Both classes are now beyond the halfway point of this
2,278-mile journey along Route 66... and both classes are in
the state of New Mexico!
Before sharing details about the students' week of running
and walking through the hot and rather desolate countryside
of New Mexico, we're going to share some information about
their progress so far and how things are looking for
finishing before the school year ends. There are 18 weeks
remaining before the school year is over, and that does not
include one week off for spring break. So, the 4th graders
have 18 weeks left to cover the 963½
miles that they have before reaching Los Angeles... the
finish line. In order to complete their Route 66 trek by the
last day of school, the 4th graders need to log an average
of 53½
miles per week. The 5th graders still have 1,091½
miles remaining on this 8-state trek. In order for the 5th
grade class to complete this by the last day of school,
they'll need to average 60½
miles per week. We truly don't want the clock to run out too
soon!
The kids have been on the road for 21 weeks. In that time
the 4th graders have averaged 62½
miles per week. If they can keep up that average, they'll
finish this journey about 2½
weeks BEFORE the school year ends. However, the 5th graders
have been averaging 56½
miles per week. They need to start logging an average of 4
miles more per week as a team in order to complete the
journey by the end of the school year. Right now, the 5th
grade team is on pace to finish Route 66 about 1½
weeks AFTER the school year ends. They need to pick up the
pace if they want to complete this before summer begins.
This journal entry was written on Saturday, February 2.
Today is Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil emerged from
his burrow and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of
winter in 2008. More than 30,000 people gathered in the
central Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney to witness the
event and cheer the most famous groundhog in the world.
Punxsutawney Phil was taken out of the tree stump on a hill
called Gobbler's Knob and brought to William Cooper,
President of Punxsutawney's Inner Circle, who is the
only one that could "speak" to the groundhog. Cooper read
the prediction scroll: "As I look around me, a bright sky
I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it
will be."
According to tradition, if the groundhog emerges from its
burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the
weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog
sees its shadow, it will return into its burrow, and the
winter will continue for 6 more weeks. The earliest
reference to Groundhog Day was made in 1841 and the
tradition has been kept alive ever since. Most analysis
claim that the groundhog has about 40% success rate in
predicting the weather, which doesn't stop thousands of
people from celebrating Groundhog Day every year.
So, what does all of this groundhog stuff have to do with
Route 66. Well, nothing really... except that according to
the world's most famous groundhog (Punxsutawney Phil) the
kids can expect to run and walk through 6 more weeks of
winter!
Lets get to where the kids virtually are. Right now, the 4th
graders are in Palma, New Mexico. Palma is a wide spot in
the road... and not much more. The nearest town is about 40
miles in either direction (west or east on the route). You'd
be smart to stop at the "Flying
C Ranch", which isn't an actual ranch
but a travel center located out in the middle of nowhere.
Palma's Flying C Ranch offers Route 66 shirts, hats and
other souvenirs as well as automobile gas (although that's
not something the kids need). Probably the best thing that
the Flying C Ranch offers is a Dairy Queen! Yep... this is a
place to stop and get some ice cream! Palma sits at 6,443
feet in elevation - which is about 1¼ miles above sea level,
and about twice as high as the city of Missoula. So, the
kids can experience warm days and chilly nights at this
elevation. Also, the air is thinner, so pacing at a
comfortable pace is important since oxygen is not as
plentiful as it is at lower elevations. Actually, the
section of Route 66 that the 4th grade students are now
virtually running and walking is a lot like it was back in
the 1930s. There's not much out there and the landscape can
make you feel like you're quite a long way from
civilization... which they are.
As the 4th graders covered their 58 miles this week they
passed by a couple of Santas. No, not the "Ho-Ho-Ho" kind of
Santa. We're talking about towns that have the name "Santa"
in them, such as Santa Rosa and Santa Fe (New Mexico's
capital city). By the way, Santa Fe is the highest capital
city in the United States at 7,000 feet above sea level. The 4th grade is
now about 40% done with the state of New Mexico.
This week the 5th grade celebrated the completion of Texas
and are now trekking in the same state as the 4th grade...
New Mexico! Currently the 5th grade classes are in
San Jon, New Mexico
("J" is pronounced like an "H") - which is home to about 270
people. Yep... another very small town! Don't expect any
rain while traveling through San Jon. Based on weather data,
this small town only receives about 1/2 inch of
precipitation during the winter months of December, January
and February. However, you can expect wind! All year long
San Jon has wind that is above the national average. So, you
might want to put some ear plugs in your ears to block the
wind... or break out your iPod to listen to.
Over the past 8 years the tiny town of San Jon has been
shrinking in size as people have chosen to move away. It may
become another one of Route 66's towns that just doesn't
survive.
So, both the 4th and 5th graders are on Route 66 in the
state of New Mexico. Each has completed 5 states so far.
While traveling through New Mexico the kids may want to keep
their eyes open for one of the official state flower... the
Yucca. The leaves of the Yucca can be used to make rope,
baskets and sandals. In 1927, the school children of New
Mexico were asked what flower they believed should be made
the official state flower. The kids thought about it for
months. Finally, they chose the yucca and it was officially
adopted as the state flower of New Mexico on March 14, 1927.
Click here to
see what a Yucca flower looks like!
Thanks for stopping by this New Mexico milepost. The ocean
is getting closer each week and with both classes in the
same state the race is on to see who will get there first.
The kids need encouraging words,
which you can give to them here.
Click Here To Read The Next
Journal Entry > >
|
5th Grade (41 students): Added
58½
miles this week. Their total
is 1,186½
miles. They have 1,091½
miles
left and are 52% done with the trek. They are 47½
miles past the halfway point!
