[Diary, 6th Expedition to New Guinea] March 13, 1959 to February 21, 1960
Page 150
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by American Museum of Natural History Library. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
CONT. THE BAY AREA OF SAN FRANCISCO IS A HORRIBLE SIGHT; ESPECIALLY TO THE SOUTH. NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE PACKED TOGETHER RIGHT OUT TO THE COASTLINE. WE LEFT THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TO STARBOARD AS WE HEADED OUT ON THE LONG HOP TO HONOLULU. CLEAR NEAR THE COAST BUT WITHIN 30 MILES WE RAN INTO THE EASTERN FRINGE OF ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT MACKEREL SKIES I HAVE EVER SEEN. FOUR HOURS OF SMOOTH AIR ON TOP OF THIS ROLL COTTON SKY. OUR COURSE TO THE SOUTHWEST KEPT THE SUN A FEW POINTS OFF OUR STARBOARD BOW. AIR TRAVEL HAS ONE ADVANTAGE OVER ALL OTHERS, THE WORLD OF CLOUDS IS YOURS TO ENJOY AT CLOSE RANGE; IT IS A NEVER ENDING SOURCE OF PLEASURE, AND PERRY WILSON; THE GREATEST CLOUD PAINTER OF ALL, ALWAYS COMES TO MIND WHEN THE CLOUDS SHAPE UP. LATER ON THE CLOUDS CLOSED RAIN'S AND LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WE RAN OUT OF REGULARITY OF VAPOR CONDENSATION INTO DISTURBED AIR. SEEN AFTER 9 P.M., WE RAISED THE LIGHTS OF OUR 50TH STATE, AND THEN WE PARADLED ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF OAHU WITH THE MASSED LIGHTS OF HONOLULU RISING FROM THE BEACHES ONTO THE STEEP SLOPED HILLS. DIAMOND HEAD SHOWED AS A DARK AREA IN AMONG THE LIGHTS, LIKE THE "COAL PITS" IN THE MILKY WAY. LEN + I HAD A PLATE OF FRESH PINEAPPLE. I'M BACK IN THE TAKE, AND LATER I HAD A HALF OF MANGO. I'M BACK IN THE 11:45 P.M. dep., HON FOR CANTON R. left, ARR. Canton, 6: A.M. (30°S) Sunrise 6:32 A.M. TROPICS: WELL, ALMOST, THE "COSTUMES" ARE A SIGHT! EVERY ONE LOOKS AS IF THEY WERE DRESSED FOR A MASQUERADE. WHAT AWFUL TASTE. GIVE ME NEW GUINEA WHERE THE WOMEN ARE PROUDLY BARE-BREASTED AND GRASS SKIRTED INSTEAD OF THESE SHAPELESS "NIGHTGOWNS" THAT SHOULD NEVER BE WORN EXCEPT IN PRIVACY. THE LADIES WERE DECKED WITH FRANGIPANI LEIS WHEN THEY STEPPED OFF THE PLANE. THE MOST AMUSING SIGHT WAS IN THE STORE WHERE 2 GIRLS WERE STRING ING A LEIS, HERE I SAW MY FIRST REFRIGERATED HATS! COCONUT PALM HATS, INGENIOUSLY WOVEN, BEING KEPT FRESH FOR THE CUSTOMERS. AT 8:45 WE TOFT OFF WITHOUT FOSS FOR CANTON ISLAND ALMOST 2000 MILES AWAY. WE HAVE A FULL PASSENGER LIST. THE STARS ARE BRIGHT.