Wish You Were Here

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. 14 May 1804 Dearest Julia, I assure you that no man lives that I would prefer to undertake such an adventure as my dear friend Meriwether. Together we will explore westward in an attempt locate a waterway that will stretch to the Pacific Ocean. We have had a time getting underway, but are now heading up the Missouri River. I will marry you upon my return. All my love, __________ William Clark James Cook Samuel Champlain Hernando DeSoto

2. 1778 January Dear Elizabeth, The HMS Resolution has proven to be a stout ship. After returning Omai to Tahiti, we had sailed North and discovered a small group of islands where the women are wearing grass skirts and brassieres of coconut shells. I'm sure the very sight would cause a stir at home in England. I have decided to call the islands the Sandwich Islands after the Earl of Sandwich. All my love, ____________ Captain William Wallace Captain William Clark Captain James Cook Captain James T. Kirk

3. Dear Father, I have attempted to follow Bjarni Herjulfsson's route in reverse, which has led me far to the West of our homeland and believe I have discovered 'A New World'. There are many natives here who seem to spend a lot of time in the sun as they are quite tan. Tell my brother, Thorvald, that I will return after the winter and he may journey to our new settlement here, which we have named Vinland. Your son, __________ Hernando DeSoto Christopher Columbus Leif Eiriksson Sir Francis Drake

4. Dear Mom, It has been an exciting trip so far, getting to know dad and Uncle Maffeo. They have told me all about their encounters with Kublai Khan. So far I have discovered a thin pasta and a frozen treat among many other wonders. We will be gone for 24 years so I hope you will recognize me on our return. I will bring you some eye glasses to help you see me more clearly, which I have also discovered while on our trip through Asia. Love always, your son, ______________________ Amerigo Vespucci Juan Ponce de Leon Sir Walter Raleigh Marco Polo

5. 17 January 1912 My Dear Kathleen, Although we have reached the South Pole today, I fear it was all in vain. There has been much disappointment on this Terra Nova Expedition, unlike the previous Discovery expedition of 1901-03. We are not the first to reach the Pole after all. I fear that my 4 fellow travelers and I will die of starvation and cold exposure. I will remember you fondly. Your devoted husband, _____________________ Captain Robert Falcon Scott Captain James Cook Amerigo Vespucci Marco Polo

6. 6 July 1869 Dearest Emma, My love, the beauty of this untamed wildnerness is astounding. We have lost some gear along the way, but this canyon is both beautiful and 'grand'. Many of the men we started with have left the expedition, but I am content to follow the Colorado to the mouth of the Virgin River. I have named many of the iconic features I have seen along the way. I now know why the humble natives are so protective of this place, I do admire their culture and beliefs. I will see you soon! Love, __________ John Wesley Powell Meriwether Lewis William Clark Amerigo Vespucci

7. 13 October 1783 Dear Francisco Palou, I am glad to know my former student is well on his way to becoming a fellow missionary. It has been quite a journey that God has blessed me with. It was a year ago that we were able to build the chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano. I have presided over the confirmations of 213 people in the last two days and my efforts to encourage Spain to colonize this Western American territory, I believe they are calling it California, are going well. Blessings to you, __________________ Fray Junipero Serra Nicephorus Gregoras Pope John Paul II Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

8. Dear Mary, I have traveled through Africa these many years and seen many a marvel, but none so beautiful as the falls the natives call 'the smoke that thunders'. I am renaming it Victoria Falls after our beloved Queen. During my journey I have had a splendid thought. I believe the waterways in Africa shall provide much needed trade routes and have decided to pursue my goal by finding the source of the River Nile. I look forward to your joining me on a trip in the future. Until then - Your beloved husband, ______________________ David Livingstone Sir Douglas Mawson Sir Henry Morton Stanley Meriwether Lewis

9. Dear King Charles, We have made our way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific through a strait which I have humbly named after myself. We are crossing the Pacific Ocean now in search of the Spice Islands and plan to return to Spain after completely circumnavigating the Earth with our many ships. Sincerely, ____________ Ferdinand Magellan Amerigo Vespucci Ponce De Leon Sir John James Gibraltar

10. Dear Clarissa, I have reached the summit of this spectacular 'peak'. It is tremendous and you can see for miles all around. It is a glorious discovery in spite of the disappointment we have had with our search for the head waters of the Red River. We will be setting up a winter camp here in the midst of these mountains which seem to be very 'rocky'. Love always, _____________ Zebulon Pike George Everest William McKinley John Teton