September Already?
Circumnavigators for the most part are past their school days. But we remember that September meant the end of vacation and back to school. For our members, however, the month means looking forward to a season of travel adventures. Best wishes to all Circumnavigators, family and friends for a great month. Please make sure to send us your travel stories and photos!
School Days
We asked some of our key photographers to send us photos of international school children and we got a bunch! We hope Circumnavigators will enjoy schools days around the world. Besides the photo above, we have posted several more under the Last Shot.
Chapter Highlights
Nineteen members and guests of the Naples Chapter enjoyed the recent meeting of the seasonal G.E.M.S. group with a lunch and presentation given by Ellen Stephens, and her husband Richard Weise. They shared memories of their recent trip to South Africa, which took them by air, rail and car across this fascinating country full of natural wonders. G.E.M.S. stands for Globetrotters Exchanging Memorable Stories.
Pacific Southwest Chapter members gathered to welcome new member Lynn Payette and share travel stories.
The Circumnavigators Chicago Chapter held a joint meeting with the Illinois Chapter of Travelers Century Club with a backyard BBQ at the home of International President Dan Peterson. Thirty-three people shared travel stories and plans and according to Dan, finished 11 bottles of wine, among other beverages!
Pacific Northwest Chapter Circumnavigators met to review Chapter business, socialize and share travel stories. Circumnavigator Caroline Farrell provided an outstanding Hawaiian buffet. A round table discussion of recent travels, including an in-depth description of Seoul by Circumnavigator Stefan Krasowski.
Michigan Chapter members enjoyed the iconic Woodward Dream Cruise Weekend in the Motor City. They were joined by Circumnavigators from Chicago and Washington DC. The group enjoyed partying, dining and experiencing the 40,000 plus vehicles cruising Woodward on a ten-mile loop.
Circumnavigator Suzanne Frye (New York Metro) recently returned from a trip to Africa which included close encounters with giant tortoises in Mauritius. She also was delighted to visit the historic painting school in the Congo. The young artists of the Poto-Poto School produce varying styles that share common themes from daily life in the Congo. The school was founded 70 years ago to foster the natural talent of the African artists who had little to no background in painting or knowledge of the conventions of European fine art.
Circumnavigator Mark Pross (Washington DC Chapter) is currently on a polar expedition sailing from Iceland to Greenland, through the Northwest Passage of the Canadian Arctic to Nome, Alaska, and Vancouver. He unfurled the Circumnavigators flag at the abandoned cryolite mine and settlement in Greenland and at the traditional Inuit sod house, Nunavut, Canada.
Circumnavigators Roger & Paula Baker (Naples Chapter) just returned from the Channel Islands, the only part of Britain occupied by the Germans during WWII. They were there a week before the official visit of King Charles III.
Circumnavigators Maria & Gunther Winkler (Naples Chapter) enjoyed a hiking vacation in Austria. They said they felt like they were in the Sound of Music movie.
Scuttlebutt
Flight Centennial
September 28, 2024 is the 100th anniversary of the first flight around the world. Every country wanted to be the first, the United States won. The flight left Seattle in April 1924 and arrived back in Seattle September 28, 1924, greeted by 50,000 people.
Circumnavigator Ed Galkin (New York Metro) will be a major participant in the upcoming four-day celebration of the centennial. A private pilot, Ed has circumnavigated several times in his own plane. Now, he has been selected to have his plane on display with six other planes that have flown around the world. It is estimated that he is the oldest pilot to have flown a single engine plane around the world. The event will be held at Boeing Field in Seattle. Look for an update after the event. Congratulations, Ed.
As mentioned earlier, we hope you will enjoy these photos of school children around the world.
Do you have a good photo for The Last Shot? Please send to club@circumnavigators.org.
Luck to you!
David A. Mink
Editorial Director
club@circumnavigators.org
