Sampling Escapades
Alright, so everyone knows that today was the day to go and get my samples. Simple right? Not too cold here at the moment its about 40 degrees out, but cloudy and supposed to snow. Anyway I took a freshman with me....poor girl. Off we went after I had neatly arranged everything and pre-labeled all the things we would need, nice little bit of OCD kicking in. Well I decided to wear waders because I knew I would be in the water and wasn't in the mood to fill my boots with freezing water.
Off we go to the first site...our research prof wanted to go too so she just made things difficult and we had to wait around for half an hour for her to be ready. I climbed down the ditch right next to a bridge and stepped on the ice, well stomped really as I was wanting what was under it. Of course it broke right as I slipped. Managed not to get wet and passed my brand spanking new cell phone off to my helper. Well the water is barely above freezing at the moment so holding my hand under with the jar to get the samples was well....COLD.
The second site wasn't too bad, I was wondering if I would be able to get through the ice there. Somehow I managed it, but stepped half on half off a piece of concrete, the water almost went over my hip waders [because of course they don't fit right].
The third site was right next to a train bridge. The train goes through town at 3 pm everyday [and we were a few miles outside of town]. As I finish gathering the water samples and get the instruments from my helper to get the temp, pH, and coordinates I hear a clicking and a clacking. I looked up and asked her if that was the train, since we were sampling directly under the bridge--she said no. I wasn't so sure so I took two steps out from under the bridge to look up and lo and behold it's a locomotive. I ran, almost feel again stupid waders. She ran too. Trains aren't that scary when you are standing on the same level as them. Let me tell you they are TERRIFYING when you are standing under a wooden bridge that they are running across. Makes you sit and calculate the odds of the bridge not collapsing.
So after almost needing a pants change it was off to the last site, the lake. The lake just happens to be completely frozen, imagine that since it is winter. Instead of being like the fishermen and looking for the thick ice, I had to hunt around for ice thin enough to break when I jumped on it--in waders that have absolutely NO traction on the ice.
Now that I am back and testing in the lab....I am thinking I deserve a pizza for supper and a beer. Few more hours and I can eat.
Oh, and the ice certainly didn't deter me, I managed to get all of my water samples even though it is winter.
Off we go to the first site...our research prof wanted to go too so she just made things difficult and we had to wait around for half an hour for her to be ready. I climbed down the ditch right next to a bridge and stepped on the ice, well stomped really as I was wanting what was under it. Of course it broke right as I slipped. Managed not to get wet and passed my brand spanking new cell phone off to my helper. Well the water is barely above freezing at the moment so holding my hand under with the jar to get the samples was well....COLD.
The second site wasn't too bad, I was wondering if I would be able to get through the ice there. Somehow I managed it, but stepped half on half off a piece of concrete, the water almost went over my hip waders [because of course they don't fit right].
The third site was right next to a train bridge. The train goes through town at 3 pm everyday [and we were a few miles outside of town]. As I finish gathering the water samples and get the instruments from my helper to get the temp, pH, and coordinates I hear a clicking and a clacking. I looked up and asked her if that was the train, since we were sampling directly under the bridge--she said no. I wasn't so sure so I took two steps out from under the bridge to look up and lo and behold it's a locomotive. I ran, almost feel again stupid waders. She ran too. Trains aren't that scary when you are standing on the same level as them. Let me tell you they are TERRIFYING when you are standing under a wooden bridge that they are running across. Makes you sit and calculate the odds of the bridge not collapsing.
So after almost needing a pants change it was off to the last site, the lake. The lake just happens to be completely frozen, imagine that since it is winter. Instead of being like the fishermen and looking for the thick ice, I had to hunt around for ice thin enough to break when I jumped on it--in waders that have absolutely NO traction on the ice.
Now that I am back and testing in the lab....I am thinking I deserve a pizza for supper and a beer. Few more hours and I can eat.
Oh, and the ice certainly didn't deter me, I managed to get all of my water samples even though it is winter.