Jamestown, VA (USA)

It was cold, but we headed up to Jamestown anyway. We first (1045) stopped at Historic Jamestowne (National Park) and watched artisans making glass. Starting at 1130, the kids completed a Junior Ranger program and, in the process, we saw some interesting historical artifacts. Later, we drove over to the Jamestowne Settlement (a recreation of the 1607 fort). We got some lunch there at about 0220.  The experience was great - definitely worth a repeat! Stopped for some souvenirs on the way out (1710).  On the way home, we stopped in Hampton to drive through a Christmas light display - it was pretty good!

Richmond, VA (USA)

[Took time off from work so I could drive to Richmond Airport to meet with an FAA Air Carrier Inspector. He helped me fill out all the paperwork for adding the DC-9 type rating to my commercial license.  On the way home, I stopped for a visit at York River State Park]

Guantanamo (Cuba)

It had been a great trip and visit to some tropical islands - very memorable, all around!  Kevin and I got up early so we could fly back to Norfolk for another crew swap. Before we could fly, though, we had to make a trip across Guantanamo Bay to the airport is fun - they've been using a speedboat to move us around. The weather was great and the flight back to Norfolk was easy.  A replacement crew was waiting to fly our aircraft [and the Globetrotters] back to the Azores. I was very happy to have gotten to have so much "liberty" time during this trip, meet some nice people and get a lot of great new experiences.  I've got a great job!

Bermuda (Bermuda)

Got up early and checked out of the Mid Atlantic Lodge.  The crew assembled quickly and we thought we'd be airborne on time.  However, when we got to the aircraft, we found it was broken. Unfortunately, this was right about the time that our other aircraft landed with the Globe Trotters and Karen onboard. After some consultation, we traded aircraft so that we could keep the Trotters going on their way to Cuba. Kevin and I were able to keep flying together and we planned a for fuel in Bermuda.  It was my second time on the island (see MAY 1999) and, overall, was an interesting experience (scenery wise and pushback & checklist wise).  The whole time, I was thinking about how great it would be if we could stay...  As usual, though, we were quickly on our way again. The flight to Cuba just before night fall. Karen invited us to attend a fancy shindig at one of the VIP houses. It has been awhile since I was on this island for the night (see Summer 1988). People treated us well, mostly (I think) because they remembered me from a previous trip (I set up transportation for a jazz festival in 2004). We got a nice house to sleep in and use of a van. Feeling like VIPs, we drove over to the Globetrotter Welcome Party and rubbed elbows with everyone for several hours.  There was lots of good food and nice view of the Bay. Went back to sleep relatively early.  Life is good!

Angra do Heroismo, Azores (Portugal)

After a nice sleep in the Mid Atlantic Lodge, I ate breakfast at the Base Exchange (0900).  I was then able to get a rental car from Lajes Lodging (1045) and, with the entire crew aboard, drove around the island to see places we normally don't have time to visit. First, we drove down towards Praia and then found a back road up to the top of a hill overlooking the harbor. When we fly in, we have always noticed the statue on the hill (you can also see it lit at night from the town). We discovered that it was a statue of Mary and that it was supposed to bring blessings to the sailors from Praia. It was very windy and we later went down to the seashore to see the five foot waves and huge breakers. It was misty and a little rainy (not cold, though). Finally got back on the road and headed over to the town of Angra (opposite side of the island). We walked around there - it is bigger and more urban than Praia. It was a nice experience and we had some good food for lunch. Lots of history over there, too. Later, the sun started to shine on the west side of the island and we had time to enjoy an area with no wind (the mountain really cuts it down, I guess). We bravely drove up to the top of this mountain - it was like driving in the clouds! Too bad we couldn't see anything (except for a lot of antennas - useful to pilots!). At the end of the day we drove down towards Praia, having made a complete circle of the island. We saw an nice golf course on the way - Kevin got excited... Dinner was at the Top of the Rock Club (ordered at 2050). We leave tomorrow.

Vila Praia da Vitoria, Azores (Portugal)

[flying with Kevin F - flight to Lajes] Kevin and I are pretty happy with ourselves, since we were able to get to the Azores in one leg!. Even though it was already late there, we still had the most time on the ground I have ever had (it will end up being around 30 hours!). We checked into the Mid Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) and then headed into Praia to do some shopping. As I have before, I found lots of Christmas (called Natal here) stuff to bring home for Nicky and the kids. We wanted to eat at O Pescadors but it was closed. Instead, we found a Mexican place - it was the only restaurant available but the food was pretty good. During the meal, it was agreed that we should explore the rest of the island tomorrow...

Norfolk, VA (USA)

[Christmas Lights at Norfolk Botanical Gardens]

Newport News, VA (USA)

[model train museum with the girls]

Hampton, VA (USA)

[ERAU Distance Learning Course at Langley AFB]

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

We visited Colonial Williamsburg today - it was a great experience. We were able to see inside all of the old buildings, watch a parade and talk with people re-enacting the 1770s. The kids got to take part in lots of special events, running and playing in the brisk autumn weather.  By the kids' request, we ate dinner (corn dogs, mac & cheese and pizza) at the Chili's in Hampton (1830).

Hampton, VA (USA)

[ERAU Distance Learning Course at Langley AFB]

Hampton, VA (USA)

[ERAU Distance Learning Course at Langley AFB]

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

[last chance for us to visit Busch Gardens - we got there in the afternoon - three of us got to feed the Lorikeets (1600) - we next stopped at the Festhaus to get some food (1635) - Howl-O-Scream]

Hampton, VA (USA)

[ERAU Distance Learning Course at Langley AFB]

Norfolk, VA (USA)

[since she was jealous that I'd taken Brenna, I took Erin to see the "Wallace & Gromit" movie at the Naval Base Theater (Phoenix Theatres) at 1850]

Hampton, VA (USA)

[ERAU Distance Learning Course at Langley AFB]

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

Visited Busch Gardens again - this time with our new annual passes. I think they will really be worth the price! The "preview" pass allows us to visit in 2005 with 2006 passes. The kids had already tried many of the rides before, so they showed Nicky everything. We got funnel cake and hot cider (1915).  Enjoyed Howl-O-Scream again, too! 

San Diego, CA (USA)

[after checking out of the Navy Lodge at North Island NAS, I got some lunch for the road at Subway (0815) - later, we flew from San Diego to Camp Springs (Andrews AFB) and then back to Norfolk) - flying with Jim D.]

San Diego, CA (USA)

[RON with Jim D. - flew from Virginia Beach to Miami (Executive) - next, flew to Norfolk International - we then flew west to San Diego - arrived at North Island NAS and checked into our room at the Navy Lodge - thought we only had time for one round of drinks at Coronado Brewing Company (1930) but we ended up having another round (2045) - back to the room late]

New Orleans, LA (USA)

[New Orleans - just after Katrina - itinerary uncertain (Brett)]

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

After work, I took the kids to Busch Gardens (arrived at 1000 and got the preferred parking).  This was my first visit since 1991 - it has really changed! We ate some lunch at the Festhaus (1155) and later got some snacks (1435). We spent a really nice day exploring.  Along the way, we learned about the Howl-o-Scream event that was going to start later in the evening.  The kids were really interested in seeing what it was so we decided to stay. We got some food at Squire's Galley (1730). The kids had a great time getting spooked by the ghouls! We definitely have to come back!

