Ready for takeoff!

Three hours and my flight is on it's way to Flagstaff Arizona!!!

Exciting! Yet I want to make a final post on this blog before my leave, mainly to help you know more of the trip and how things will be. Yes, there are a few more pieces to fill out..

My plain leaves at 6:35. I have a layover in Chicago (which won't be long at all!) and will be in Flagstaff no time. This will be followed by us waiting in the terminals for everyone's arrival. So this beginning process is similar to the one on the retreat.

I am kind of sad that Shannon and Trish (shannon is the leading the way fellow while trish is an intern) are not going to be on this trip with us, and if they happen to be reading I do wish their safety and are all eager to share with them the fun experiences on this trip.

Bryan will be there, the same laid back goofy and relaxed guy who was at the retreat. So will several guides who are on the rafting and some are from the park service while others from GCY (Grand Canyon Youth).

Alright. I believe the first night will be spent in a hotel. I am unsure if we're getting room mates here yet, but I will probably have cellphone access that night, if anyone has final words to text or call. So that is good :) But starting the 7th, it's bye-bye electronics time.

Which is quite sad. I will miss every single one of my friends. I care for everyone a lot and not knowing how friends are doing will probably worry me to death during this trip. However I recognize the service aspect of the trip and thus will have as much fun as I can. :)

I know I have said 7 days on the rim and 9 on the river, but it's actually... 5 days on the rim and 9 on the river. So I might be a bit overpacked with having 12 underwear, 5 t-shirts and 3 long-underwear and 3 pants (an extra jean/2 longer pants). Ah well. After the rim portion is over, we will be able to ship items we don't need back to Grand Canyon Youth (in Flagstaff, the place we arrive at first), so it won't be a big deal, just as long as I save 2 long t-shirt and a few more things for the river.

Back to the sound testing project a bit though. I have mentioned that several times. It will be taking place both on the rim and the river. The goal being to test the park's sound pollution level. As I have said in previous posts, people only think of air/water/land pollution when they say 'pollution". not sound! Yet when I tried to sleep outside under the stars in the woods around my house the other night, I could not sleep because of too many aircraft ahead flying. So... Go green and illiminating sound pollution! (though, making quiet cars can be a potential hazzard for the blind since we don't hear a car when crossing...)
We will partner up with another person and using a PDA, record times and data about the current sounds around. Fun!

Alright... I think I covered most things. No, Eric, the blind mountain climber, won't be on our trip, good question. Yes, we will eat and prepare foods, this will be also done on a switch basis - rotating positions. I won't take many showers, nor will I shave, so when I return I will probably have a big moustache and facial hair, but hey it's a neat experience, isn't it? :P

Alright... Time to hike and raft and ... miss everyone. :(
:)

With all due respect:
Tomi