The Journey begins ... (Part 1)

On Monday, Elsie dropped me off at the Fairbanks airport in the dark. We kissed and I walked away.  Before entering the terminal, I set my bags down and turned to look.  We looked at each other and I nodded as she drove away.  It was the last look that we would have of each other for 3.5 months until I come off the ice and she meets me in Christchurch, NZ in mid February.

Inside the terminal, I tried to get my tickets at the kiosk but I wasn't in the system.  The ticket agent asked me for my passport and visa.  She told me that my visa was only good for three months.  As she read the info on her computer screen, I could see that I had a growing problem.  "Where is Christchurch?" she asked.  "New Zealand.  It's the jumping off point for the folks working in the Antarctic." I explained.  My visa asked New Zealand for an extension to 12 months since I was working in the Antarctic.  Deep in thought pondering what might happen, I heard her ask, "Are you going to be in the Antarctic less than three months?" Not wanting to spend the rest of the day in the Fairbanks airport to sort this out and miss my flight to Sydney tonight, I fibbed, "Yes, less than three months".  I figured that I would let the Antarctic Support Contract folks rescue me in Christchurch if need be.

Next was TSA.  For some 'unknown reason', I was selected for extra security.  Finally I get thru to the gate.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Janna, my ex-O&M supervisor at Pump Station 1 waiting for a flight to Prudhoe Bay.  I hate to call her my ex-supervisor because I'll be back working at Pump Station 1 next spring.  I just think of it as taking a 'leave of absence' from her supervision until my return.  Janna and I chatted a minute, shook hands and bid farewell.  I got to my gate just as they were starting to board.

As the 737 lifted up off the runway in the gathering light and gained altitude, I looked over at the Chena River and picked out our home standing by the river looking like a silent sentinel. It was a bit sad but I'm guessing that most explorers/adventurers have this moment of reflection as they leave home to be gone for awhile.  As the plane turned southwest we flew over the Tanana River which looked like a table lace in the half light.  We flew over North Pole, Eielson AFB and Salcha down towards Delta Jct.

We lived in Salcha on an old homestead on the banks of a river for most of the 80's and 90's.  Our grown children call it 'the place where we grew up'.  I couldn't pick out the homestead but I did see Pump Station 8 (where I worked for 12 years or so) and the Trans Alaska Pipeline.  My livelihood has been on the Pipeline for over 30 years and has provided a good living for me and my family.

While I looked out the window and was reflecting, the clouds marched in and I could no longer see the features on the ground.  I withdrew my book from my pack.  I'm reading 'Dark Winter' by William Dietrich.  It was recommended by our son, Daniel.  It's an adventure, psychological thriller novel that takes place at the Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole.  Hey, wait a minute, that is where I'm going.  I'll give you a little hint - the first person doesn't turn up missing until Chapter 9.

On approach to Seattle, we flew low over Ballard where our daughter Heidi lives.  I looked for her townhouse but wasn't able to pick it out.  It was interesting to see the whole Ballard Locks system from the air and the harbor where where some of the fishing boats in 'Deadliest Catch' call home.

It was a beautiful day in Seattle.  After deplaning, I texted Heidi and after 15 minutes of no response I called and left a message on her phone.  I'm sure she is very busy with being assigned to Boeing's 737 MAX team. Now onto LAX.