Teacher Aboard

If cutting through a mountain were not enough of a feat, the conditions of its construction in the tropical heat of a jungle filled with predators deserve special recognition (much notice). It is a place where the jungle meets the coast and disease ridden mosquitoes flourish (grow abundantly). Alligators, poisonous snakes, and scorpions were all a threat to the workers who struggled to make this dream come true.

As Pride II pulled in behind the larger ships, she was dwarfed by their presence. The immense size of these ships reinforces the needs of modern commerce (trade). Knowing that the Panama Canal operates 24 hours a day reminds me of how dependent nations are on the exchange of products. Imagine the days when trading ships were the size of Pride II and were required to sail an additional 3,418 miles around South America to deliver goods from Asia. I wrote about going through the canal in my January 10 log. You might want to check it out again.

The importance of this canal has many people worried about its future. Since it was built in the early 1900s, the Canal has been protected and managed by the United States. However, In December 1999, the Government of Panama will take ownership and management of the Canal. This is according to a treaty signed by the US and Panama over a decade ago. Everyone who depends on the Canal - shippers, governments, the military - are all anxious about how it will operate after the hand over. Since you've been through the Canal twice as virtual stowaways, I'm sure you will follow future developments in Panama closely.

THE CARIBBEAN SEA

One of the many benefits of living in America is the abundance of natural wonders we have nearby to explore. As Pride II makes her way home across the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, beneath her hull is a world filled with fascinating and colorful creatures. The warm salty water in this part of the world is home to a dazzling array of corals. Corals are tiny animals related to jellyfish. They have an algae type plant living in their tissues so they must have clear warm water to grow successfully. Just like jellyfish that capture fish in their tentacles, corals sting their prey (food) to paralyze it.

Some corals, like fire coral, can give you a painful welt if you bump them while diving. Among the branching arms of the coral, many unusual animals hide and search for food. Bright colors help fish find a mate, or help them escape from predators. Sometimes a fish will have a large spot near its tail. The spot is often mistaken by larger fish for an eye. Thus they expect the small fish to swim in the opposite direction. This confusion (mistake) may be all the time the little fish needs to escape.

In some areas of the Caribbean, such as Jamaica, the waters have been overfished. This means that so many fish have been caught that only smaller fish now inhabit (live on) the reefs. Researchers are working with the local fishermen to encourage them to use nets with larger holes so the small fish can escape. The fish need to live long enough to grow, reproduce, and lay eggs to rebuild the fish population. Meanwhile, tourists who enjoy SCUBA diving want the local people to protect the reefs. Divers are not interested in diving where there are no colorful fish to watch. For you divers out there, the island of Bonaire (near Venezuela) has protected reefs that are popular with divers. Meanwhile you guys back home can help out.

Do NOT buy tropical fish! Most of them come from the Pacific islands where many fish die as people dynamite or lightly poison the reef to stun and capture these few fish for you. Instead, keep a fresh water fish aquarium as a hobby, and go to the National Aquarium in Baltimore to enjoy the beauty of tropical fish. I should also mention, as Pride II closes the distance to Florida, that John Pennekamp State Park is located on the island of Key Largo just south of Miami. It is an underwater state park that protects the coral reef so park visitors can enjoy the wonders of this watery world. Whether you choose to snorkel or take a glass bottom boat ride, the beauty of these crystal clear waters and colorful fish is not to be missed!

A BIG FISH STORY

While we are telling fish stories, here's one last note. The crew caught a 100 pound tuna on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal! It proved to be real struggle to get the fish aboard. Nevertheless, having managed to land it on deck, 80 pounds of fillets will certainly make a fair number of tuna sandwiches, tuna steak dinners, tuna salad, tuna helper, and tuna...?

Just a reminder to you land dwellers, buy ONLY tuna fish with the "dolphin safe" picture on the can! Dolphins are mammals that breathe air. Many of them get caught in tuna fishing nets where they squeal in terror as they drown. The cans with this label are packed by fishermen who have tried to set the dolphins free. Having "played with the dolphins" on the way out to Hawaii (I wrote about it in my March 12 log), everyone on Pride II loves these intelligent friends and appreciates your efforts to protect them. You can do even more by participating in programs sponsored by the artist, Wyland, who paints whales and dolphins. (Wyland has painted a large whale mural in Baltimore near Oriole Park at Camden Yards.)

