A Geographer Who Navigated the Globe

[cpzilliacus]

NewGeography.com: A Geographer Who Navigated the Globe

Many people ask, "What do geographers do?"  I would suggest that Marvin Creamer's life story is all you need to know about the practical application of geography, even though most of us will never be stuck in a horizonless Indian Ocean on a "sea of glass" , or try to navigate the ferocious Drake's Passage. Ancient mariners may have been able to sail long distances without instruments, but it is difficult, tricky, and can be extremely hazardous. Only one person, New Jersey's Marvin Creamer, has ever attempted to circumnavigate the globe this way. I had the distinct honor of interviewing Marvin Creamer for the thirtieth anniversary of his historic achievement. The 96 year old sailor and geographer also founded Rowan University's geography department, and taught there for over three decades.

[agentsteel53]

I wonder why he decided that he absolutely had to have the hourglass. 

[english si]

I didn't think that the globe needed navigating, that gravity kept it in orbit.

Circumnavigate is the word that headline is looking for and it's in the article. Silly editor...

[Road Hog]

Just by using the "hand method" from Polaris to the zenith (for lack of a better phrase) you can pretty well guesstimate your latitude, and I guess the same is true for the Southern Cross. The challenge is to keep your heading in the correct direction, which can be charted ahead of time but is easier said than done because of winds and currents.

This was a much-man feat and I'm saddened that it wasn't better-publicized.