Sea Log - Day Two - Jan. 8th, 2002 (Tuesday)

Today we began our journeys.  Everyone seemed to have a pleasant rest at the Young Hall at Eastern Nazarene College.  And while waiting for the van to pick us up Jeremy took a moment to make friends to a local feline.  This apparently is a regular thing with Jeremy. 

Before studying the literature of the sea or even seeing much of the maritime history of New England I thought it best that the students first experience the nature of the sea in the life forms which inhabit it.  So our first top was the New England Aquarium.  Since I wanted the class to get as much time on the ocean as possible I opted for us to take the Boston Ferry from Quincy to Boston itself.  It's a great way to travel, its only a hop and skip from ENC, and the dock for the ferry is right beside the battleship the USS Salem, or the Sea Witch.  

The USS Salem CA-139, is the world's only preserved heavy cruiser, and is located in the former Bethlehem Steel Quincy Fore River shipyard, once one of the nation's largest shipbuilding enterprises.  She's an impressive sight as Jeremy and Elayna witnessed on this cold but crystal clear January morning.

USS Salem served a distinguished 10 year career as flagship of the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Second Fleet in the Atlantic. During her career she served as host to such notables as the US Ambassador to Spain, John D. Lodge; the Honorable Thomas S. Gates, Undersecretary of the Navy; Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; the Shah of Iran; the President of Lebanon and the King and Queen of Greece.  More information about her, tours and activities can be found at The United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Online.

Getting into Boston from ENC has always been a snap.  When I was a student (one who could not drive because of eye difficulties) it was liberating to be able to walk down to Wollaston station and ride in for just fifty cents.

The Harbor Express is a bit more pricey but it is also one of the most scenic and relaxing ways to travel. The crafts are high speed pontoon boats one of which is visible behind Dave, Jeremy and Elayna. Usually one can sit up on the top deck and see the whole of Boston Harbor fly by.  But while the weather today was wonderful and clear, it was also very cold and the upper decks were judged as just too icy.    Still the group enjoyed the ride, drank coffee, had a donut, and even had a chance to chat with the skipper.  (Ahem, the cockpit shot above is not him: this is a publicity shot.)  Behind us the engines plowed threw the blue, spewing up twin trails of white foam.

You would think there would be no incident, but there was one.  The Harbor Express actually has two stops after leaving Quincy: the airport and the aquarium.  I forgot about the airport, so when the boat stopped I stood up, the gang stood up with me, and all together we trooped off onto the wharf.  As we were exiting the skipper said "Have a nice trip!"

Have a nice trip? I thought, why would I have a trip?  I'm just arriving.  Then I looked about and realized that nothing looked right, no aquarium to be seen anywhere.  I'm sure my students had no idea I could move so fast:

Finally we arrived at the New England Aquarium without further incident.