Gov. Mark Sanford disappearance timeline

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's abrupt and unannounced departure last week -- and conflicting stories given by family and staff about his whereabouts over Father's Day weekend -- have provoked a torrent of media speculation.

The State -- newspaper of Columbia, S.C. -- ran an exclusive interview with Sanford this morning, in which he reveals that, on a whim, he had decided to fly to South America to visit Buenos Aires because it's "exotic" and "a great city."

The story reveals that Sanford actually planned a longer trip but cut it short "after his chief of staff, Scott English, told him his trip was gaining a lot of media attention and he needed to come back."

An interesting sidenote: It was an odd time to visit Buenos Aires, which is now in the dead of winter. As the Lonely Planet travel guide notes in its "When to go" section on Buenos Aires:

If they don't know it already, travelers from the northern hemispherewill soon realize that the southern hemisphere's seasons are completelyreversed. Summer runs December to February; fall is March to May;winter is June to August; and spring is September to November.

In terms of weather, spring (September to November) and fall (March to May) are the best seasons to visit Buenos Aires.

The State also provides this handy timeline of the confusion surrounding Gov. Sanford's departure, up to this morning's revelations about his jaunt to Argentina.

EVOLVING DETAILS

Accounts of Gov. Mark Sanford's four-day walkabout from his publicduties remain unclear and, in some instances, contradictory. A look atwhat is known and how accounts by Sanford's staff have changed as wordof his mystery trip became known and public officials became alarmed:

Thursday

Sanford leaves the Governor's Mansion in ablack State Law Enforcement Division Suburban assigned to his securitydetail. A precise time is unavailable.

A mobile telephone tower in Atlanta nearHartsfield airport picks up a signal from Sanford's phone. It is thelast signal before his phones are turned off for days.

Friday

Law enforcement officials get no response to phone and text messages sent to Sanford.

Saturday

The governor's office reports to police that there is no reason for concern but provides no details.

State Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, calls SLEDchief Reggie Lloyd about rumors that no one knows where Sanford is andno one can reach him. Lloyd confirms that Sanford's whereabouts areknown

Sunday

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer learns Sanford's whereabouts are unknown.

Monday

Monday morning -- Reporters hear rumors that Sanford's location is a mystery.

2:30 p.m. Knotts issues a statement raisingquestions about Sanford's absence, asking who is in charge of theexecutive branch of S.C. government.

2:40 p.m. The State newspaper posts an online article saying Sanford has been out of reach for four days.

2:50 p.m. The governor's office issues astatement that Sanford "is taking some time away from the office thisweek to recharge after the stimulus battle. ... We are not going todiscuss the specifics."

3 p.m. The Associated Press reports that firstlady Jenny Sanford says she does not know where her husband is, but heis taking time away from their four boys, "to write something." Shesays she is not worried.

Midafternoon Sanford security officials are told by the governor's office that he is OK. No details are provided.

3:40 p.m. The lieutenant governor's office says Sanford's office says it has spoken to Sanford and knows where he is.

About 5 p.m. Sawyer denies that Sanford staffers told Bauer's office that someone had spoken with the governor.

5 p.m. As media inquiries escalate to includenational news outlets, Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer issues anotherstatement. It says in part, "Before leaving last week, (Sanford) letstaff know his whereabouts and that he'd be difficult to reach." Hedeclines to elaborate. Sawyer also doesn't know whether Sanford isstill in the country.

10:05 p.m. The governor's office issues astatement saying Sanford is hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Staffmembers do not know where Sanford is on the trail and will not saywhether he is hiking with anyone.

Tuesday

9:42 a.m. The governor's office issues a statement saying staffers have spoken with Sanford and he will return to work today.