Logbook entry: Transition from Wainwright to Atqasuk to Barrow to Fairbanks to Anchorage to Wasilla - footprints on the airplane window - lights dance outside the jet window - happy cat
Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 10:36PM ;)
Just before closing the door and taking his seat behind the yoke of the Era Aviation plane that would take me to Barrow, the pilot did roll call.
"Bill!" he called out.
"Here!" I shouted back.
;)
Boy! It took quite a bit longer than normal, but finally the Arctic in October looked like the Arctic in October.
;)
We landed in Atqasuk before going on to Barrow. A couple of passengers got off, none got on.
;)
Midway between Atqasuk and Barrow, the passenger in front of me used the heat of his fingers and hands to melt foot prints into the window frost.
;)
On final, runway 25, Barrow, the Chukchi Sea just beyond the runway.
;)
A few hours later, I was sitting on Alaska Airlines Flight 52 waiting for takeoff. The fellow in front of me read a 15 year-old article in the current issue of the Arctic Sounder. It seems that some teachers made some mistakes back then.
He said he knew most of us were seasoned travelers who had heard the flight briefing again and again and again, but urged us to listen anyway. "Pay attention!" he said.
I did, too. I paid strict attention.
;)
We had barely left Barrow when the pilot announced that those sitting on the right side of the plane should look out the window, as the northern lights were going crazy out there. I had 26 D, an aisle seat and could not see the lights from it.
In Fairbanks, my seat switched to 28 A, the left hand window seat in the last row of the plane. This time, the northern lights danced on both sides of the plane. The fellow in the middle seat next to me fell asleep and did not see them, but as the lights danced, I could see his reflection in the window, between me and the lights and the stars.
;)
On the ground, I found Margie in the car, waiting for me.
;)
I was tired beyond reason and wanted Margie to drive home, but her night vision is not good and she hates to drive at night. So she made me drive. The northern lights kept up their display, but had competition from the street lights.
And here we are, driving down Seldon Street, just two blocks from home.
;)
As always, my absence had been tough for Jimmy to bear. As always, he was thrilled and went slightly insane when he saw me walk through the door. Chicago did not show herself until after we went to bed. Then she came in and crawled under the covers beside me and Jim.
Margie hardly saw her during the four weeks I was gone. She slept in the garage. I am not sure why the cats here bond with me to a much greater degree than with the others who live here, but they do.
I love these cats!
Reader Comments (7)
welcome home
What an amazing trip! But it must be wonderful to be back home.
Cats and Humans too... bond with you in a special way. Love the lights!!
Reading through the first time, I thought it said that Margie slept in the garage!!!! I was horrified, and meant to tell you straightaway that you should never leave that poor woman alone again!!! Glad you're home, and I hope that great things come from this journey!!!
Welcome Home Dad! We missed YOU :)
Bill--Are those snapshots of the northern lights? Did you just use point-and-shoot, or did you set the shutter speed to slow down? I'm asking because if you didn't, those lights must have been astonishingly bright...A year ago, year-and-a-half ago, we had the lights in Wasilla, but it required a tripod to get any definition of the patterns like that. It seems y'all have been having wonderful, wonderful bouts of aurora lately, and I am severely envious! Don't get anything like that down here in New Mexico, alas...
Sorry to take so long to respond. Yes, it is good to be home in Wasilla and yes, I was sad to leave home up north.
OmegaMom, it was a one or two second exposure - very high ISO. The Daily News had an article on how magnificent the northern lights had been.