Planning the journey

Ruslan arrived at my apartment at 10:00 this morning. He brought a map. A physical, paper map of Kazakhstan, printed in 2003.

“We need to plan,” he said.

I agreed. We have been “planning” for three hours. We have consumed four cups of tea. We have not agreed on anything.

The Problem

Karaganda is approximately 1,200 kilometers from Almaty. There are three ways to get there:

Option 1: Driving

  • Duration: 14-16 hours
  • Cost: Approximately 25,000 tenge (fuel)
  • Advantages: Flexibility, can bring equipment
  • Disadvantages: Ruslan does not like long drives. His back, he says.

Option 2: Flying

  • Duration: 1.5 hours (plus 3 hours at airports)
  • Cost: Approximately 35,000 tenge per person
  • Advantages: Fast
  • Disadvantages: I do not like flying. It is not rational. I understand the physics. The physics do not help.

Option 3: Train

  • Duration: 18-20 hours
  • Cost: Approximately 12,000 tenge per person (kupe compartment)
  • Advantages: Comfortable, can sleep, can bring equipment
  • Disadvantages: Slow

We stared at the options.

The Negotiation

“I am not driving fourteen hours,” Ruslan said.

“I am not flying,” I said.

“Your fear of flying is irrational.”

“I know. This does not make it less real.”

He considered this. “Fair.”

We looked at the train option.

“Eighteen hours is a long time,” he said.

“We could measure things,” I suggested.

His eyes lit up. “Atmospheric pressure changes along the route.”

“Grid frequency variations between cities.”

“Temperature differentials.”

“We could document the entire journey.”

He smiled. It was the smile of a man who has found a loophole in an inconvenience.

“The train it is.”

The Schedule

We checked the timetable. There is a train departing Almaty on Friday, February 6th at 18:45. It arrives in Karaganda on Saturday, February 7th at 13:20.

This means:

  • We can take Tuesday’s measurements (February 3rd) before departure
  • We arrive with time to rest before meeting Valentina Sergeevna
  • We can take the return train on Sunday evening

I purchased two tickets online. Ruslan watched over my shoulder and commented on my typing speed. This is apparently how he expresses nervousness.

The Packing List (Draft 1)

I have begun making a list. Ruslan has opinions about this list.

Item My Reasoning Ruslan’s Opinion
Notebook (large) For recording Morozov data “Bring two. One might get wet.”
Notebook (small) For travel observations “Unnecessary. Use the large one.”
Camera To photograph original documents “Your phone has a camera.”
Phone Communication, backup camera “Finally something sensible.”
The Ambassador (barometer) Pressure measurements during travel “It is fragile. Leave it.”
Multimeter (Ц4353) General measurements “Which one?”
Warm clothing It is February in Kazakhstan “Obviously.”
Tea (loose leaf, 200g) I do not trust train tea “I will bring my own as well.”
Gift for Valentina Sergeevna Politeness “What kind of gift?”

The gift question remains unresolved. What do you bring to an 84-year-old widow whose husband’s research you are hoping to inherit?

Ruslan suggested flowers. I pointed out that flowers purchased in Almaty would not survive eighteen hours on a train. He suggested chocolates. This seems acceptable.

The Equipment Dilemma

Should I bring The Ambassador?

Arguments in favor:

  • Continuous pressure readings during the journey would add data to our study
  • The train passes through multiple atmospheric zones
  • I have become attached to it (this is not a scientific argument)

Arguments against:

  • It is a brass instrument from 1978
  • Trains vibrate
  • If it breaks, Ruslan will feel responsible (he gave it to me)

I have decided to leave it. The Ц4353 is more robust. It has survived worse than Kazakh railways.

What I Am Not Saying

I am nervous.

Not about the train. Not about Karaganda. About meeting Valentina Sergeevna in person.

On the phone, I made promises. I said I would continue her husband’s work. I said his research mattered. These things are true. But what if the data in those boxes shows nothing? What if Morozov was wrong? What if I am wrong?

Ruslan noticed I had stopped talking.

“You are overthinking,” he said.

“Probably.”

“Whatever is in those boxes, it is more than we have now. Even negative data is data.”

He is right. I know he is right. But knowing does not always help.

Current Status

Ruslan left at 14:30. We have a plan. The plan is:

  • Tuesday, February 3rd: Final pre-trip measurement of the Tuesday Anomaly
  • Friday, February 6th: Depart Almaty by train (18:45)
  • Saturday, February 7th: Arrive Karaganda (13:20), rest, prepare
  • Saturday evening or Sunday morning: Meet Valentina Sergeevna
  • Sunday, February 8th: Return train (time TBD)

I have five days to prepare. This seems like enough time. It also seems like not nearly enough time.

Current status:

  • Transportation: Train (compromise achieved)
  • Tickets: Purchased (2x kupe compartment)
  • Packing list: Draft 1 complete, revisions expected
  • The Ambassador: Staying home
  • Gift for Valentina Sergeevna: Chocolates (probably)
  • Days until departure: 5
  • Emotional state: Nervous but committed

Previous post: The Archive Lead