This was the first morning when waking up and looking out of all the port holes, seeing nothing but the sea in every direction. The first picture that I caught is not the best picture as it is through my porthole, but the sunrise was wonderful. It was truly a sight to see, and everyone was ready to get outside and take in the sights. The weather decks remained closed during day work today due to the relative wind causing safety concerns. All personnel had to fulfill their duties while remaining within the safety of the watertight and weathertight doors.

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the importance of what we call red drink. Red drink is a Gatorade-like drink that is always available and is filled with electrolytes. When water is pulled from the ocean to make drinking water, it goes through a reverse osmosis system. It essentially goes through a series of filter chambers at very high pressure that eliminate the particles like salt and silt that make it undrinkable. When I spoke with first class cadet Jacob Evans, he told me that there was high pressure in the reverse osmosis system so they had to back water to relieve the pressure and any blockages that may be in the filters.

The reason that it is so important to drink this electrolyte-infused water is because as the fresh water is created, all the minerals are removed along with the things we cannot drink like the salt. Electrolytes are important because they balance the amount of water in your body and allow your cells to intake nutrients. If you do not have electrolytes, you can become dehydrated, a concern for the engineers that are working in the engine room which can reach temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit as well as the deck hands which can be working eight hours under the hot sun during day work.

During dinner, the captain announced the ship that the weather decks were no longer secured, that the weather had calmed enough so it was not a concern to our safety, and we were all allowed to go outside. Immediately, those that were eating dinner grabbed their trays, cleaned them off, and went to their rooms to grab their camping chairs to sit outside. The breeze was wonderful and there was joy all around as everyone basked in the sunlight and watched the sun go down. We will make our way through the Strait of Juan de Fuca soon and to Port Angeles to pick up our pilot who will guide the vessel into the Puget Sound and dock at 66 in Seattle.

Everyone on the fantail enjoys the sunlight, fresh air, and cool breeze