Stream Trippin'

Yesterday was finishing up work in watershed 17, back to the dorm for data entry and equipment organization, Indian food, and The Matrix. I have to say, watershed 17 is one of my absolute favorites to work in, the way the sunlight hits the trees, the commanding nature of the pines, the squishy moss and apple green ferns that line the ground...it makes you feel like you're the only person in the world who has ever laid eyes on it. I like that feeling, even if it isn't true.

It was Nitin's last day, so as such he offered up his services as chef for the night to cook us all some authentic egg curry. Being a bit skeptical about any food that contains a spice I've never tried before, I was unsure of what to expect. However, it not only exceeded my expectations, but I might be begging Nitin to cook more often when he returns. From now until mid-June however, it's just me, Joey, and Catherine. Shortly after his departure, his empty bed along with any others, were filled with a sudden influx of newcomers last night. The dorms are now at full capacity and everywhere you go there are new scientists settling into the Coweeta routine; which from what I've observed consists mainly of eating, sleeping, netflix, and reading with the small exception of almost continuous banjo music. I know what you're thinking...banjo in the mountains?...unheard of. Cliche as it sounds, i'm not kidding. As for what I did today, basically this (see video below) only instead of the ground picture a muddy stream with rocks and crawfish and instead of lasers, picture rotten fallen trees, spider webs, and snakes...

If you're not the imaginative type, I spent most of my day trekking through this...

Not exactly an easy task, but I am proud to admit that although I found a total of 5 ticks crawling up my pants throughout the day, not one got to sink its grimy little teeth into my flesh. As to why I had to spend the day crunching through fallen rhododendron, we were measuring the length of the stream within one of the watersheds. So if you ever wondered how someone knows the length of a creek running through some random mountains, that's how. 

And that's about all I have to say about my past two days here, so in parting, I'll leave you with the following picture of a spider I found right outside the dorm. If you know anything about me, you will know of my hatred for these 8-legged beasts, so naturally you can imagine my horror at the existence of this particular species...