Down South

So after the fantastic win in Philadelphia, we were off to the finals of the Sea Perch competition in Baton Rouge held at LSU (Louisiana State University). This involved Isaac flying down with the school on two flights and Louie, Damian and I myself travelling together. Also two flights and two different airports...all I'm saying is that I could have stayed at Dallas Forth Worth, for the people watching! For just hopping down south though it was quite tiring and of course when we got there amazingly hot! Yippee just when you want to get in a crowd at a swimming pool with no air conditioning!

But the boy did well and made lots of friends and networked like we never knew he had it in him and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. On our way home we flew together to Dallas and left him to get on a plane to Tampa and his two weeks at his internship.....yet to be seen since but here are the photos of our trip.

Travelling is so boring!

Although Dad always has interesting things to say and we are in Dallas Forth Worth Airport on our way to Baton Rouge

Airports are interesting places and I liked the lines from the shadows..this is mid point in travel

New Orleans and what a ceiling

I know it doesn't look good but this is craw fish ettouffe and that my friend is a delicacy in these parts and a must eat! 

Happy SeaPerch Boys

The main sports hall is where we gathered

There was a lot of people there

Our Sea Perch Robot

These tables were set up for competitors and their display boards

canteen fun

Love Derek, Isaac's friend always such a joker!

Engaged in teenagery things

Some local fauna

Something happened to Isaac's hair...............

Lovely tree on the campus

Silly faces and tired men folk

lake view by the campus

Posh restaurant that we dined in

And so it begins, they arrive at the pool Isaac and Derek for the first run. They are on the opposite side of the pool to the stands

The divers are there for the robots, should they need a hand

Lots of waiting around

But now they are situated and getting ready

Look Isaac it's the school and your family!

This is the serious business

All over and some smiles

Lots of waiting

And chatting to Australians....yes they really came all that way

Naval guys as well

Round two

Game faces ready

Prep

Serious concentration required

Capturing the ball after triggering the release

Sea Perch in operation

Trying to get the ball in the bucket!

Extra time?

All done!

Team photo

Interesting mural

Baton Rouge...fab building

Bridge over the Mississippi

Ah

Sunset over the Mississippi

Moon blur! and happy tired boys and yes OMG he drinking coca cola!

Hope you enjoyed this whistle stop tour....plenty more events coming, 18th birthday, graduation and  dance recital...oh lots!

Being a champion

and onto part two of the weekend

SEA PERCH 2016

The day after Isaac's school Prom, he was competing in an underwater robot competition at Temple. It is called Sea Perch and it is sponsored by the Navy. This competition is state and country wide, and for Pennsylvania we enter the competition as does The Naval Academy (who they beat every year) and a whole host of others. The total competitors for Pennsylvania is 27 schools.The objective is to design and build a robot that be must be able to navigate underwater on a timed course a series of obstacles and complete maneuvers. They have to complete a poster, a note book and do a presentation as well.

To say that Isaac has wanted to be in charge in the Sea Perch project over the years is an understatement. He has longed for this and for someone who rarely seeks the lime light and found these last few years at school a grueling grind this is one of a few bright spots. Sea Perch literally makes him walk taller (if that were possible). This year they made the Sea Perch club into an elected class and Isaac was thrilled. By also being in his last year of school he would be able to potentially be able to have more of a role. 

Well not only was he to become one of the leaders and they picked his design!!!. Isaac has been working and refining his design in his head for a number of years. Now that was just the icing. He felt so proud and I'm sure some anticipation too. Nothing like creating something, putting it in an under water setting and then expecting it to do a series of obstacles to put a tad of pressure on you. Especially as you have repeatedly told anyone within 5 yards, of course yours is the best design!. 

It was quite fortuitous that the competition was the day after Prom night. Because by this stage Isaac was in a fog of anticipation/angst about the actual competition the next day. Of course none of this is conveyed with words, just signals in the form of twitching and general distance of gaze and lying prone on his bed with one hand stuck out with a phone it in and playing cartoons close to the eye balls...this particular teenage language  lucky for him, I am completely fluent in.

So of course Prom was a breeze and home to bed for the early rise the next day. He was up and out around 6.30am wearing a pair trousers that he had relegated to the side lines in the closet and the team shirt I had to immediately wash as it has dinner on it from the night before...( I used to laugh at an old friends mum who would wash and dry and hang back in a closet his clothing worn on nights out...so by morning it was back for re wear!...I have now turned into said mother!!!!!). In addition I had no idea until I saw the team photo from the competition, that they had a uniform! But Isaac fitted right in and although technically not khaki trousers, light brown cords can pass as said khakis..who knew? 

The work that was put into the Sea Perch project involved a class each day and many hours outside of school in the form of team conferences by phone. Isaac really put the effort in and organized and helped nurture this group to perform to their best. He was a complete commander and did it really well. 

There are only two from each team who can go 'pool side'. Isaac was navigator and he is with Derek his pilot

This is there winning team!!!!

This is the returning hero!!!

Banners (I fixed a little 'well done' welcome! )

Proud champ with his well done poster and school logo that greeted him when he came home

ISAAC THE CHAMPION 

dream realized finally....(now that is a happy chap! tired but really happy).