Crossing the checked flag

Today started at the crack of midnight central time. I was 3 hours in to my last portion of the drive from Tucson to Valdosta. Starting at nine o'clock last night in the eastern part of Louisiana, the drive was now just into Florida. I used the air conditioning in our borrowed Buick Century to keep me awake. With all the other vents closed, I blasted myself with frigid air that actually helped my awareness. After passing through Pensicola the drive became monotonous and slightly more difficult. With Diana Krall silkily singing her sweet siren song in my ear my second wind kicked in and lent a hand to my state of consciousness. However the driving conditions became difficult. The swampy, humid environment of Florida's Gulf coast often create thick fogs in the evening/morning hours due to the temperature dropping below the dew point. With few spots on I-10 lit up by street lights and with little or no traffic to keep my eyes on, driving became a very daunting task. Without visible landmarks and with a sight distance that only stretched a few car lengths ahead of us, I had to really concentrate on what I could see of the road ahead. Time seemed only to drizzle by as nothing changed in my view out the windshield. Without any trouble, we crossed out of the fog and into Tallahassee, FL where I reliquished the keys to Dr. Leake. I crawled into the back seat and commondeered my pillow. Without a fast, cool jet of air in my face, I quickly fell asleep...

...And was awakened by Jason L. poking me in the side telling I was home. After a second I figured out what he said and I wriggled out of our trusty Century and hauled my stuff up to my room. I took a shower to wash off layer upon layer of body oils and dirt (a.k.a. extra layers of road skin), read some email, and went to bed at 7am EST.

I woke up at about 10:30am when a guy telling me he needed to spray for ants came a'knocking. He surprisingly opened my door with his key and said, "I'll just spray here really quickly." He stuck his wand of insect death through the doorway and (I think) sprayed something on the kitchen floor. I then faded back into the world of lollipops and dandilions.

I woke up at about 3pm in the afternoon. With my internal clock all asunder, I slowly decided to get dressed and join the world. I talked with a few friends and looked through all the volumes of photos the Jasons and I snapped on the trip. Shortly there after, Dr. Leake met me here and her, Dr. Rumstay, Erika and I unloaded the Buick of its precious cargo and bid it farewell. After a quick and generous ride to the grocery store, Dr. Leake dropped me off back here and I cooked myself a plentiful bowl of ramen and downed a Snickers bar for dessert.

All things said, I had a great journey out to Kitt Peak. I'm dissappointed for myself, the Jasons, and Dr. Leake that we didn't have clearer weather while on the mountain. I really do believe, despite not getting the data we desired, that I've learned a great deal about the operation and gathering of photometric and spectroscopic data for projects such as this. I almost feel that I could go back over to the SARA dome at Kitt Peak right now and do it all myself. I would, however, rather have the great company with me that I was graced with on this trip. They may have been relentless in poking fun at my origins (Seattle, so they would say) but were very informative, helpful, and fun the two weeks I was in close quarters with them. I'll never forget about them or this section of my life.

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Wed. July 14, 1999

Crossing the checked flag

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