We all remember the discovery of Wilson, his invaluable companionship and council and we all remember the heart-breaking moment when he floated away into oblivion in the Pacific Ocean. Be of good cheer. Wilson didn’t deflate and sink into the cold dark depths. He went on a journey of discovery, and what a journey it was!
From the undisclosed location in the Pacific he made it to the Indian Ocean, around the southern tip of Africa, and up the east coast to the equator. There, he traveled through the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico, through the Straits of Florida and north in the Gulf Stream. He turned south off the coast of Scotland, sailed on to the Bay of Biscay and finally into the Mediterranean.
After several months of bobbing in a general north eastward direction he came to the mouth of the Arno River. Here one of the greatest feats of navigation of all times occurred. Taking advantage of the small but persistent eddy currents that move upstream, Wilson floated hundreds of miles inland to Florence, where I spotted him playing is a pool just below the dam near the Ponte Vecchio.
The reason for this long and harrowing trip is clear: Wilson is an Italian from Firenze and just wanted to get home. When we shouted “Look!! There’s Wilson!! Welcome Home!!” he spun with joy and bounced off a log with a playful twist.
And now you know the rest of the story.
Image: http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com
From the undisclosed location in the Pacific he made it to the Indian Ocean, around the southern tip of Africa, and up the east coast to the equator. There, he traveled through the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico, through the Straits of Florida and north in the Gulf Stream. He turned south off the coast of Scotland, sailed on to the Bay of Biscay and finally into the Mediterranean.
After several months of bobbing in a general north eastward direction he came to the mouth of the Arno River. Here one of the greatest feats of navigation of all times occurred. Taking advantage of the small but persistent eddy currents that move upstream, Wilson floated hundreds of miles inland to Florence, where I spotted him playing is a pool just below the dam near the Ponte Vecchio.
The reason for this long and harrowing trip is clear: Wilson is an Italian from Firenze and just wanted to get home. When we shouted “Look!! There’s Wilson!! Welcome Home!!” he spun with joy and bounced off a log with a playful twist.
And now you know the rest of the story.
Image: http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com
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