Norfolk, VA (USA)

[I took Brenna to see the "Wallace & Gromit" movie at the Naval Base Theater (Phoenix Theatres) at 1830]

Yorktown, VA (USA)

Got some tickets to see the Yorktown Victory Center. Spent the whole day there - it was cool. The girls got to be "recruits" and we saw a lot of really interesting things. Afterwards, we drove over to Colonial Williamsburg. At the visitor's center, they told us we could walk around to see the town - and even have dinner inside! We took them up on that and checked out an old Tavern. They served us by candlelight and the kids even got to play with some "Colonial" children. It was a very memorable experience.

Moving Trip (Part 3) - Day 1

[left early - drove from Atlanta to Virginia Beach via I-20, I-95 and US-58 - filled up the gas tank at the Circle D in Chesapeake, VA (1830) - move FINALLY complete!]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

Didn't leave St. John's early - "resting" from last night. Shopped around in the hotel for a little while. On the cab ride back to the airport, the cabbie took us on an unplanned tour of the northern end of the city - he thought we were catching a flight from the other terminal. He told us the story of Newfoundland's desire to join the US back in World War II. He also told us that the little island we have seen flying into St. John's is called Belle Isle. We had a pretty good flight on the way home - saw the Cape again...

St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

After returning my rental car at Europcar (0830), I headed to the flight line.  We left Sigonella soon after that, hoping to reach Canada early in the day. Uneventful transit (stops in Rota and Lajes) to Newfoundland - good weather, too. Chip had wanted to "celebrate" his retirement, so the girls at the St. Johns airport set us up with a "farewell" dinner (and beer!). After we landed, we went right in to eat! There was homemade potato salad and Brunswick stew - and the burgers, dogs and steaks were great. We spent the night in the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre (checked in at 1815L). Walked around town until late.

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

Worked all day...

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[Camarina... ?]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

Worked all day...

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

Worked all day...

Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Got up early and checked out of the JW Marriott. (one of our crew had a little too much fun last night...) We made it to the airport pretty early and found another great weather day for another trip across Iraq and Eastern Turkey. The visibility was so good and my map came in handy for identifying ground landmarks (saw more ancient ruins). The Mountains of Ararat were visible at border crossing. [Stopped for fuel at Incirlik?]  Continued across Turkish and Greek airspace until we made it back to Sigonella.  Another good mission!

Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Staying in this city was definitely a highlight of our trip to the Middle East. I must admit that I had never expected to see such luxury or amazing architecture! Despite the dreadful heat (and it is probably worse than ever!) we were able to explore. I tried all morning to get a reservation for dinner in the Burj-al-Arab (hotel shaped like a sailboat in the water). In the end, we went over to the Jumeira Beach Hotel and sneaked into the bar on the beach. While we sipped drinks on the beach, we could truly appreciate the magnificance of this city (and admired the Burj-al-Arab right in our view). We looked around some malls later (taxis are a must to avoid heat exhaustion). Saw signs of an indoor water park - probably fun... Found the gold souk area of the city as the sun was going down. Eric and I had dinner at one of the amazing buffet restaurants at the JW (free-flowing beer again...). Spent a nice evening wandering around the hotel and reading some of the Marriott family story (book in hotel room)...

Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Flew from Sicily to the UAE today, stopping in [Incerlik?] Turkey for fuel. We were allowed to pass through Iraqi airspace again and had the best weather yet. Arriving at Dubai International just before dark, we found out we had rooms at the JW Marriott.  WOW!!!  It was VERY hot, even in the dark, so we didn't leave the hotel. Tonight there was a Lebanese wedding in the hotel. I was at the bar and a large crowd of people came to the bottom of a nearby staircase and began to sing very loudly. Naturally, everyone around me stood to see what was happening. As a well dressed (recently married) couple came down the stairs, the crowd of singers got louder and louder. They swarmed around the couple when they reached the bottom. The whole event was very joyous. One of the waiters near me helped me to understand what was happening - he asked me if I was "of the Muslim faith." I told him, no, but anyone can recognize overwhelming happiness in any language!

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

Worked all day...

Tindari, Sicily (Italy)

After I filled up the rental car (it cost almost $130 because it was a van) at 1010, I asked around to see if anyone wanted to go exploring.  There weren't any takers except for Chuck R.  That was enough for me - we set off for the Caleca factory in Patti.  In addition to the normal "seconds shopping", we got a personal tour from the American secretary who worked there.  It was very interesting!  We ended up driving up to Tindari for lunch. We had a nice tourist lunch overlooking the Mediterranean (including the Aolean Islands). I had heard stories about "the Black Madonna" but never knew what it was until we found it in the church in town - it was a statue of the Virgin Mary that washed ashore many years ago. An older church was preserved but almost overshadowed by an adjacent, spectacular modern one.  What a fun day on the island of Sicily!

Corleone, Sicily (Italy)

This morning, I went with our crew so we could visit Agrigento again - this time so Chuck could visit for his first time. We met some other Americans on a tour and followed along. I think we learned a lot more than when I came in 2003. The weather was spectacular.  Afterwards, we decided to go looking for the town of Corleone to see if it was anything like the movie - and it isn't. We learned later that the Godfather movies were filmed near Catania, but it was still worth a trip anyway. The town was celebrating some sort of festival, so we joined in the food and fun. Houses and old churches are perched on the side of a mountain - it has a totally different feel than the east side of the island - both in the lack of English speakers and the (seemingly) upper class residents.

Palermo, Sicily (Italy)

I had always wanted to visit Palermo - especially since the first time I flew over it. Unfortunately, (until today) the time off was never available. We more than made up for it, though, with an early wake up and drive across the island. When we got there we were a little disoriented (no map) - but while we "explored" we walked through several pretty city parks. Eventually we found the impressive Norman Cathedral (it actually has influences from many other conquerors). Met a nice elderly couple who were returning to their cruise ship. They let me have their city map - that helped tremendously for the rest of the day. After exploring a few Baroque era churches, we found a museum that displayed the famous medieval puppets that were used in the "Punch & Judy" style performances. I was amazed at the variety. We stopped for a late lunch (at Osteria Cavalieri di Malta ?) and I ordered the "Fruti di Mare" dish (included several local seafoods) - might be one of the first meals I didn't enjoy on the island. Afterwards we walked back to the car so we could drive over to tour the nearby "catacombs." When we got there (Capuchin Catacombs), we found that it was filled with bodies of people from Palermo who died during the last five hundred years. It was a little spooky, to say the least. One of the memorable bodies was "Sleeping Beauty," a 2 year old baby who looked like she was taking a nap. Amazingly, she was buried here over 100 years ago! On the way out of the city, we saw several monuments to the Mafia. Drive home went alright - back by 2030.

Piazza Armerina, Sicily (Italy)

With no flights scheduled oday, our crew made a group decision to visit Piazza Armerina.  This is probably one of the most spectacular sights in Sicily that I have every seen. The Villa del Casale has some of the beautiful mosaic floors that you can see in the world. A blog can't do justice to the entire experience. We walked for hours through the ruined baths and private rooms and saw entire mythological stories recreated in artwork from the Fourth Century. Lucky for us, the residence of a wealthy Roman was swallowed up in mud, preserving the site.  [Back at Sigonella, I relaxed and rested for the rest of the day and evening.]

