We Won This One…
If y’all remember our day two last time around was less than successful. We spent all morning searching for oil but found nothing. Not true this time around.
Today we woke up early and headed to some rock jetties and a beach in Gulfport, MS and BAM! oil scrapings and tar balls out the wazoo. The words gooey, squisky, fresh, and snot-esque come to mind. After such an awesome start no one really cared that we didn’t find oil at our second site, another beach a little farther east of Gulfport. We then made out way to Ship Island once again. Contrary to popular belief we do actually find oil on Ship Island, it is not just a time for all of us to play the tourist (scientists need vitamin D too). We saw dolphins, rays, random fish and most importantly OIL! We walked to the western tip of the island and walked back on the bay side. This was done, not because we expected to blaze new trails in tar ball exploration, but because we were trying to outrun the second electrical storm of our journey. To our surprise, we found massive amounts of oil, and risking life and limb, we slowed our return to collect numerous samples. After a picnic of random foods found at the local Win Dixie, the storm brought wind and rain sweeping across the island.
The ferry arrived and couldn’t dock because the waves were too strong, so we got to sit around in the rain for a little longer. Finally we took our leave of Ship Island, soaked, tired, but oh-so-happy. We then made our way to Houma, LA where we will recharge for our last day of collecting tomorrow in the Bayou!