Desert again...

Today was the first day I actually wanted to leave the field as soon as possible! We were working down in the desert area near the nuclear power plant. I was so hot all my energy was sapped within a couple of hours. And following the routine so far, we had lunch at 4.30!

But we went out with Chuck again which is great because he knows so much and he answers all my stupid questions! We looked at some pyroclastic flow deposits and had lots of discussion on whether the deposits are the same and we were seeing a transition or whether they were different deposits. It was both reassuring and disheartening. Reassuring because everyone had a different opinion and no-one knew the answer, so I didn't feel stupid when I pitched in, and disheartening because if these guys with all their years of experience don't know, how the hell am I supposed to????

Chuck's wife Laura is here too. She is a computer scientist, but often joins him on these trips and has become well known in the volcanology world in her own right. She knows a lot about tephra deposits and asks lots of difficult questions to make everyone think outside the box! They make a really great team and are good fun to be around.