DAY 33 - MAY 4, 2004

FLYING FROM JAPAN TO RUSSIA AND ALASKA (THE U.S.A.)

Today will be my last journal entry on the Australian Adventure. We will be home tomorrow at this time, except that tomorrow will still be May 4. We will pick up a day when we cross the International Dateline. (It’s the day we lost back on April 2nd when we began the Adventure.)

We left our hotel in Sapporo this morning at 7:45 AM. I did not feel comfortable in my hotel room. We were on the 25th floor and the windows were shaking and rattling most of the night from the strong wind and pelting rain. It felt like the building was also moving a little. I went into the hall and located the stairwell, just in case we had to use it. (They have earthquakes in this area of Japan.)

We found out that Japan is on holiday all this week. It was “Golden Week”, the birthday of the old Emperor. There’s another “Golden Week” in December, when the birthday of the current Emperor is celebrated. The one memory which stood out about Sapporo was how spotlessly clean it was, and how polite and accommodating the people were.

At the airport we ran into a pilot and engineer from the U.S. who were flying a Falcon jet for the Johnson Wax Company. They were taking some execs to Indonesia for a week. Evidentially the company has many businesses and concerns over in this part of the world.

The Dream Machine took off in the rain at 9:45 AM. Soon we were cruising at 40,000 feet at a speed of 550 mph, with sunshine streaming in our windows. After 2 hours and 15 minutes we landed in Petropavlosk, Russia for refueling. The ceiling there was 1500 feet, and it was 4 degrees C. We were told to expect turbulence on the way down and to make sure we were all buckled in. We landed to the North.

Looking out the window on our approach, I saw many barrack-looking buildings. There was light snow on the ground, and bare trees. From above, it did not looked like there was any planned development. Houses were just plopped down here and there. There were a number of dilapidated buildings without roofs that were left standing.

I could see remnants of a past Russia. There were military Quonset huts covered with dirt and straw-like plants – so as to look invisible from the air above. Jerome continued to shoot photos out of the plane window – something that would have not be allowed in the old days of Communism. We saw many old planes. There was also a work crew of 5 with shovels patching up a spot on the concrete runway.

Looking down, one just got the feeling that here was a land that had not moved forward, and today was dragging along the remnants of its past 3 generations. The sky was gray and dreary.

Upon landing we were met by the handlers – a wonderful, friendly Russian man named Valery and assorted others. We gained 4 hours. Our watches said 12:10 PM, but on the ground in Russia it was now 4:10 PM. The refueling went smoothly. Steve stayed outside by the wing and watched refueling, while Jim stayed by the doorway talking with Valery. The Russians posted a guard at the front of the plane, and one by the tail.

Valery’s English was very good. He told us that he was born and raised in Petropavlosk. He said the area is pristine, with no industry or pollution effects from civilization and is a naturalist’s dream. It is a favorite destination for sportsmen. The number one sports are bear hunting (they have the biggest bears in the world) and fishing.

We were allowed to use the airport bathroom. A well-worn bus ferried us to a building. The bathroom was minimal, but clean. There was a toilet without a seat. The sink had no running water. A bar of old, dried up soap lay on the sink top. There was no toilet paper as we know it – just a small bit of gray paper folded up on top of an empty, slightly rusted, empty paper towel holder. Luckily Bobbie brought along Purell to use and sanitize our hands.

Back at the plane, Jim had a large sack of all the snacks and candy we bought for the trip but which still remained uneaten. He bagged those up and gave them to Valery for his kids. Valery was most appreciative. Jim also handed out more flashlights, pens, and Bibles, and then we were airborne at approximately 5:15 PM Russian time.

It was a long flight to Anchorage. Night came quietly at 41,000 feet. To pass the time, I watched a movie (DVD) on my laptop. It was “Six Days and Seven Nights” starring Harrison Ford. I remembered it was one of Gene’s favorite movies, and thought about him and Phyllis, as I have done throughout the trip. (By the way, Geno, the maps you left on the plane came in handy – I shared them with the others as we traveled. While, I’ll never be the navigator you are, I did try to keep your tradition going.) (And Phyllis, I wound up sitting in your seat, and want to thank you for the tic-tacs. I thought of you whenever I had one.)

We landed in Anchorage at 10:30 PM, only to find out that with the time change it was 12:20 AM. After clearing Customs, we were driven to the Millennium Hotel, hitting the sack at 2:30 AM.

It is so wonderful to be home again in the U.S.A. Even though we have had the adventure of a lifetime, and experienced things we never could imagine – there really is no place like America, truly our home!

Signing off from the Great Australian Adventure,

-MELANIE BLAHA

DAY 34 - MAY 4, 2004

THE ENDING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE

Here we are in Anchorage, Alaska after a long flight from Sapporo, Japan 2:15, 921 NM to Petropavlosk, Russia for fuel then 1704 NM to Anchorage 4:45. Both flights were smooth. We were fortunate to be able to get the altitudes necessary to make the long haul to Alaska.

In 34 days, we have covered over 30,000 NM in approximately 70 hours of flying time with over 26 stops all the way from Hayward, California. The stops included: Sacramento, California; Seattle, Washington; Nome, Alaska; Petropavlosk, Russia; Sendai, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Manila, Philippines; Darwin, Ayers Rock, Perth, Melbourne, Bankstown and Sydney, Australia; Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Rotorua, and (again) Auckland, New Zealand; Brisbane, Cairns, and Darwin, Australia; Manila, Philippines; Naha, Okinawa; Sapporo, Japan; Petropavlosk, Russia; Anchorage, Alaska; and Hayward, California.

The members of travel team (we missed Gene and Phyllis Paul who had to leave us in Sydney) were a joy and support to be with. Without Steve Dennis (co-captain) and his wife Lynn, the trip would not have been possible. He shared the planning, flying and the decision-making. There was never a more compatible crew. We had fun all the time.

Jerome Blaha was the team clown with his high school antics, always pushing his new camera in your face. He was the Purser on the flight, handling all the cash functions. He is very particular in his accounting. Without his attention, the trip would not have gone so well.

The Ladies:

I wouldn’t go anywhere without my personal love and support - Bobbie Knuppe, who kept me in line, and was always there to help.

Melanie Blaha, the brunt of my joking was a great scout and wonderful journalist. Her excitement, when we landed, was animated and exhilarating; and she was always full of questions. We enjoyed having her with us. By the way, she still thinks she is in high school!

Lynn Dennis, like Bobbie did for me, came along to support her husband, Steve Dennis. We met Lynn only briefly prior to the trip. She was an excellent addition to the Adventure - solid, caring, a delight to get to know, and a go-with-the-flow kind of gal.

We are now on our way back to Hayward from Anchorage on the final leg. The trip lived up to its promise - it was indeed The Great Australian Adventure!

-CAPTAIN JIM KNUPPE

N 488CP