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AT SEA

If you had to ask me to select one issue that gave me the most concern on this long voyage, it was the possibility of a medical emergency at sea. At home, emergency services can arrive at your doorstep in a matter of minutes. When you are hundreds of miles out to sea, land-sea rescue helicopters are beyond their flying range; small planes can not land in the ocean. Once you are "out there," you are basically on your own in dealing with an emergency situation. Anticipating (preparing for) this possibility, Pride II uses a medical phone service whereby the crew can use a satellite telephone to call a doctor 24 hours a day. The ship also has a medical kit containing hospital supplies and medicines. The on-call doctor can instruct the captain and crew on how to deal with the situation over the phone.

Also, Captain Miles and some of the crew have had first aid training. On the trip home across the ocean, we had the good fortune of having Pamela Coughlin aboard as crew. Pamela is a registered nurse and was able to watch over Chris Flansberg's nasty rope burns on his hands. The bottom line is "an ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure." I have heard both captains remind the crew before leaving for long passages of the importance of thinking things through carefully and acting responsibly. Safety and clean health habits are important. This includes treating small cuts with care. A small wound can be a huge problem if it becomes infected half way across an ocean.

HALLOWEEN AT SEA

As Pride II leaves her Central American adventures behind, it would be a huge oversight not to mention the crew's contribution to America's Halloween celebration. Not to be outdone by Mexico's Day of the Dead on Nov 1-2 (I wrote about that in my October 24 log), the crew rummaged through the bits and pieces of odd treasures in seabags and hanging lockers for items to make costumes. It is simply amazing how ordinary items, with a little bit of imagination, transformed (changed) Pride II's crew into an odd assortment of characters. Like opening night of a grand affair, the creations were revealed on the aft deck at the magic pumpkin hour of 1700 hours (5 PM). The characters who crawled out from below decks to make their appearance on this Halloween night would have been quite a sight to any passing ship.

• Princess Laiea (Christina Dyer) with a life size paper cutout of Chewbacca.
• Pride's Foremast after Hurricane Madeline (Mike Lawnsby in broken mast hoops)
• Superman (Mike Rogers)
• The Mad Scientist (Chris Flansberg)
• Chris Flansberg (as interpreted by Stephanie Reynolds)
• Pancho Villa (KC Hinkley)
• The Cook from Beetle Bailey (Tina Koch)
• An Eight Ball (Caroline Smith)
• Tinkerbell (guest crew Stan Fowler)
• And the 'ol One-eyed Pirate himself (played by Captain Parrott)

Even for a last minute "improv" (make do with items you have), Pride II's Halloween line-up was 4 thumbs up by my standards.

I should also mention that if you know some folks who would enjoy the adventures of both the high seas and the crazy antics of the crew, Pride II takes passengers. For instance, five members of the Walton family from Connecticut and Michigan sailed on the ship from Los Angeles, dodged two hurricanes off Mexico, almost missed their plane from Acapulco, and loved every minute! You can find out about being a guest crew member on Pride's Web Page. There will be lots of great sailing opportunities next spring and summer.

As we head for Miami, our thoughts are now turned toward the familiar waters of the East Coast. Join me in the next log where we will take a few excursions into America's favorite vacation state - sunny Florida!

USA or Bust,
Leslie Bridgett

YOUR THOUGHTS

1. List the ways in which shipping has changed since the days of sailing ships of 1812. (Include the role of the Panama Canal, travel time, types of goods, means of power, etc.)
2. What would you enjoy most about traveling through the Panama Canal? Explain your choice.
3. Place the following organisms (living things) in order in a food chain: snake, seed, eagle, mouse. Use a resource to find out what the following coral reef animals eat: mollusks, starfishs, and sea urchins.
4. Draw a SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diver on a tropical reef surrounded by inhabitants (things that live there). Label the organisms (living things).
5. How do tropical fish differ from the fish in Chesapeake Bay?
6. How does your purchase of a tropical fish in the USA harm tropical fish in the Pacific Ocean?
7. If you were leaving on a four day backpacking trip into the wilderness, why would it be important to take a well equipped first aid kit?
8. If you could be anything you wanted for Halloween, what would you be? Why did you make this choice? Draw your imaginary costume.
9. Considering that Hurricane Mitch recently took the lives of 10,000 people in Honduras, and the 235 foot tall ship, Fantome, was lost in the storm with a crew of 31 aboard, tell how you would feel if you were a crew member leaving Panama to sail home.
10. On November 27, Pride II will sail home into Baltimore. Some of the crew who sailed her to Asia will join the ship for the Homecoming. Write a letter to the captains and crew telling them your thoughts on their accomplishments during this historic voyage. Send your letters to:

    Letters to the Crew
    Pride of Baltimore, Inc.
    World Trade Center, 401 East Pratt St., Suite 222
    Baltimore, MD 21202
    

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