Airborn Exploration Quotes

Kate's grandfather had started out in Cape Town to catch the jet stream and traveled quickly eastward over the Indian Ocean. But over Australia his luck ran out, and he got shunted off course to the northeast. There was no sign of panic in his log. His days were busy with keeping the balloon shipshape, managing his supplies and provisions, taking weather readings and bearings. He described the countries and landscapes he was sailing over. Some days there were just coordinates and weather conditions, other days he had lots to write about: birds, the changing light, the landscape of the passing nations beneath him, the creatures below the ocean's surface. He seemed interested in everything. (5.3)

"Exactly. Ships have their routes and, as you say, deviate from them only when necessary. That must leave millions and millions of miles of unexplored sky and sea!" (5.111)

"Winds are capricious all though there—that's why it's called the Sisyphus Triangle. There's been airships that went in and never came out. I've heard rumors about garbled distress calls, compass needles spinning madly, instruments all screwy. Luckily there's not much need to use those airways. They don't lead anywhere of particular interest." (6.8)