Sea Camp!!

It's finally here!  

Sahara (and I) had to wake up a little earlier then usual. 

 She had to get to school by 6:15 to have her bags 'checked' for illegals.  She drove herself there and by 7:10 they were on the road.  

(Her friend Paige gave me a ride to her car later to pick it up and bring it home)

12 HOURS LATER...

(on a school bus, YUCK!)

They arrive at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

This picture was taken I believe on the way to dinner at Isle of Capri Casino.

She took it with her phone and said the bus hit a bump at the same time...causing the wave.  I have never seen something like that!  I'd expect it to be blurry, not wavy!

At Isle of Capri

This is her roomy Kendall.  

At least they look like they like each other.  So hopefully there won't be a bunch of drama!

Day 2

They FROZE in the dorm room last night!  Apparently they couldn't turn down the air without affecting everyone, so they 'rednecked' it (according to Sahara)

The following sign in the dorm explains why it is so cold.

The report I got for today is that they netted off the beach. 

The picked through everything to find small fish, shrimp, crabs, and clear tiny jellyfish.

Back at the Laboratory, they dissected a pregnant shark.  Sahara said the baby sharks were really cute.

She said one of the teachers decided to keep all the 'seniors' together, leaving out Sahara and Kendall.  That teacher also chose a certain Junior to be in the 'senior' group.  How convenient that all the people chosen to be in this 'senior' group all are the wealthy kids.  Whatever, Sahara said she really couldn't stand to be stuck with that teacher anyway and is having fun in the group she's in.

Some of the kids in her group.

Sahara and Kendall

Day 3

Today, Sahara and her group left bright and early for Ship Island.  

They had to sift through the sand for shark teeth.  Sahara found 4.

She said the crabs were hysterical to watch.  They would "attack' with their pincer claw out doing their side-ways walk.

They also got to tour Fort Massachusetts.

They have to keep adding beach to one side of the island.  The fort use to be on the center of the island but the island is moving and the beach is disappearing on one side so if they don't add new beach to the disappearing side, the Fort will end up in the ocean and under water.  

Back to the University for dinner and to pick up airbrushed shirts they ordered.

All the Seniors (including Sahara and Kendall  this time!)

I Think they say Senior on the back and Biloxi on the bottom and have a picture of a light house and sunset.  I think that light house actually doesn't exist anymore because hurricane Katrina took it out.  On the front they have their name.

The Senior girls below.

Day 4

Today Sahara's group went fishing for sharks out on a boat.  The boat they were suppose to take had a bathroom issue.  Wasn't working I guess.  So they had to take a bigger boat.  She was glad because she said the smaller boat looked like it was off of the Jaws movies!  

 Their group caught the largest shark at 13 kilos or about 29 pounds, and as long as and almost as long as the 'wrangler' Jeremy.  They were all Black Fin sharks.  

This his him being taken from the water.

They grow to around 6 feet like this guy.

The day before, in the same area, a 10 foot Tiger shark was caught!

Sahara and her group had to catch them, weigh and measure them, and take blood samples.  Then release them.  She said the grossest part was trying to get the circular hook out of the cartilage of their mouths.  They were bleeding and the sound was like a crunching noise.

They were not aloud to actually 'wrangle' the sharks.  The pros had to do that.  But this poor girl didn't make it so they passed it around for pictures.

They also caught a manta ray and before measuring the wingspan, had to cut off the barb for safety.  Sahara couldn't remember what the wing span was.

Back to the university for dinner and then the plan was goofy golf.  I don't know if they made it there or not but they ended up doing some shopping and Sahara sent me pictures of prom dresses.  Hahaha - we actually bought her prom dress for next year when they all went on 60% off in June!

While out shopping, they found a Hard Rock.  She said they went in but just looked around.

It's 11 pm and she is packing for her 12 hour ride home tomorrow.

Day 5

Up at 5 am and on the bus by 7.  She finally makes it home at 6 pm.