Napoli, Campania (Italy)

Slept late. It was tough to get back on the time zone again after such a long few days of running around.  Thought we might have time to go exploring again in Naples but then it started to rain. After checking out of the Capo Inn, bought some souvenirs and was planning to get some food from one of the restaurants on NSA Naples.  Suddenly, I learned that the rest of the crew wanted to go back to Sicily early! Within an hour, we were on our way (1200 takeoff).  The flight to Sigonella was uneventful and we were back on Base by 1400.  I was quite tired and didn't venture out very far to get food.  We're supposed to have another mission in a few days - it will likely take all that time to feel "normal" after this trip!

(Kuwait)

It was an interesting night in "hooch" with all the guys - each of us slept on old green cots. It took a bunch of effort to get a ride to the 24/7 Air Force Chow Hall but the food was plentiful and good.  Learned early that our passengers would not be ready on time. Back at the hooch, we played video games until around 1400. When it was finally time to leave, we headed back to the airport and had to use air conditioning units to get the aircraft cool enough for our DV/VIP pax.  When the outside air temperature was finally below the DC-9 takeoff limit, we departed Kuwait (at around 1730) and flew to the north west. We had great weather for the overflight of Iraq and Eastern Turkey again - my map came in handy! Like before, I'm pretty sure I saw some really ancient sites between the Tigris and Euphrates.  We did have some trouble with our overflight clearance as we reached the Iraq/Turkey border but eventually sorted everything out OK.  It was dark by the time we were flew over Istanbul - the city was lit up nicely!  After a heck of a day, we landed in Naples (after 2300) and, because we were tired, decided to spend the night.  As a result of all the post-flight paperwork, aircraft cleanup, debriefs and other admin/logistics, I didn't get checked into my room at the Capo Inn until 0305.  Whew!

Izmir (Turkey)

Our day started VERY early!  We checked out of the Capo Inn and were waiting for our DV/VIP pax at the aircraft by [about 0700].  We next flew over to Turkey - another flight with great weather! We could see the mountains of Albania and the city of Thesalonika. Lots of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. The view of Izmir (near Smyrna) was spectacular, too. When we landed, we had knew we had over four hours to explore. Charlie R and I sweet talked our way into a ride to a local mall so we could do some shopping.  Our (informal) guide (the driver from the airport) was great.  We learned a lot about the local area, including economics and some culture.  He eventually took us to a place that was a supermarket chain store (I think) called "Kipa".  The store was quite interesting and I bought some items for myself and the girls.  The receipt I got was quite hard to read, with all kinds of unusual characters. From this, though, I figured out that a local greeting, "Iyi Gunler", was the way to say "Good day" in Turkish.  We could have seen even more but I got a call that our passenger wanted to leave earlier than we'd expected. We stopped in Incirlik on the way to the desert. This was my first time over eastern Turkey and Iraq - what a view! We saw the outskirts of Bagdhad and the Iranian border. I'm pretty sure we flew right over Mosul/Nineveh. Basra was something to see, too. After landing at [... (1900)], we learned that the Air Force didn't have lodging for us. "Since you are Navy, maybe you can stay with the SeaBees" - the quote didn't inspire confidence.  But they let us get some chow at the big (24/7) dining facility.  [I think they had surf & turf the night we were there!]  After that, I had a chance to go shopping - this allowed me to buy a map of Iraq for our return flight.  Our transportation then took us out to the farthest end of the Base, where we found a few Quonset Huts along the perimeter.  The SeaBees weren't there but they had set up the inside of the huts (or "hooches") to be as good as possible for a bunch of military guys.  Before heading to bed, we played lots of video games and watched movies.  It isn't the Ritz but I was glad we had somewhere to sleep other than the airplane...  Interesting day!

Pompeii [Napoli], Campania (Italy)

After a better night's sleep in the Sigonella Bachelor Housing, we left Sicily [in the morning].  We arrived at Capodichino by [0800] and met up with our schedulers. They gave us some basic information about our mission and told us we'll need to wait for more (will be provided tomorrow).  After we filed our flight plan and did some rudimentary planning, though, we were allowed to borrow a vehicle and use it to visit Pompeii! I had been to there once before (see DEC 1996), but this trip was better because we had more time. Most of the people in our group had never been to the historic site, so they enjoyed walking the streets and spending time in the pleasant weather (for some reason, there were no tourists). I think I saw more of the overall city this time, including some buildings that were not open years ago.  And they seem to have improved the displays.  With daylight remaining, we next used our borrowed car to drive part of the way up Mount Vesuvius! We had to walk for some of the way near the end, but standing on an overlook above Pompeii was pretty amazing.  It was hard not to look down and think that those people didn't have much warning. We could see smoke coming from inside the volcano and there was a pretty good path around half of the rim. After an interesting afternoon, we headed back to NSA Naples and checked into the Capo Inn (2000).  Went to sleep early so we'll be ready for an early departure in the morning.  Let the fun begin!

Sigonella, Sicilia (Italy)

After a night of trying to get on the local time zone, [I woke up and made my way to the Sigonella Galley for breakfast].  A bit later, I picked up my rental car at Europcar this morning (1005).  [Our crew spent most of the day figuring out how to support the mission we have to the Middle East.  Our local pilot counterparts briefed us on DV/VIP protocol and our crew made grocery purchases (with the help of the Culinary Specialists) so that we could support our passengers to the level to which they are accustomed.  I learned that one of the DVs was my Admiral during my 1998-1999 MED Cruise - I wonder if he remembers me...  Spent the afternoon relaxing and getting some sleep so we'd be ready for our mission to Naples in the morning.]

Terceira, Azores (Portugal)

Our plan to minimize time on the ground in the Azores was successful.  After checking out of the Mid-Atlantic Lodge at Lajes, we departed early and made it to Sicily early. (It is easy to bypass Spain when no one else is coming over onboard the aircraft with us...)  After checking into the Bachelor Housing for Sigonella, our crew got settled for the night.  [we have to meet with our pilot counterparts from the local unit tomorrow - we are flying their mission because their aircraft is broken]

St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

[Another MED Detachment!  Flying with Chip C this time.] Good flying today - we great weather. The flight from Atlanta to Newfoundland was good and we got to see a lot of the Maritime Provinces. After a fuel stop at St. Johns, we flew to the Azores.  We arrived at Lajes Air Base a few hours later than we'd hoped. Fortunately, we stayed at our usual (convenient) spot, the Mid Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns), and had time for drinks at the "Top of the Rock."

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[geo-bachelor - living in Powder Springs while working at NAS Atlanta]

Las Vegas, NV (USA)

[checked out of the Renaissance Las Vegas at 1200 and headed to the airport - flew (with Scott) back to Atlanta]

Las Vegas, NV (USA)

[flew with Scott E. (RON in Las Vegas) - got a room at the Renaissance Las Vegas (checked in at 1340) - after dropping bags in the room, found the Monorail (1415) and used it to explore the Strip - trying to stay cool - got ice cream at Cocolini in The Venetian Resort (1715) - took Monorail back in the direction of the hotel (1800)]

Marietta, GA (USA)

Arrived (after flying all night and multiple time changes) at NAS Atlanta at around 0800L.  Mission completed - whew!  [Once all our paperwork was done, I was given permission to return to the BOQ (for another night as a geographic bachelor) and got a much needed nap.]

Vacaville (USA)

After a relatively easy flight from Hawaii to the US Mainland, we landed in California (Travis AFB) at around midnight.  Once refueled, we continued east (still flying at the "new" midnight).

