11 June 2008 Tote to the Tundra

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go... "

I know cheesy, but Peter, Paul and Mary (for my middle school students – they are folk musicians :) keep blaring in my head… I hate to wake you up to say goodbye… "but the dawn is breakin’ its early morn…"

Podcast ---Suprises

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And so it was early morn when I left Lake Worth, Florida. I, unlike PolarTREC teacher Craig Beals who is currently in Greenland (see his photo gallery and journals- http://www.polartrec.com/greenland-atmospheric-studies) am not worried that I forgot anything, because as you can see I have 3 full bags.

Ah, the art of packing. I am taken back to Gerty Ward another PolarTREC teacher that I had the pleasure of meeting during our PolarTREC Orientation in March. Gerty is a packing genius! She came with one, yes ONE carry on for a full, chilly week in Fairbanks, while I succeeded to be overweight and had to pay an extra 55 buckaroos. And as far as I know Gerty had everything she needed! Of course she did leave Fairbanks with an extra bag to carry her Alaskan souvenirs she bought.

I tried to bargain with my world-traveling friend Andrea from New Orleans to come pack my clothes, but she turned me down. I did get my loving husband, Rob to help me pack though. And I am guessing if it weren’t for some of his suggestions I quite possibly could’ve exceeded my limits once again.

So what do I have in bags that I really don’t need? Good question? Lets see do I really need the dark chocolate covered raisins? Or did I need to haul the St. Mark Nalgene water bottles that I purchased to share with a few people? What about my favorite rabbit hat? And okay so I strayed a little from the 3 suggested pair of shoes, but a girls gotta have shoes right? I mean I hope I get to wear my Chaco sandals sometime. I totally needed my bird book and we all know how heavy books are. But I am not really sure I needed to bring my knitting with the idea that I will make a scarf for my TundraA treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs. trip.

But you know, it’s all good – well pretty good anyway. I had two bags that I checked and they were under the maximum weight, HOORAY for that! However, I did have to pay for one bag, because some airlines that I will be flying today only allow one bag.

I had two carry on bags. One of which was my backpack and one is a new wheelie bag I bought just to carry by technology, computers, cameras, lenses, and such. Although this bag is sold with a tag saying it fits in overhead compartments, the delta flight attendant had to push it in pretty hard. When I to got the Northwestern gate they said I could NOT get on the plane with my bag. It was too big! There was no way I was separating myself from the bag, because on my flight last March my luggage was misplaced for a day. After much pleading, I met a wonderful supervisor who said “get on the plane and ask them if they can stow it for you?” They did and for now as I glide 38, 000 feet above ground in route to St. Paul all is well. And I have to do is find two more nice supervisors to let me on the next planes.

I have many friends, family and students traveling this summer. So how are you at packing? Do you have a packing strategy? Please share your method, especially if you are an organized lightweight packer. Inquiring minds want to know. What are some things you will bring that you don’t need? Or will you bring anything you don’t need? And if you don’t bring it, will you bum it from someone that did? Students I am curious do you pack your own bags this summer or does a parent do it for you?

My day

Woke up at 5am to shower and catch a 7am Delta flight to LaGuardia, New York. Rob was even permitted to get a special pass to sit with me until my plane arrived, just like in the good old days. I spent 2 hours in the airport and am now heading to St. Paul, Minnesota. I have a one-hour lay over and then I head to Fairbanks, Alaska, this flight will take five and a half hours. Oh boy! I will stay there one hour and then onto Barrow. I should arrive at 7pm Barrow time, which is 12am EDT at home in Florida!

Thanks for reading and

See Ya from the Top.