Journal

As a part of my PolarTREC educational outreach, I invited classrooms and community groups to decorate a flag that I would bring with me on my expedition. Now, with my time on the Oden ending, I asked permission of the captain to fly the flags once more - this time on the bridge which had been my main "office" and workplace when we weren't out on the ice.

The bridge is probably my favorite place on the Oden. It stretches across the width of the Oden, with bridge wings that extend out over the water on both the port and starboard side. There is an outside metal walkway that wraps around the bridge, and this was our favorite spot for taking seal, penguin, and seabird photographs. The conference table was my "writer's desk" where I wrote all my journal entries, as well as our "conference room" where Blake and I conducted our live "webinar" phone calls.And the bridge was my quiet escape where I did my midnight to 3am sea ice observations, with intermittent catnaps on the comfy leather couch.

So here are the flags I brought with me, soon to be returned to their classrooms in California, Arizona, Indiana, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New York, Key West- Florida, Veracruz,-Mexico,Texas, Oregon, Washington, and many other places in between. I hope their journeys inspire you, the reader, to make special journeys of your own.

Flags on the Bridge 1
The classroom and community group flags flew on the Oden's bridge on our last day before disembarking.
Flags on the Bridge 2
The scientists and crew enjoyed viewing all the flags.
Flags on the Bridge 3
These flags have flown in several places throughout the expedition.
Flags on the Bridge 4
Some of the 62 flags I carried on this trip.
Flags on the Bridge 5
More flags from across the United States.
Flags on the Bridge 6
Can you see your flag?
Flags on the Bridge 7
Maybe you can see your flag here?

Lesson Learned: These flags are finishing their first great adventure - I hope they fly on many more!

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