Oahu, HI (USA)

I had a pretty good sleep last night and would have rested longer - unfortunately, we couldn't get a late check out from the Outrigger Reef.  Instead, I left my bags with the Concierge (1125) and went exploring.  Ate breakfast (grilled chicken club meal with "Fresh Hawaiian Pineapple Chunks") at a little restaurant (located near 2164 Kalia Rd) and was finished at 1220.  I then walked along the beach and investigated a nearby shopping district.  Overall, it was another nice day in Hawaii!! After returning to the Outrigger Reef and meeting my crew, we headed back to Hickam AFB.  We departed Honolulu in the late afternoon and flew east through the night...

Wake Island (USA)

Checked out of the CBH at 0420 and left NAF Atsugi soon afterwards. The schedulers back home had set us up at the Grand Plaza Hotel (at Tumon Bay) in Guam for the night but everyone decided they'd rather go back to Hawaii for our last RON (I had to file a claim because of the missed reservation).  In addition, our hope was that we could get to Wake Island before the sun went down. Everything went as planned and, after a good flight from Japan, we had another good stop on the little sand-bar island. Today I had time to walk around near the waterfront along the tarmac - there were still some World War II remains visible... We departed just before the sun went down and, after crossing the International Date Line, repeated August 15.  We arrived in Honolulu around 0700L (felt VERY tired) and checked into the Outrigger Reef.  I took a nap for several hours. Later, an old friend from our squadron, Tom B, picked us up at the hotel and drove us around the island. He showed us his new home - located on a hill overlooking Waikiki - and we congratulated him on his good fortune. Met up with the crew again for dinner at Duke's - it's always a nice venue.  Flying back to CONUS tomorrow...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day...

Labuan (Malaysia)

Fortunately, the smoke had cleared somewhat when we woke up this morning.  After checking out of the Sheraton Subang and getting a ride back to the Kuala Lampur airport, we flew east to the island of Borneo. Our destination was an airport in Labuan - on the way, we saw the country of Brunei and some beautiful beaches. It looks like a nice place to vacation... After coordinating with our passengers and cargo, we took off again and headed east towards the Philippines.  We saw some huge thunderstorms on the way (shudder)...  Approaching the Philippines, I was relieved to find that the weather wasn't as bad as yesterday.  We still couldn't see the mountains, though...  After our busy day in the air, we arrived in Angeles City the late evening.  The sun was just setting and it was nice to get a break for a bit between mission legs.  We even had a chance to pick up some great lumpia and fried rice before departing - really tasty!  Our flight back to NAF Atsugi was relatively uneventful and it felt good to reach my rack in the CBH after getting finished with all the post-flight paperwork.  Interesting trip!

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

We checked out of the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa at 0655 and headed to the airport.  Our mission today consisted of a flight to the Philippines.  Our planned stop there was at an airport in the central area of Luzon.  It was hard to see, since the haze was bad - we had an interesting time getting in because there was no radar... Not many people were around when we landed but, fortunately, we still had a quick turn. After departing Angeles City in Luzon, we flew west towards Malaysia.  We had a different destination in mind but, with huge forest fires in Indonesia obscuring our landing site, we were emergency diverted by the Vietnamese controllers to Kuala Lumpur. After we were on the ground, I didn't get to see much because we were taken straight to the hotel (Sheraton Subang Hotel and Towers).  Our lodging was very nice but the air was extremely smoky - visibility was horrible.  We'll have to see what happens with the flight plan tomorrow...

Guam (USA)

We got our first mission today!  Our itinerary took us from NAF Atsugi down to Andersen AFB in Guam and we had a great flight.  After landing, we got a ride to the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa - this was my first visit there and it quite a nice place for relaxation! I was the only one of our group that hung around the property for the Luau (started at 1900). The dinner was mostly light fare (they called it "BBW Walk-in Adult") but there was free-flowing beer. As it got dark, the Fire Dancers came out to entertain us. I had a great seat and the show lasted for several hours. Most everyone else in attendance was from China and Japan. I've always wanted to see something this - very glad I hung out here tonight!

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day...

Wake Island (USA)

After a decent sleep, we checked out of the Outrigger Reef (1200L) and headed to the airport so we could continue our journey to the west.  Like we often do, our itinerary took us through Wake Island again. The airport had been closed for a long time so they could resurface the runway - it looked good! Our crew got Thai box lunches again - it's nice how things don't change quickly in the "relaxed" Pacific... After another relatively uneventful flight, arrived in Japan in the early evening.  We'll be doing some missions in the area for about a week so I got one of the nice rooms at the CBH on NAF Atsugi.  Met up with the crew for dinner and then crashed.

Honolulu, HI (USA)

I found out about a pop up opportunity to go to Japan!  This morning, we got an early start on our way west from Atlanta.  It was a nice trip to the west coast again - there was great weather near San Francisco. After our fuel stop, we had a good flight to the Hawaiian Islands and arrived in Honolulu late in the afternoon. Our reservations were at the Outrigger Reef again, but they didn't have our rooms set up correctly - this led to some major delays. The other pilots went golfing while I stayed behind to take care of everyone else... Finally got into a room after dinner - thank goodness. After getting changed, I walked down to Duke's for a drink.  The weather here never gets me down!

Greenville, SC (USA)

[(date uncertain) worked all day - flew back late]

Greenville, SC (USA)

[(date uncertain) drove from Atlanta to Greenville - worked all day - two flights (FCF) with Will]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[after spending the night in the Crowne Plaza in Greenville (SC), we headed back to Donaldson Center (airfield) so we could check on our jet - it was ready to go very early and we got in the air immediately (I returned the rental car by 0805) - once back at NAS Atlanta, I spent a normal day at the squadron - since I'm now completely a geographic bachelor, I asked for permission to stay on base until the end of my current orders - this was approved and I checked back into the BOQ at 2145]

Greenville, SC (USA)

[I checked out of the NAS BOQ (paid for last three days at 0715) and flew one of our jets up to Greenville (Donaldson Center), SC - it was a short flight and we were one deck before 0830 - the trip was intended to allow some modifications to be made to our avionics - fortunately, we were given a rental car (from Enterprise) and this allowed us to drive back and forth to our hotel (Crowne Plaza on Congaree Road)]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[staying in the NAS BOQ again]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[after saying goodbye to the Nicky and the kids (they were driving to Hampton Roads), I drove to work at NAS Atlanta - spent the day in the office - in the evening, checked into the the NAS BOQ]

Moving Trip (Part 2) - Day 4

Our last day together as a family for awhile - Nicky and the kids leave for Mississippi in the morning and I have to go back to work for a few months until my official day for transfer. We spent our final day in the area at Sun Valley Beach - a Christian water park near Powder Springs, Georgia. We have been here before - and that made the day a little more bittersweet. We had great fun, even though it was a little cloudy with some sprinkles. The kids had fun in the water and we went back to Anna's tired but happy. We'll miss our little town (Douglasville) and can only hope to have such a nice place to live in the future.

Moving Trip (Part 2) - Day 3

We spent a lot of the day at the pool in our old neighborhood. It was good to see a lot of our friends one last time. We drove over to Marietta Square tonight and had a meal at a really good Slovakian place I had eaten at before - the kids liked it. We went back to Anna's before 2100.

Moving Trip (Part 2) - Day 2

We took advantage of our membership at the Fernbank Natural History Museum today (1200). The kids have enjoyed going there for the last few months and will miss the chance to do it again, I think. We spent nearly the whole day there. One of Nicky's friends, Anna, has graciously offered to let us stay at her house for a few days - that was nice. The kids love the multi-night sleepover parties!

