Hi Trekkers, This is a journal that is going to take me several days to write. I am planning to add to it on every plane I travel on until I get to New Zealand. YOUR TASK, should you choose to do it is to calculate the miles/kilometers I have traveled during this journal entry. Post your answers on the web site under Ask the Team. Click on "ask the team". Then select the question that says "Miles/Kilometers traveled by Mr. W" and post your guess.
1:00PM, Monday, November 23, 2009 local time Kansas City, Missouri
After running around Kansas City dressed as a penguin, my family decided to hide my costume so I wouldn't wear it to the airport. I figured it would be great advertisement for my expedition, but they didn't want to be too embarrassed by Dad.
Five of the Wesche children locate their dad in the Kansas City airport.
I am now in the air. After running around Kansas City an extra 5 days I am finally on my way to Antarctica. I bet you're wondering why I didn't leave last Thursday. Well, believe it or not there have been some bad storms on Antarctica. The remote camping sites have not been set up yet, so many of the expeditions were stuck in McMurdo Station waiting for weather to clear up so they could move out to their various areas of the continent. McMurdo can only handle a little over a thousand people so some groups were stuck waiting in New Zealand for room in McMurdo. It was decided that our team would wait at home and begin our expedition a week later. I am on a flight right now that is taking me from Kansas City, Missouri to Dallas, Texas. We're flying at 30,000 feet which has put us up above the clouds. As I look out the window I can almost imagine I am looking out over an ice field. It reminds me of the pictures that some of the previous polartrec teachers posted on their journals.
From the airplane the clouds over the Midwest look like pictures of ice
I have about 2 hours until we land which is just enough time for a nap. Hope you enjoyed your Monday afternoon.
5:50PM, Monday, November 23, 2909 local time Los Angeles, California
The next leg of my journey finds me on a plane to Los Angles, California. Traveling in an airplane can be a little like riding an elevator. Everyone faces the door and doesn't speak to anyone else. Even the person you are sitting beside. After the first leg of my flight, I decided to change the world or at least irritate it a little trying. As I took my seat I introduced myself to Mr. and Mrs. Howard. The Howards were traveling from their home in Louisiana to California where most of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren live. Mrs. Howard told me that her whole family needed here to come out for Thanksgiving because they all believe that she should continue to fix the family gumbo recipe. What a crew to feed. I apologize to Mrs. Howard's family. If your mother is a little bossier about what she is going to do and what she is going to supervise she got her ideas from me. We laughed most of the way to Los Angles about that. From your mother's description I think I will be able to smell the kitchen all the way from New Zealand. What a joy it was to hear Mr. Howards' life experiences. I really enjoyed his descriptions of living in Greenland when he was in the air force about 60 years ago. This was one proud couple. Married 64 years they spoke positively about each one of their family members. I did enjoy a few funny tales that I am sure that particular family member would wish everyone would forget. As we prepared to part ways I asked for their address so I might mail them a letter from Antarctica. Mrs. Howard then reached over and told me to tell my kids that I had flown with Barry Bonds' grandparents. "He's a baseball player your kids would know."
Introducing yourself to your seat mate on an airplane can lead to new friendships!
10:30 PM, Monday, November 23, 2009 local time Los Angeles, California
I boarded my third airplane to find my seat in the 60th row. This was a BIG airplane. Fortunately, it was far from full. The "bloke" setting nearest to me was Andrew. Andrew is from Australia, but Andrew's girlfriend lives in Canada. He was flying home to Australia to work in the oil fields there as he can make plenty of money in a short amount of time. Then either he'll go back to Canada, where he has to speak slowly for everyone to understand, or his girlfriend will come to Australia, where his "blokes" will tease her about her accent. He confessed that he had been away from Australia long enough that even he was having a "rough go" at understanding his own countrymen. Much of this flight was spent sleeping, sitting upright, while wearing eye masks to block out any light. All I need to say is 15 HOURS IN ONE SEAT!!!! Any student reading this journal, you have no reason to complain today about sitting in your seat at school.
Everyone has a story and everyone has an interesting tale to tell.
Ruby was of one of the flight attendants on the plane that I had the opportunity to visit with as well. Ruby is the "greenest" person I think I have ever met. Just in a short conversation I heard about the ways she cares for the environment in her own home. Wipes dishes clean, nothing goes down her drain that isn't biodegradable. She has such a passion for water environments. She was ecstatic to meet someone going down to Antarctica that was helping the world figure out what we might be doing to harm the planet.
I don't think I have ever met someone so dedicated to what one individual can do to make a difference for our planet
9:10AM, Wednesday, November 24, 2009 local time Sydney, Australia
This 4th flight would be bringing me to Christchurch, New Zealand. I would spend a couple days here being issued equipment, having my computer checked out for viruses, and packing for the flight to Antarctica on Friday. On this flight the last passenger dashed on the plane just before they closed the doors. His seat was next to me. SOOO I introduced myself to him. He said, "I'm Chad Brown". Funny Chad is a member on my team that I hadn't met yet. Chad is very entertaining. He has a quick wit and a sense of humor. I am sure you'll be reading about him in future journals.
At 2:05 PM, Wednesday, November 23, 2009 local time Christchurch, New Zealand
I've arrived in New Zealand, my home for the next 3 days as we prepare for our flight to Antarctica on Friday. It is a beautiful spring day. Roses and other flowers are in bloom all over the city. I am reminded of what it looks like this time of year in California. I ate Mexican food with the 4 members of my team and then we walked a little of the city stopping in a Texas cowboy bar and an English pub. We helped sing happy birthday to a little girl in the pub and sat on saddles in the Texas bar.
At 10:30PM, Wednesday 25, 2009, local time Christchurch, New Zealand
I lost all steam, energy, focus, so I returned to my hotel to sleep. Oh, I forgot to tell you the other important news. My luggage decided to vacation for an extra day in Australia. Here's hoping it joins me tomorrow.
NOW FOR YOUR JOB!!! THE QUESTION OF THE JOURNAL!!!! How far did Mr. Wesche travel? How long did it take him to get there? I look forward to your posts to ask the team! Mr. Wesche