In the last couple of weeks I have managed to cross both the Greenwich Meridian and the Equator. Sadly not at the same time.
I've straddled the Greenwich Meridian many times, most recently on 27 June in London.
I do so love this London view.
The last week I was in Uganda and was very much hoping I'd get the opportunity to visit the Equator, having only ever flown over it before which I consider "not doing it properly". I suppose it's like saying you've visited Mongolia because you flew over it once. Anyway, I thought my chances were slim when our itinerary took us to an island in Lake Victoria for a few days limiting any opportunity to wander off to bag the Equator for real.
Time was tight for our journey and we had driven straight from our meetings in Kampala. Never before have I been so inappropriately dressed for a sea journey.
The sea was pretty choppy (up to Sea State 3) due to strong winds which meant we had to hang on. My work clothes soaked up the spray quite nicely ;-)
As we were travelling my colleague decided to check our latitude. It was then that we realised we may actually be in the boat long enough to cross the line.
Oooh - we're going to make it!
YES - equator crossed. A happy geomatician indeed.
Indeed, Bulago Island. Nearly 02' south of the Equator.
On our journey back we'd briefed our skipper to stop at the Equator so we could bag it 'properly'.
This was as close as we got with the boat's Garmin (lat/long in bottom right hand corner) but I don't think there is need for any further evidence that I've crossed the equator twice.
The sea was a lot calmer (Sea State 1) so far easier to get the Ruth-on-equator photo shoot.
The problem with these trips is that each time I cross something off my geo to-do list the next challenge appears on the horizon. So guess what I now fancy doing? Yup - visiting where the Equator and the Greenwich (or rather, Prime) Meridian cross. Think I'll need a bigger boat for that.
I've straddled the Greenwich Meridian many times, most recently on 27 June in London.
I do so love this London view.
The last week I was in Uganda and was very much hoping I'd get the opportunity to visit the Equator, having only ever flown over it before which I consider "not doing it properly". I suppose it's like saying you've visited Mongolia because you flew over it once. Anyway, I thought my chances were slim when our itinerary took us to an island in Lake Victoria for a few days limiting any opportunity to wander off to bag the Equator for real.
Time was tight for our journey and we had driven straight from our meetings in Kampala. Never before have I been so inappropriately dressed for a sea journey.
The sea was pretty choppy (up to Sea State 3) due to strong winds which meant we had to hang on. My work clothes soaked up the spray quite nicely ;-)
As we were travelling my colleague decided to check our latitude. It was then that we realised we may actually be in the boat long enough to cross the line.
Oooh - we're going to make it!
YES - equator crossed. A happy geomatician indeed.
Indeed, Bulago Island. Nearly 02' south of the Equator.
On our journey back we'd briefed our skipper to stop at the Equator so we could bag it 'properly'.
This was as close as we got with the boat's Garmin (lat/long in bottom right hand corner) but I don't think there is need for any further evidence that I've crossed the equator twice.
The sea was a lot calmer (Sea State 1) so far easier to get the Ruth-on-equator photo shoot.
The problem with these trips is that each time I cross something off my geo to-do list the next challenge appears on the horizon. So guess what I now fancy doing? Yup - visiting where the Equator and the Greenwich (or rather, Prime) Meridian cross. Think I'll need a bigger boat for that.
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