Monday, August 29, 2011

We're Alive!

Having a great time! Surprisingly it is difficult to get an Internet connection in the middle of the bush. I have a ton of stuff ready to post but the bandwidth is so low I can't get it done. Give me another 24 hours and I should be able to get some stuff up.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Good Morning South Africa!

Just woke up... Time to travel some more.

Location:Kempton Park,South Africa

We Made It!

30 hours later, and we're here! Both of us are blasted... the bed is going to be wonderful!

Tomorrow morning we'll catch a puddle jumper up to Nelspruit and then off on Safari at Kwa-mbili.

Location:Kempton Park,South Africa

The Beginning of One Freaking Long Flight!

Just 15 more hours left!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Yup, They're Drunk

Leaving For South Africa In The Morning

Just a couple thousand miles short of circling the Earth!



From  To  Initial
Heading
  Distance  
9 segment path:22716 mi
    BOI (43°33'52"N 116°13'22"W)SLT (38°32'18"N 106°02'55"W)119.7° (SE)634 mi
    SLT (38°32'18"N 106°02'55"W)ATL (33°38'12"N 84°25'41"W)99.0° (E)1253 mi
    ATL (33°38'12"N 84°25'41"W)JNB (26°08'21"S 28°14'46"E)101.8° (E)8439 mi
    JNB (26°08'21"S 28°14'46"E)NLP (25°30'03"S 30°54'49"E)75.8° (E)172 mi
    NLP (25°30'03"S 30°54'49"E)CPT (33°57'53"S 18°36'06"E)228.8° (SW)941 mi
    CPT (33°57'53"S 18°36'06"E)JNB (26°08'21"S 28°14'46"E)49.5° (NE)789 mi
    JNB (26°08'21"S 28°14'46"E)ATL (33°38'12"N 84°25'41"W)294.7° (NW)8439 mi
    ATL (33°38'12"N 84°25'41"W)MSP (44°52'55"N 93°13'18"W)331.4° (NW)907 mi
    MSP (44°52'55"N 93°13'18"W)BOI (43°33'52"N 116°13'22"W)273.6° (W)1142 mi
Total:22716 mi


Factoid: The circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.5 miles. Spinning one revolution in 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds. Sit on a hillside in Ecuador and your flying at over 1000 mph! Dizzy yet?

Monday, August 15, 2011

Wildfire blackens 1,000 acres south of Boise

The South Pen Fire

KTVB.COM
Updated today at 7:15 PM

BOISE -- Resources for the Bureau of Land Management are stretched thin as crews are battling seven active wildfire across southern Idaho, including a new one that is threatening homes south of Boise.

BLM Fire Information Officer Mallory Eils says the South Pen Fire broke out sometime after 5 p.m. and has already grown to 1,000 acres. It is believed to have been human caused.

The BLM is fighting the fire with an air tanker and four engines. The Kuna Fire Department is assisting in the firefighting effort with two engines.

The fire is burning near Kuna Mora Road and Pleasant Valley Road.

Large Brush Fire 5 Miles East Of Us! (UPDATE: The South Pen Fire)
















More South Pen Fire Photos

View from the house.

Starting spot.



FIRE MONSTER attacks truck!

People getting out with their horses ahead of the fire.


Rarely seen smoke rings at Mt Etna

Yes Humans Can Fly

Salt Mine in Poland? Let's Go Rollerskating!

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

I don't even remember typing this!

Friday just started on the West Coast but I'm already into it 17 hours. So by my calculation, this is going to be one long 40 hour day!

Wake up in Shanghai, dodge a typhoon, take a break in Japan, 9 hours of quality trans-pacific blogging, breakfast in Portland, puddle jumper to Boise, long shower, a welcome home meal of mac and cheese, hit the pool, debrief with Deb, stay busy, apologize to the cats for being gone so long, (fighting to stay awake by now), start watching a movie... Fall asleep.

This part of the trip is the hardest for me, by far. With no gas left in my tank there's still this long journey between me and home. Knowing the different stages of fatigue as they pile on throughout the trip only serve to make them more acute. Something you want to avoid but can't, unless of course I want to live in China from now on.

It's now 8 hours later. Eight hours in a chair. I've tried to sleep (as I always do) with little success. I may doze for 15 minutes but that's all I'm good for on a plane. Most everyone around me maintains some impossible pretzel shape and sleep as they have for the last 6 hours. I watch and try to learn "the trick" but to no avail.

The flight attendants learn quickly who the 'broken' ones are and make little trips, offering snacks and water to the few glowing screens in the darkened cabin. Soon they'll turn the lights on and offer a breakfast. I want to eat but will just pick at it.

Monday, August 08, 2011

World War II In Photos

World War II is the story of the 20th Century. The war officially lasted from 1939 until 1945, but the causes of the conflict and its horrible aftermath reverberated for decades in either direction. While feats of bravery and technological breakthroughs still inspire awe today, the majority of the war was dominated by unimaginable misery and destruction. In the late 1930s, the world's population was approximately 2 billion. In less than a decade, the war between the nations of the Axis Powers and the Allies resulted in some 80 million deaths -- killing off about 4 percent of the whole world.

This series of entries will last from June 19 until October 30, 2011, running every Sunday morning for 20 weeks. In these photo essays, I hope to explore the events of the war, the people involved at the front and back home, and the effects the war had on everyday lives. The entries will follow a roughly chronological sequence, with some broader themes (such as "The Home Front") interspersed throughout. These images will give us glimpses into the real-life experiences of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents, moments that shaped the world as it is today. I hope to be able to do justice to this important story in this large-photo narrative format and invite you to join me for the next 20 Sundays.