May 1st
Today we participated in the Layton Baptist Church service, a tradition of the Goshen College Marine Biology class stretching back more than forty years. We visited with the locals and sang two hymns as special music: “Come, Thou Fount” and “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” from the old red hymnal.
Following the service, we shipped off to Islamorada and the world famous Fish Company restaurant. With seats right out on the water, we took in the pleasant sea breeze and observed massive tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) churning the water below us. Fresh lobster, crab, shrimp, scallops, and mahi-mahi represent just a few of the items sampled from the menu. Having satisfied our appetites, we left Islamorada behind and set off for Marathon and Sombrero Beach.
Though it was the weekend, the beach was not overly crowded; we swam and played sand volleyball all afternoon. Tired and satisfied from the day at the beach, we returned to the Marine Biology center, just in time to watch Dr. Duane Kauffmann pull in his second of three nurse sharks of the day!
For the rest of the evening, we began to formulate our research questions and finalize our research proposals –they’re due tomorrow night!
-Reena Ramos ‘18
