Avast, me Hearties!

'Tis Talk like a Pirate Day (09/19/07)and we're setting sail for the Land o' Ned. After sailing solo for provisions in the City o' commerce, we dropped anchor for a spell by Boulder Crik and took on some scurvy seadogs if'n ever there ever were any! We whipped the crew into shape and set sail for Ned where we took on more crew and supercargo. Arrr, but one of the new crew had sailed with the Cap'n before and signed on as First Mate. Now, with a seasoned crew and Fearless Cap'n, we set sail for the Institute.

The crew has landed and starts to enjoy the galley fare.

The Cap'ns manifest lists the following crew: First Mate Marci, Seamen First class Jim and Don, Cabin Wenches Karen and Bev, Lt. Thomas and his Faithful Assistant, Commander Bryant, of the good ship CU. Also listed is 1905 pounds of dry ice as supercargo.

and Cabin Hound Gillian...

As soon as the victuals were scarfed and a round of Rum for all was quaffed, the crew got down to serious business.....

The Cap'n uncovers the load and the crew start to move some ice....

A line is formed and almost a ton of ice is handed off to be loaded into the shed, where it has to be picked up aagain and loaded into the cryonic chamber.....

When we first open the cryonic chamber, we like to check out the little Crystal Crutters......they don't last very long and they are pretty fragile...

Amazing intricacies in the crystalline growth patterns....each is based on the hexagonal structure of the water molecule.

Here are the left over blocks, approximately 110 pounds worth. They were added to the approximately 90 pounds of mass left in the bottom and it was noted that there was about 215 pounds of pellets left...a total of 415.

When we were done loading the approximately 1900 pounds of new ice into the chamber with the approximately 415 pounds of old ice, we should have about 2300 pounds. Estimates of chamber fullness based on experience indicates an amount closer to 2100 pounds.

The crew closes up and seals the chamber, cleans up and closes the shed. They all pause for a quick shot and a hearty YO-HO-HO and a Bottle of Old Granddad....

As we bid a fond farewell to the Land of Neder and set sail for home, the Cap'n and his skeleton crew leave most of the rest of the crew behind and wish them a safe and prosperous voyage.