Homer, Alaska, has the best volunteers!! Where else could one call up a handful of people, and have them be willing to drop what they're doing and come help on the spur of the moment? That's what happened yesterday when the gray whale skeleton project hit another milestone. It was time for the skull to come into play, but retrieval of it was going to be a bit tricky and more hands were needed than what was on deck. A few phone calls we had instant volunteers! A special thanks to James Dolma, Bobbie Copeland-McKinney, William Foster and Fred Harnisch for being those instant volunteers who joined forces with Wesley and Cheyenne Carty, and Lee, to retrieve the skull and get it inside the workshop yesterday.


(click on photos to enlarge)

As you can see, the skull was in a rather out-of-the-way spot. It has been
stored (close to thirteen years) under the eve of the museum workshop.

Ropes were attached to the skull in strategic places.

With the cart that Wesley and Cheyenne had built for it at the ready, folks grabbed an end of each rope and started to slowly lower the 150 to 200 pound skull from its perch.

Ever so slowly and carefully the skull was lowered.

Easy, easy, a little bit more. . . .

TOUCHDOWN!

After reorganizing the workshop. . .

. . .the skull was wheeled into the room.

And there it is - all ready to be refurbished. (photo by Cheynne Carty)

Which is something Wesley got started on right away. 

But even with the excitement of  reaching another milestone within the project, it was also a very sad day for Lee and your Blogster, as we had to say goodbye to Holly. It was Dr. Holly Cusack-McVeigh's last day as the museum curator, and director of the Pratt Museum Gray Whale Skeleton Project. Holly and her family are leaving Tuesday for Indianapolis, Indiana, where Holly has taken a professorship. We will miss you Holly. Good luck in your new endeavors.