Moving Trip (Part 2) - Day 1

After a couple of days to get the rest of our stuff settled, mow the grass and finish my term paper, we departed from Virginia Beach.  Nicky wanted to go see her parents in Mississippi and I had to attend my last Human Factors (Grad School) class at NAS Atlanta. Also, I had to complete the last few months of my military orders in Georgia as a "Geo-Bachelor."  Using US-58 and I-95, it was actually a pretty easy drive - and the kids have been doing a great job with all the car riding lately! Stopped for gas at Exxon in Fayetteville, NC (1055).  Picked up some Dairy Queen Blizzards just before we reached Marietta. We arrived on base just in time for my class and, after it was over, the family came to retrieve me. Afterwards, we all drove to Douglasville for the night (we are using a free night at the Holiday Inn Express).

Wedding Trip - Day 6

Checked out of the Homewood Suites in Peabody at 0730 and got on the road.  Fortunately, we avoided a majority of the traffic on the way out of town. Stopped for gas at a Mobil Station (Route 128) in Newton (...).  Drove down I-95 all the way to New Jersey (crossed Hudson at George Washington Bridge). Kids saw some of New York skyline. Took Jersey Turnpike for some of the way - changed to I-295 until Delaware Bridge. Took DE-1 all the way down to US-13 - used Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to get back to Hampton Roads. Kids liked the trip home - faster and more relaxed. We saw signs for the Chincoteague wild horses - we'll have to try that someday! We stopped at the visitor's center near the end of the crossing. Good visibility and we could see the coastline of our "new home" (strange to say that!) for a while before we actually arrived in Virginia Beach. Home around 2000.

Wedding Trip - Day 5

We drove back over to the hotel to see everyone off this morning - they are all going home. It was sad to say goodbye but we hope to see them at Thanksgiving. Later, I drove Nicky and the kids down to Hanover so we could visit Katie, John & their kids. Katie had been able to attend the wedding but had to leave quickly after the service. We spent the whole day and had fun in the kiddie pool.  After I made a quick grocery shopping trip to the Shaw's near Katie's house (1820), we spent the rest of the evening eating good cook-out food. Katie and John helped me with my last project for the Aviation Physiology class. At 2100, I drove our family back to Peabody for the last time on this trip. It's been a nice vacation; we'll drive home tomorrow.

Wedding Trip - Day 4

Tim and Elizabeth were married late today at the Catholic Church. The entire morning was spent preparing for the occasion - twins take a lot of work to get ready!!! The service was spectacular - with our girls as flower girls, especially. Mollie and I sat in the back and enjoyed the summer weather. The doors were open and the breeze came through... Gerard and Dottie were there - nice to see them. Afterwards, the couple was whisked away by a horse-drawn carriage. Photos took a little while - and our kids were center stage for everything. The reception was at the Hawthorne - lots of great friends and relatives. The kids even got a nice getaway with their cousins. We stayed until very late and then drove back to the hotel. Everyone is leaving in the morning, so we'll try to come back to say goodbye...

Wedding Trip - Day 3

Started out the day with a visit to the Salem Witch Museum. The kids found it interesting - the program hasn't changed at all in the last 20 years... Other relatives were with us but practically no one else. After a nice lunch on the harbor with the group of 40 (!!!), we went back to the Hawthorne to prepare for the Rehearsal Dinner. The affair was very nice and we were able to visit with lots of people we don't see often. The twins were a big hit - they'll probably be even more so tomorrow...

Wedding Trip - Day 2

We went over to see everyone at the Hawthorne in Salem today. It was good to visit, but afterwards, I had to go back to the hotel to work on my Term Paper. It sucks that I couldn't go with everyone else, but I have been so busy with the move and the other stuff relating to making sure Nicky and the kids are all ready for school and my geo-bachelor experience... I buckled down and got a huge portion done. Just a few finishing touches during the next few days and I won't have to think about it again. Around dinner time, Nicky came back to get me and we had a nice dinner with the rest of the family. They went to a nice beach house in New Hampshire for the day - complete with Maine lobster and some boating. Sounds like fun. I'll be able to play for the rest of the trip, luckily.

Wedding Trip - Day 1

Heading to Massachusetts for a family wedding!  We left early but, being a weekday, it wasn't nearly early enough...  We used I-64 and I-295 to reach I-95, stopping for lunch at Burger King in Mechanicsville (...).  Unfortunately, we hit a monster traffic jam south of DC. When we were finally on our way past the mess (DC to Baltimore), we had already used up about five hours. This delay made the already difficult drive much worse... Our trip up I-83 to I-81 was OK and we were finally on I-84 just as the sun went down. The drive through Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts was painful but we made it to Salem by 0200.  We checked into the Peabody Homewood Suites (Newbury Street) and finally got to sleep. Glad that drive is over - we're going to have to go home another way...

Moving Trip (Part 1) - Day 1

I've been up nearly continuously for about 20 of the last 24 hours and I slept on the floor the last time I had a chance (in the old house in Douglasville). Worked on trying to fit everything into the U-Haul and weighing things before quitting around 0300 last night... Woke up early this morning and tried to stuff a few more things in the truck (had to leave a few things). I finished everything and left the new owners all the information I could about the house. It was very bittersweet to leave the place behind - I put a lot of work into it. Hope we have a chance to own something like this again someday... Left around 0800 and had no trouble getting through Atlanta on I-20. No traffic all the way to I-95 - then got busier. Weighed the full truck after getting into North Carolina - it is about 700 pounds heavier than the recommended weight on the side of the truck (oops)... I had no idea we had so much crap!! Made it to Virginia Beach around 1700. Going to bed early tonight - we have lots to do before the kids have to be in Salem (MA) at the end of the week. Still have a paper to finish, too...

Guantanamo (Cuba)

[Atlanta - GTMO - (Jax ?) - Atlanta - with Geoff]

Atlanta, GA (USA)

[Six Flags]

Wallops Island, VA (USA)

[Atlanta - Jacksonville - Wallops Island - (Eastern Iowa ?) - Albany (GA) - Atlanta (with Chip) - funny approach]

Mayport, FL (USA)

[Atlanta - Mayport - Norfolk - Atlanta (Mike B.)]

Househunting Trip - Day 8

Up early, checked out of the Dam Neck BOQ and made it to the airport by 0500. I dropped off my rental car at Hertz (0520) and made my way towards the gate. I figured out there are about 10 flights a day that go back to Atlanta, so I thought that I would make it. However, when I arrived at the security checkpoint, there was a HUGE line. What I failed to realize yesterday was that school ended! If I had left yesterday, I think I would have gotten home easily. In any case, I started waiting for a flight around 0600. I never had to do this before, so I never realized how annoying it feels to see the number of seats available on the Delta flight screens and watch the time tick down to departure. Then, the door closes and you missed another one. I sat through about six flights before one of the ticket agents explained that I had almost a zero chance of making it today. So I went back to Hertz counter and asked about a one way trip (1620).  It turns out it isn't too expensive...  Unfortunately, it takes eight to nine hours to drive home... Left around 1530 and took US-58 to I-95. Connected with I-20 and made it to Hartsfield around 0030. I turned in the car at Hertz at 0130 and Nicky picked me up right after that.  I wasn't home until almost 0200  Whew!!!

