Some of the others are a little more modest - just
checking if it is possible to extend the campaign for like three hours.
Let them be, as we say in Norway.

Today was - after three weeks - our first day of rain. Correctly
forecasted at yr.no, but not by all meteorologists in this building.
Someone seemed to forget the simple fact that precipitation takes
different forms, and that temperature occasionally goes above zero also in
the far north. I will not mention any name, as the government has a hard
time keeping their budgets and does not want unemployment expenditures to
increase any more.

The white beauty was on her first flight since the Reykjavik affair, and
did she love it. Far north over the arctic waters and the glaciers and
fjords of Spitsbergen she moved graciously, popping out a dropsonde here
and a lidar beam there.

As this newsletter always does its best to be on top of its industry, both
when it comes to speedy news deliveries and the acceptance of modern
journalistic methods, we today have the pleasure of introducing a brand
new feature: Our very own and very special Arctic skies reporter. Read
here (and remember that it was here you read it) about the stunning
adventures and emotions of the trip, written by one who was there -
literally in the middle of The beauty.

"My dearest Truly,
for you did not had the possibility to go on the today’s ride with your
beloved white beauty I want to let you participate at some of the
experiences of this very special occasion. You might have seen the very
rare glimpses of true happiness in the faces of the few allowed flying up
to 81° 40’ 23’’ North and the glow in my eyes after looking on the endless
white of ice, snow covered mountains and glaciers.

After flying into the eye of the storm or searching for the severest
weather phenomena, we this time went for more peaceful contemporaries like
sea ice border and glaciers on Spitsbergen. Even if there should have been
a baby polar low around, nothing could disturb this freedom. Ok, I’ve been
throwing out some dropsondes, that are now waiting for not to be picked up.
Two of us were desperately shooting straight down with their lasers and
the rest of us were busy wile burning some tons of kerosene. But should we
have walked up there?

So we put aside these unwanted thoughts and went on with being very
impressed by the undisturbed nature far away from any civilization.
Shooting over the sea ice just 200 feet above with our Falcon. This was
impressing as well as exciting for all, even Rudi decided to look and
enjoy this moments in silence.

To cool down the emotions the few minutes in the freezing air of
Longyearbyen Airport were absolutely sufficient. Maybe the environment is
not that inviting as it might have looked from inside the warm aircraft.
Nevertheless it has been some special moments for me, impossible to
describe, but never to forget.

Yours today extraordinary happy Christian"

Those who were not allowed to join in this fantasy tour, partly planned
the Sunday flights, which some is trying to extend with a few hours on
Monday's return flight to Überhofenpfaffen. We'll know more about this
within a day or two. Else we had some easy time walking the streets of
downtown Andenes, which due to the ongoing rock festival and dog
championship are so crowded that there at times might be up to three
people on the sidewalk of one single block. Tough times.
As the generous rocket range staff went on Easter leave at noon, we now
have to prepare our food by ourselves. Dinner was prepared the easy way,
at Restaurant Lysthuset. It is the same joint that has produced our dinner
all the time when we have eaten at the range, so in gratitude of their
way-over-Michelin-class kitchen we presented to them Erik's bad weather
book.

After a brief planning meeting with debrief from the returned crew, we had
a pleasant evening in the living room. Astrid fed us with tons of ice
cream (in calculating the necessary amount she evidently had forgotten
that Muralidhar had returned to Bergen already) and heaps of chocolate
candy. I more modestly supplied stockfish snacks. Tonight's entertainment
was a wonderful three hour movie of The white beauty's nose beam supplied
with a variety of Arctic landscapes, seascapes and cloudscapes. Clearly
the best of the movies shown in our private theatre during this campaign,
although a little ruined by some unnecessary fast-forwarding. People are
so lacking patience these days.

As Jón Egill started the day by wondering whether Kåre Conradi and Lene
Marlin now is a couple, yours truly - service-minded to the bitter end -
bought the Easter issue of "Look and Hear" and is now able to confirm the
boss' assumption. The servicemindedness by the way today resulted in yet
another gift, namely a wonderful paparazzi troll. I bow my head.
Besides the heavy last day flights, tomorrow will be known as the day the
rats left the zinking ship. As many as nine of the twelve stuck here will
run off. Leaving three to take the last minute decisions, together with
the brave Germans, of course. You will be informed on how this turns out.
I enclose a few snapshots of this friendly community. But I also enclose
some extremely luxurious photos from our special reporter. And then I bid
thee good night.

g-