other will brave in and see what the town has  to offer.


Friday, May 13, 2011

The Gear:


I've begun packing the technical supplies I've bought so far for my trip.  Various rain gear , and geology supplies, shown above, should keep me in working order throughout my endeavour.  Although the temperature in Ireland shouldn't be to horrific, the trip advisory from our professor  reads " The temperature will probably not drop below 50 ̊F (10 ̊C) but if you are wet, you will be cold!" The Columbia hiking boots, Northface rain jacket, and rain pants should suffice.  While I'm braving the elements, the Estwing rock hammer , GPS,  and Gerber combat  "catalog opening"  knife , and hand lens (not pictured) will help with any mineral or formation identification. Special Rite in the Rain field notebooks, will help me graph and map large areas and stratigraphic columns. Since the notebooks provide waterproof paper (yet to be proven ) I am required to have #3 pencils. Thats right, number three pencils , like the ones from your SAT nightmare where you've forgotten your claculator, and the proper synonym for autodidact. Oh haven't had that dream yet, boom I N C E P T I O N. For medical safety I will be bringing Clariton, Excedrin and athletic tape. If I incur a medical emergency that can't be cured by one or all three I will just rush myself to the nearest medic. Athletic tape heels all (citation needed). 






Geology Fact: 


 Mica Schist  is No. 79