Househunting Trip - Day 7

I'm getting tired of looking... Had my appointment with the landlord who had a rental in King's Grant around 1000. Took a tour of the home - it is still occupied. I liked it, but the man said he can't hold it for more than about a week. I don't want to commit without Nicky ever seeing it, so I was a little disappointed. I told him we'd call if it was still available in July. Decided after seeing the place to quit looking for rentals anymore. Went down to the Beach and relaxed for a few hours and got some dinner at IHOP (1945).  Then went to bed early because I needed to get to the airport early - the Buddy Pass requires that I fly standby all day (hope it works)...

Househunting Trip - Day 6

Started in the Great Neck area today and found some nice places. Rent is a little higher and I am not sure about the schools in that area. Would sure be nice to rent a place within walking distance of the water... Headed over to Little Neck (King's Grant) after that - I think these were some of the best places I have seen yet. The neighborhood is older (probably 1960s), but it is very established. Not a lot for rent - and the homes in the back of the neighborhood were VERY expensive. Around 1300, I stumbled across the Kingston Elementary School and noticed that they were open (school is already out in Georgia, so this was a surprise). I went in and talked to teachers and some volunteer Moms - they raved about the whole area. Too bad there weren't many rentals. I went back to my hotel around 1700 and did one more search on the internet for anything that was available - found one place. Called the landlord and he offered to meet me tomorrow. Hope that works out...

Househunting Trip - Day 5

Woke up around 0600 and drove back to Great Bridge to drive in to work during the traffic. Used VA-168 and got there pretty quickly. Moved on next to homes near the Beach. There are some great neighborhoods between NAS Oceana and the Waterfront. Spent all day looking at rentals. Noticed that most places have "noise problems" caused by the Base aircraft pattern. Hard to miss that issue... By the end of the day, I was mostly through the list I started with - at least with the reasonably priced ones in the good areas. I still want to look around in the Great Neck and Little Neck areas.

Househunting Trip - Day 4

Spent some more time down in Chesapeake today. I now have a great street map and found a lot more places than I was able to before. Drove down to the North Carolina border on VA-168 and US-17. Found out that there is a drawbridge on US-17, too. This could make living down here a little tricky. Still, there were some great houses in the area of Great Bridge BLVD and River Walk Parkway - could be a good compromise for distance and home value... After a full day in Chesapeake (including some yesterday), I had a good feel for what to expect. I think I'll get up early tomorrow so I can drive back from here during "rush hour." Even without that, I'll be able to show Nicky around quite easily when we come back in July...

Househunting Trip - Day 3

Headed back over to Cypress Point Golf Club to see about the rental properties. Looked in a few places - they won't keep them until we move here in July... Too bad. After lunch, decided to look in Chesapeake - heard there are some really nice homes there. Great Bridge area is promising - reminds me a lot of the Douglasville area where we live now. Looked at a few places in that area and then started back to the Beach. Learned that this area has one major flaw: a drawbridge! I got stuck for about half an hour around 1630 - along with many other people who live near here. Eventually got back to the hotel and took a look through my remaining properties (still a lot left to see). I'll need a better map...

Househunting Trip - Day 2

Woke up early so I could see as much as I could. Looking in the Ghent area again - this time with a realtor. Spent most of the morning looking inside some older homes with close access to the water. Schools could be a problem... After lunch, drove over towards Independence BLVD in Virginia Beach - I'd seen some rentals. Looked along Haygood over towards Bayside High School - there is a good golf community there. Got some contact numbers to see inside. Ended the afternoon back at the Beach - tired... Still have more to do tomorrow.

Househunting Trip - Day 1

Had an early flight today - on my way to Norfolk to look for a new house! My friend Dave, who works for Delta, helped me get a Buddy Pass for this trip. My flight was early (and mostly empty). Got upgraded to First Class - my first opportunity - and it was everything it is cracked up to be! After landing in Norfolk, I picked up a rental car from Hertz (0840) and got an early start looking for homes in the Ghent and Larchmont. Found some nice places. Had some trouble getting a hotel, but finally ended up down in Virginia Beach (Dam Neck BOQ "At the Dunes") on the water! This should be a nice headquarters... More to see tomorrow - I have a list of about 100 rentals all over Hampton Roads.

Flint, MI (USA)

[Atlanta - Flint, Michigan - Cherry Point - Atlanta (Phil)]

Callaway Gardens, GA (USA)

We drove down from the city to visit these beautiful gardens today. It as definitely worth the effort and driving. It was a very hot day, so we enjoyed the large swimming lake and rested between butterfly houses, topiary gardens and bird houses. The only thing we feel bad about is that we never had the chance to visit here for the Christmas Lights. They are supposed to be really great.

Helen, GA (USA)

I surprised everyone today by taking them to Helen for rafting on the Chattahoochie River. Some friends at work had highly recommended that we visit - and I agree with everything they told me. On the way, we stopped in the town where the Cabbage Patch kids originated (Cleveland, GA) and I bought the kids souvenirs at the Babyland General Hospital (1300).  Once reaching Helen itself, we ate some lunch at a quaint German restaurant (the town has a lot of German stuff) and the kids tried (and liked) Wienerschnitzel. After that, we got our rafts and took a bus up to the headwaters. Mollie and I were tethered together all day - she liked it and kept saying "Chattahoochie." I thought I might lose her once or twice, but we made it okay. The highlight was when Nicky fell off her tube at the end of the day... After the tubing, we changed clothes and walked around the town of Helen, buying souvenirs and enjoying the ambiance. We even took a carriage ride (it went badly, since the horse got spooked - Nicky freaked out...). We were driving home and must have run over a big chunk of metal from something - our tire blew out on the Interstate. Luckily, we have a good roadside assist - they helped me change the tire within inches of the roadway.

St. Louis, MO (USA)

I had early Sims at Flight Safety International in the morning but we finished early.  After checking out of the Marriott St. Louis Airport (1330), [I got some lunch.]  Later, I got gas (at a Mobil station in Overland, MO) and returned my rental car to the Dollar Rent-a-Car (1510).  This allowed me to easily get through Airport security and board my flight out of St. Louis on time (1630Lish). After a good flight, I was back in  Atlanta by (2000ish).  Got my car out of the Hartsfield long term parking lot at 2040 and arrived home to Nicky and the kids by 2130.  Great trip - glad to be done with simulator training for a while...

St. Louis, MO (USA)

[Training at Flight Safety International all day (some sims).  Staying at the Marriott St. Louis Airport]

St. Louis, MO (USA)

[Training at Flight Safety International all day (some sims).  Got gas for my rental car at "Mobil on the Run" in Charlack, MO.  Staying at the Marriott St. Louis Airport]

St. Louis, MO (USA)

[Training at Flight Safety International all day.  Staying at the Marriott St. Louis Airport]

Muncie, IN (USA)

Woke up early and and drove to Hartsfield Airport (used long term parking lot).  We took off on time and I was very pleased with how I'd been able to get such an early flight - more time to play!  Just like during my last recurrent simulator training trip, I arrived in St. Louis before 0800 CT. This time, I picked up my rental car at the Dollar Rent-a-Car desk (0925) and immediately got on the road (0930) so I could visit my little sister, Carolyn. Took I-70 all the way to Indianapolis and then I-69 to her home in Anderson, Indiana. The drive was OK (about four hours). Enjoyed seeing her place (first time) and she took me over to Ball State campus, where she owns a little store.  That was also cool to see! Went back to her house after we explored for a little bit. Overall, I spent about four hours with Carolyn and had dinner with her and Leo before getting back on the road. The rive back to St. Louis on I-70 was easy.  Made one stop (for gas) in Martinsville, IL (2030L) and arrived at my hotel (Marriott St. Louis Airport) by 2130. Class tomorrow...

