Our time on the barge is getting closer to an end and I thought I would try to express some of the little things that characterize our home. The first thing is the breeze. The breeze on your face feels great on a warm day clears the air of any pesky mosquitoes. Taking a boat ride ensures this wind and on a sunny day a boat ride up the river to a field site is a favorite. (NB: You can usually spot our Russian hosts in the boats because they are generally not wearing life jackets. Polaris folks do – safety first!).
Many days have been cool and overcast and the warmth of the fire our first comfort when returning home. The “banya” or sauna on barge is a source of heat and entertainment on a cold day. Described as the first thing that was constructed on the barge, the sauna means a hot place to sit then a really hot shower. On a warmer day, it means a heating up and then taking a swim off the barge in the Panteleikha.
Sometimes, we even make a little fire to warm wet socks when we’re in the field for an extended amount of time.
We’ve been lucky to have our cook, Valentina this year constantly chiefing up some fantastic meals. What ever she is cooking fills the barge with a new aroma, yesterday it was apricot rolls and often time it is onion and dill. Dill is never on short supply. When we are leaving for a long boat ride, she will scan to ensure adequate layers and then give anyone deemed under-dressed her full-length sweater vest.
We’ve gotten to try the delicacy of fish dried whole, peeled and eaten in it’s salty goodness.
In the evenings or when the barge was mobile, we’ve had the chance to pass the guitar around, listen to and sing along with songs in both Russian and English.
A sound I will never forget is the buzzing of mosquitoes past your ear… all the time. In the morning laying in bed, walking to a field site, walking to the lab, filtering water, sifting for bugs, eating diner, whenever really. The worst is when you get one in your head net. In this case, Max caught this ambitious mother a little late.
There is never a shortage of breathtaking sights. This arctic iris was found north on the Kolyma during one of our stops.
We have frequent visits from the ‘wildlife’ in the area. Nelson is one of the two dalmations in eastern Siberia.
The sound of skipping rocks on the water plunked throughout lunchtime on our way to the tundra.
The feelings on the barge right now are many and mixed, as people work feverishly to finish their projects and we prepare to leave our Siberian home and science family. We are all trying to soak in the little details that make up these vivid experiences. Feeling the cotton grass between our fingers while we can…
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max says
July 25, 2009 at 4:29 pmFantastic post Kalya. It makes me miss being there even more…
Max
Monique Kantor says
July 25, 2009 at 9:37 pmYet another heartwarming blog–all except for the mosquitoes, of course. As was written in the New York Times article, you really seem to be the luckiest students in the world. I’ve been meaning to thank others who have helped make your experience there so successful–the boat drivers and navigators, the chef who seems to double as the collective mom of the group. It sounds as though they are an integral part of your group.
Here’s a post from home: picked a bunch of nearly wild blueberries today. You think sifting through water samples is tedious work; try sifting through 25 lbs of tiny blueberries, weeding out the twigs, leaves, greenies, and teeny spiders that end up in the pail! Brian, there should be a FEW (berries, that is) left by the time you get home. Also, we conducted our own informal anthrofaunal research and discovered that, while we are away, contrary to previous belief, Bebo sits on the 3rd step and howls. And howls. And howls. How sad is that?
As you all prepare for the return home, remember that your work will continue to make a significant impact on our understanding of and reaction to climate change, that the connections you have made will remain, and that those of us waiting at home are standing here with arms open wide.
Debbie Denfeld says
July 26, 2009 at 6:28 amWow – thanks for allowing us to be the fly on the wall and taking it all in too, as you post the amazing photos and descriptions of what you see and do with emotion. We’ve enjoyed the journey too. Have a good trip back to the states.
betsy says
July 26, 2009 at 4:47 pmThanks for a great description, both written and visual, of the living and the goodness of that in addition to the arduousness of this trip. Wishing all of you a safe and uneventful trip home.
Carl Janicek says
July 27, 2009 at 6:28 pmWhat a great crew, my best wishes for all of you and your hard work… It appears that you have all worked for and been given a gift of many textures. I for one have certainly been enriched by being able to read all the new entries, see the great photos and generally share in your adventures from afar… I loved the NY Times coverage too, and I hope many more folks are appreciating the efforts you are making to better understand our world… and it’s fragile life… safe travels!
Gratitude, Carl Janicek