Alan Nelson's Daily Commentary for 13 September 1999 (First time!)

Kwajalein Island, Republic of Marshall Islands

The last day. Washed clothes. Packed suitcases. Turned in data sheets. Tried to meet with Brad to explain what I had done but we were on opposite sides of the runway and he didn't think it would be necessary. So I made copies of my notes and left them for Brad. I also kept the originals so I can explain later if I need to!

Took old food in the refrigerator to feed the turtles. However, someone had caught a 300-pound marlin yesterday and put the head and tail in the turtle pool. They weren't very hungry.

Ate my last lunch at the cafeteria. They were out of ice cream again! Funny what you get to anticipating after a month...

Then began the agonizingly slow check-in. We had to get suitcases at the bottom of the stairs at the PBQ by 12:45 to catch the step van that TRMM borrows to get its people's luggage to the air terminal. That's to get everyone over to the airport early for luggage check-in. Dave Baker held my place in line for almost 20 minutes and then I began another 45 minutes of waiting. Eventually, my bags were checked. It was just a very slow check in. Behind the clerk checking in luggage, a sign informed us that it had been determined that the security procedures at an airport in Africa are not adequate. Somehow that information seemed incredibly irrelevant.

I then hustled over to the Ron Brown which came into port this morning. I climbed up on the instrument tower that holds the radiometers and took pictures for a 360-degree panorama. I will need to bring them back to the states rather than using a modem to send them back...they would take about 45 minutes to transfer via modem!

Then over to the Balducci household to return the tripod that I had used on the Ron Brown. Back to PBQ for a quick shower, change of clothes, and to pack carry-on bags. Then to the Kwaj Lodge to turn in the room key and drop off TRMM green bike 0038. Then across the street to the air terminal for a 4:30 check-in. Then wait. But eventually we were taxiing out to the runway for our 5:50 departure. Winds were very light and across the runway and so we took off towards the west. The Kwajalein runway is only 6,300 feet long which doesn't leave much safety margin. So the plane taxied to the near end of the runway, and "back-taxied" (to the east) on the runway to get the last 100 feet of available runway. Then turned around and we were off. I have never been in a commercial airliner that bothered to back-taxi for only 100 feet before! But we used almost 6,000 feet of runway before we lifted off. The pilot knew what he was doing!

On our climbout we passed over the airport one last time. I got very familiar with that part of the island. On the far left edge of the picture, just above the window frame, are the Ops Center trailers and Aeromet buildings. Directly across the runway, the corner of building 1009 with the TRMM Project Office is just barely visible. And one last look at the clear blue water, partially obscured by low clouds. I'm glad to be headed home, but it has been a grand experience to be here.

We head towards Honolulu with a stop in Majuro and Johnston Island for refueling. Just after we leave Johnston, we cross the International Date Line and so I start in on my second September 13th! The flight gets to Honolulu at 2:40 AM. By the time I wait for luggage and customs it is 4:00 AM. That temporarily suspends official duties and starts my vacation in Hawaii. It doesn't take long to get started: I am on another flight to Hilo, Hawaii on the Big Island at 5:40 AM.

Next: Volcanoes!

Alan Nelson