Marietta, GA (USA)

[woke up early after staying overnight at CBH at NAS Atlanta]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[stayed overnight at CBH at NAS Atlanta]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[woke up early after staying overnight at CBH at NAS Atlanta]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[stayed overnight at CBH at NAS Atlanta]

Colorado Springs, CO (USA)

[checked out of the Pikes Peak Lodge (Peterson AFB BOQ) at 0710 - filled up the gas tank and then returned the rental car to Enterprise - later, flew (with Ron H.) from Colorado Springs to Salina to Patrick back to Atlanta]

Colorado Springs, CO (USA)

[flew with Ron H. - Atlanta to Fort Worth to Fallon to Colorado Springs - RON - got a rental car from Enterprise (picked up at 1525L) - stayed at the Pikes Peak Lodge (Air Force Inns) on Peterson AFB - dinner at Edelweiss]

St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

[We checked out of the Murray Premises at 0720L, returned to the airfield at Torbay and left St. John's (Newfoundland) later in the morning.  Herb H. and I had an uneventful flight back to Atlanta.  Great trip!]

Shannon (Ireland)

[I checked out of the NAS Sigonella Bachelor Housing this morning and then flew (with Herb H.) from Sicily to Ireland.  After completing our fuel stop in Shannon, we continued west, across the Atlantic Ocean, to St. John's (Newfoundland, Canada).  We stayed the night at the Murray Premises Hotel.  After getting changed into civilian clothes, I did some shopping.  Along the way (1620L), I bought some things for the kids at the Heritage Shop of Newfoundland (store at the hotel).]

Olbia, Sardinia (Italy)

[After a night in the Mid-Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) at Lajes Air Base (Azores), we departed for the European mainland.  Flying with Herb H. again.  Unlike normal trips, we didn't stop in Rota (Spain) - instead, we continued on to Olbia (Sardinia).  Herb had flown into the airport several times and told me about all the great things to see and do in the area.  Even funnier, though, he turned to me on short-final and said "don't expect much on the landing"...  After getting getting our tasking on the ground completed, we continued on to Sicily.  Stayed in the NAS Sigonella Bachelor Housing for the night.]

Lajes, Azores (Portugal)

[Scheduled for a trip to Europe for a few days!  Flying with Herb H.  Left Atlanta in the morning and stopped at NAS Norfolk and then Brunswick NAS - then flew to Lajes Air Base (Azores) for the night - stayed in the Mid-Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns)]

San Salvador (El Salvador)

[with Nora and Rick - flew from Atlanta to Comalapa (El Salvador) - ate lunch at Cafe de El Salvador (1100) - bought souvenirs (in the airport) at Artesanias de El Salvador (1110) and Portal Azul (1115) - then flew to Jacksonville - afterwards, returned to Atlanta]

Rockmart, GA (USA)

[Silver Comet Trail - finished!!]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[(after work ?) went to dinner at Rocco's Pub (finished at 2035)]

Rockmart, GA (USA)

[Silver Comet Trail with my daughters and their neighborhood friend, Clay]

Atlanta, GA (USA)

[visited the Fernbank Museum]

Atlanta, GA (USA)

[Dogwood Festival at Chastain Park]

Keflavik (Iceland)

I woke up late due to the time-zone and our late evening arrival. Fortunately, I had a chance to look around near the Scandic hotel - there was some shopping within a short walk. I picked up some beer - I think it is from Denmark. When I rejoined the crew, I learned that we already had problems with our flight plans - we eventually got airborne in the early afternoon. Once again, the low cloud layer meant we couldn't see anything out the window. Meanwhile, the terrain alert was red everywhere and the charts showed mountains all around.  Fortunately, the departure took us through a fjord to the ocean. Wow - as the pilot flying, I was REALLY glad we had GPS and EGPWS... Flew over to Keflavik for fuel. Everything was very green! I never expected the weather that they had here today - I thought it would be cold like Norway... Now that I've seen this, I would really like to make another trip to Iceland. During the next leg, we saw many other things I have never seen before as a pilot.  For example, our route took us across northern Greenland and, as a result, our course brought us into the US from the north. The icy mountains in Greenland were really something to see - and there wasn't any sign of civilization for miles in all directions. It was also interesting to look down to see Goose Bay (Labrador), the St. Lawrence River and some great terrain in Quebec and Maine (including Mount Katahdin).  The weather was awesome and we could see for miles in all directions.  Wade was a local of the Pine Tree State and he kept pointing out great places that he knew about for fishing and paddling.  I wish this flight could have lasted longer... We stopped for fuel at NAS Brunswick and then headed back to Atlanta.  This was definitely an unforgettable trip!

Tromso (Norway)

The first item of good news this morning was when we discovered that we could make Norway without stopping. After checking out of the Delta Hotel, we left St. Johns (Newfoundland) and flew east. During this leg, I slept while Wade flew for me. During all my years of traveling, I have never gotten to visit a place north of the Arctic Circle but that changed today as we were heading for the city of Tromso.  The weather wasn't great when we arrived, so I couldn't see what was around us as we were flying in. We checked into the Scandic Tromso, a hotel near the airport.  However, with all the time-zone changes, it made finding a place to eat dinner difficult.  There was absolutely nothing to eat near the hotel or the airport. Luckily, we got a cab that took us into the town where the University was. As we drove, I started to notice some amazing things.  For one, the locals dug a tunnel clear through a HUGE mountain and the tunnel had stop signs and round-a-bouts! I have never seen anything like it. Once in the busier section of the city, we were able to find some drinks and get some food at Yonas Pizzeria (2320, right before the restaurant closed). Frank, Wade and I wandered around later and found some college pubs that were still open. It was very late when we went back to the Scandic, but it was really only about 2200 at home... What an interesting experience!

St. Johns, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

[Mission to Norway - flying with Wade R and Frank C] We had lots of trouble getting out of the US today. First, we flew from NAS Atlanta to NAS Norfolk and landed right in the middle of a Weather Watch.  As a result, we couldn't take off for two hours. When we finally got going, it was clear that there would be problems with flying through Keflavik in the middle of the night. This required us to make major adjustments to our itinerary and we had to spend the night in St. Johns, Newfoundland. That was OK with me because I like that town. Our accommodations were at the Delta Hotel and Conference Center.  I had dinner at the Press and Bean (finished eating at 2010) and then explored the "downtown" area. Went to bed relatively late.  "Semper Gumby!"

Marietta, GA (USA)

[lunch at Slovakia Restaurant on Roswell Street]

Smyrna, GA (USA)

[I woke up in the morning in the Holiday Inn Express in Vinings/Smyrna - Nicky and I talked before I went to work and I was able to check out (with plans to return home in the evening)]

Smyrna, GA (USA)

[after I got home from work, Nicky and I had a big fight - in an effort to reduce the drama, I left the house and drove to the Holiday Inn Express in Vinings/Smyrna to spend the night]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[Silver Comet Trail - farther north than normal]

Omaha, NE (USA)

[flight from Atlanta to Omaha to San Antonio to Atlanta]

San Diego, CA (USA)

[flying with Herb - after checking out of the BOQ returned the Hertz Rental Car to Base Operations at NAS North Island (0800) - during our flight east from San Diego, we had a problem on direct routing after Imperial... - we stopped at Pensacola Regional Airport and then flew back to Atlanta]

San Diego, CA (USA)

[flying with Herb - took off from Atlanta and headed to Jacksonville - then flew to Salina, Kansas (for fuel), and then on to Tacoma, Washington - after that, flew to North Island NAS - picked up our rental car (from Hertz) and then checked into the BOQ (1905) - night out with the crew]

Atlanta, GA (USA)

[Fernbank Museum]

Funeral Trip - Day 4

[left Harrisonburg at around 1000 and drove south on I-81 - stopped for gas at Exxon in Christiansburg (0840) - continued on I-81 (later, I-40) to Knoxville - continued south on I-75 to Chattanooga and eventually, into Atlanta on I-75 - fortunately, I beat all the traffic - returned rental car to Hertz office in Marietta (1505), retrieved my own car and then headed home]

Funeral Trip - Day 3

[got up at 0600L and drove over to Cape Cod Hospital again - luck this time - then over to Grammy's Funeral (Dad surprised) - visited with Dick and Judy - Beth insisted I come over to the house - spoke with Gerard and then left for home - took I-95 (GWB ?) and then got on I-78 - stopped for gas at TA in Bloomsbury, NJ (2010) and then continued west on I-78 - used that road to get on I-81 and continued all the way to Harrisonburg - checked into Hampton Inn at 2350 - bed late]

Funeral Trip - Day 2

[drove from Greenville up I-77 to I-81 - took the latter road deep into Pennsylvania, stopping for gas in Wilkes-Barre, PA at 1545 - after using I-84 for a while, I drove through Connecticut (using back roads to reach I-95) - tried to get help for my back in Groton and Newport (took route over Narraganset Bay) - no luck - finally made it to Cape Cod - found Days Inn near Cape Cod Mall - tried to get help at Cape Cod Hospital (no luck for hours)]

Funeral Trip - Day 1

[got off work late - picked up rental car at the Hertz office in Marietta (1620) - left my own car there and then drove as far as Greenville (Crowne Plaza)]

Brunswick, ME (USA)

After getting checked out of the Mid-Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) this morning, we (Chip D. and I) immediately got organized for our mission to the US Mainland.  Since we weren't carrying any passengers and the weather was great, we were able to fly from the Azores to Maine non-stop. After landing at NAS Brunswick, I was glad to find there wasn't any snow - it was just the "normal" cold.  Following our fuel stop, we continued  to Atlanta. Arrived in Marietta pretty early in the afternoon and everyone in the crew seemed happy to finish up the trip. From my point of view, this mission is memorable for having some of the most difficult weather scenarios, a nearly broken aircraft (bad!) and the unfortunate case of the lost bags. Still, it also featured lots of flight time - always a bonus.  I think we did a good job, under the circumstances...

Praia da Vitoria, Azores (Portugal)

When I exited my room at the NAVSTA Rota Navy Gateway Inn this morning, I was greeted with a the sight of Rota covered in a dense layer of fog - I've never seen it so bad.  This trip just keeps getting more interesting every day!. During our (Chip D. and me) flight planning, we tried to find an airport within our range that would have better weather but we ended up having to wait out the fog for about five hours. At that point, I made a call home to tell them we would be calling "uncle" and stopping for the night in the Azores. There was a little grumbling, but I pointed out that we had been ahead of schedule throughout the trip and they agreed we were making the right call. We finally got going and found that when we crossed the west coast of Portugal, the weather was much improved. In fact, it was so nice in Terceira that I almost didn't recognize the place! We had enough time to drive into Praia (with a rental car from Via Livre that I picked up at the BOQ Front Desk) and have dinner at O Pescadors. I also got to do some post-Christmas shopping (lots of closeout hand-stitched decorations). Found a few other good souvenirs. Even got a good night's sleep - tomorrow should be a good day.  We spent the night at the Mid-Atlantic Lodge.

Rota (Spain)

Because of the bag SNAFU yesterday, we had to leave Crete early this morning. Fortunately, we quickly got checked out of the NSA Souda Bay Billeting, returned to the aircraft and got ready for our modified mission.  After takeoff, we (Chip D. and I) had no problems getting up to Germany.  Once we'd landed, we dropped off the bags with the passenger services (just as we had hoped to do). Whew!  Very relieved that the "emergency" was over...  The crew picked up some beer for the road (always a good idea in Germany!) and, after fueling the jet, flew to Spain. We arrived at Rota relatively early and, by then, everyone felt much better about the trip.  Bonus: we are back on schedule and should be home tomorrow... [Watched some NFC/AFC Championship games (very late in Spain when they were shown at the Club.] [Spent the night at the NAVSTA Rota Navy Gateway Inn.]

Kuwait City (Kuwait)

Since our mission was supposed to be an "out and in" to the Middle East, we didn't check out of our rooms at NSA Souda Bay Billeting (just packed and took all our stuff, just in case).  By the time we took off this morning, it was with the knowledge that one of the biggest thunderstorms I have ever seen was stuck right over southern Iraq and part of Kuwait. Still, we had no weather at all until right before we were supposed to land. We couldn't make it in to our primary airport (ceiling too low), so we diverted to Kuwait City. It was pouring there, but we landed uneventfully. Unfortunately, the ramp was so clobbered with other aircraft that we ended up having to move a few times. During the second move, I felt a big bump as we were taxiing. When I got out of the plane, I discovered that they had taxied me within four inches of a huge hole on the ramp! My nose wheel track went right along the edge of the hole (WHEW!). In the end, the rain stopped and we left. On our way back to Crete we felt pretty good about how everything had gone. When we landed at Souda Bay Air Base, however, we learned that some of the passengers' bags hadn't been unloaded before we left! This was kind of embarrassing (for everyone in the crew). Chip and I spent several hours working on a solution - and I think we have one. We'll fly up to Germany tomorrow to drop them off for another aircraft to take back to Kuwait. Hope "Plan B" works...  [Spent the night again at NSA Souda Bay Billeting.]

Costa Esmerelda, Sardinia (Italy)

After checking out of the Mid-Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns), we proceeded to our aircraft (parked on the Lajes Air Base flight line) and departed from the Azores pretty early.  We are trying to stay ahead of schedule through the whole trip. No problems until we got to Sardinia - 50 knot winds! We only had a few minutes to get our aircraft out of Costa Esmerelda (Olbia) before they were going to start charging us 500 Euros for every hour we were still there. We had seen an Auchan from the ramp before, so I sent Chip to investigate. He managed to catch a cab for the three minute ride and run inside to get us all a few nice items. He was back as the fuel hose dropped - and we left on time. Our flight to Crete was easy and we landed on a clear night (hardly any weather - good!).  Our crew spent the night in the NSA Souda Bay Billeting.

St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada)

[Mission to Europe with Chip D.]  [Departed Atlanta in the morning and flew north to Newfoundland.]  This was one of the hardest approaches I have ever flown into St. John's: freezing rain droplets, low ceiling and snow all over the runway. We made it in (thankfully) and stopped the aircraft on the short runway (they only plowed the middle 50 feet). Very icy everywhere and we had to pay a lot for full de-icing. When we got on our way again, we had lots of trouble with our HF radio and almost had to head back to St. John's. Eventually, we resolved the issue and proceeded to the Azores.  Arrived at Lajes Air Base to the normal winds. After putting the plane to bed, our crew checked into the Mid-Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns).  Very tired at the end of the day...

Marietta, GA (USA)

[ran errands after work today - stopped off at the Cobb County Board of Health (1510)]

Powder Springs, GA (USA)

[Silver Comet Trail with twins]