Williamsburg, VA (USA)

We woke up early and spent another day at the Great Wolf Lodge water park. Lots more time to ride the slides and play in the wave pool. There was water basketball, a lazy river, a 1000 gallon water bucket that tips over every five minutes. Everyone had a great time. We headed home before it got dark.

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

We had some time to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge today. It is located near all the attractions in Williamsburg (off I-64) and has a huge water park inside. We arrived around 1430 and we went right in! The kids loved all the waterslides and the wave pool. The twins liked the "Howlin' Tornado" the best - it has a nearly 90 degree drop for about 10 feet and you end up in this huge tunnel at the bottom. The only bad thing was that the line was really long. Mollie practiced her swimming and then we took a break. At 2000, the clock tower in the hotel has a little show - complete with snow falling from the ceiling! I took the kids back to the water park until it closed at 2200.

Omaha, NE (USA)

[Flying with Steve L. - Virginia Beach to Camp Springs to Omaha (saw Charlie's Dad ?) - to Virginia Beach]

Wilmington, NC (USA)

[Flying with Rich - destination uncertain (probably practice approaches at Wilmington, North Carolina)]

Guantanamo (Cuba)

[Flying with Julius - Virginia Beach to GTMO to Camp Springs to Virginia Beach]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 9

We woke up at 0530 and headed to the airport. Our return of the rental car was very easy and we got to the ticket counter around 0645. We checked our bags and then went to wait for our flight. The extra days after Thanksgiving allowed us to enjoy the slower pace of the airport and our flight wasn't full. We ate dinner on the plane and enjoyed the smooth ride to Philadelphia. When we arrived there, we had enough time for a Philly Cheese Steak before we caught our plane to Norfolk. The ride was quick - we even got to Norfolk before they were ready for us... Our bags were fast and our trip home was easy - the kids even went to bed at 2030! Overall, I have to say that the flying this year was the best it has ever been. Even with the problems getting to Vegas on Day 1, we still got where we wanted early or on time every leg. It was a good trip.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 9

We went home today. On the plane we watched movies and had a sandwich made with turkey and cranberries. We had to stop in Philadelphia - we had pizza and Philly Cheesesteaks for dinner! We got home pretty early. If anyone was to go on a Thanksgiving trip like we did this year, they would have an amazing trip!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 8

This was our last full day in Vegas, and we had originally planned to visit the Grand Canyon. We had first researched the west side - where the newly built SkyWalk seemed promising. It was only reported to be a 3 hour drive, but upon further snooping it was obvious that the drive was much more complicated. In addition to the fact that there is currently no infrastructure (i.e. dirt roads, no visitor center), the travel blogs and message boards that I found indicated that the $75 price tag was not worth the trouble. It sounds like they are several years off from it being a good visit. We'll try another time. Instead, our family decided to check out some more sights on the Strip. We had brunch at the Flamingo Hotel - with a perfect view of live flamingos and then walked over to Caesar's Palace to see the shops and fountains. We stayed until late in the afternoon and then headed back to the hotel. We had a nice dinner at Joe's Crab Shack and went to bed early...

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 8

We went to the Strip again today. We went to the Flamingo hotel and had brunch. It was really cool - you could see lots of birds and flamingos while you ate. After breakfast we went and walked around on the Strip. We went to Caesar's Palace and saw lots of pretty fountains. We got to go swimming in the pool at the hotel. Our dinner was at Joe's Crab Shack - Mommy's favorite!!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 7

Nearly everyone had left by this morning, so we didn't wait too long to check out of the J W Marriott hotel (0935). Andy was still here, so we met up and headed out to visit the Hoover Dam. It wasn't a bad drive, although we saw some early signs that the Thanksgiving travelers might make for bad traffic. In any case, we made it down to the dam by around 1100. We decided to take the Power Plant tour. This was a good choice, I think, because we got to go down to see the generators and the kids got to learn about the hydroelectric power generation there. We also walked along the dam - people were driving their cars across it too! The new US-93 bridge is getting built across the Colorado downstream from the dam. It looks just like the New River Gorge bridge [see West Virginia]. Wish it was done already - there would be less traffic. We got some souvenirs and then headed back to Boulder City for lunch at the A&W. The kids (and Andy) were in good spirits. We checked into our hotel in Henderson (the same one we used at the beginning of the trip) and the kids went swimming.  Yes, it was still cold... Meanwhile, I took Andy over to the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign and got him to the airport for his return flight. After a delicious fire burned pizza dinner (from Sammy's), we all went to bed. We need to get back on East Coast Time...

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 7

We had to say good-bye to the rest of the family today - it was sad. But cousin Andy stayed behind to go with us to the Hoover Dam. It was so huge and was so interesting to learn about. It would be fun to go back there someday. We went to lunch at the A&W - that was fun because they have good food. Everything about this trip was awsome!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 6

Nicky, the kids and I decided to go back to the strip this morning. It ended up being a pretty good idea, too. We parked in the Venetian garage and wandered through the Canal Shops. We also took a Gondola ride (departed at 1130). I knew that this would be Nicky's favorite place - you can stand in Piazza di San Marco and it feels like you are outside at dusk in Venice. There are street performers and lots of Italian restaurants. Our lunch consisted of a series of cheeses and meats from Italy, completed with great bread. We finished with some real gelato and an interesting custard pastry. We had spent about three hours there and decided to head out of town, since the crowds were getting much bigger. On Mary's recommendation, we drove over to the Ethel M. factory. It wasn't operating today, but we were able to sample chocolates made by the Mars company there. There was an M&M World attached with lots of funny souvenirs for the kids. Mollie and I toured a cactus garden - it had some from all around the world. We drove up to Nellis to look for souvenirs and then headed back to the hotel. Lots of people in our group were getting ready to leave today, so the kids were very upset. Lots of crying led us to take them back to the room rather early...

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 6

Daddy took us the the Venetian Hotel today. There were cool gondolas in there and a nice mall. We rode on the gondolas and a man sang to us. It felt like we were really in Italy! Our lunch was cheese and meat - some was good. We heard about a chocolate factory (mmm...) so we went to M&M World. It was interesting to see the chocolate machines and get free samples. We heard that Notre Dame won their game (Yaaaah!!). Then we went to Megan and Erin's room to talk and watch TV. Later we went to cousin Bonnie's room for more talking and hot chocolate. We talked and talked and talked until our cousins had to leave. It was very sad to see them go - but we will see them again next year.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 5

The only plans we had this morning was to get the twins off for a shopping trip with their cousins. Elizabeth has been nice enough to host the event for a few years (in addition to her Thanksgiving crafts sessions!) and the kids like walking through the malls with her. Mollie, Nicky, Kelly, Collin and Karys decided to check out the nearby Red Rock Canyon. It was only a short drive to the Park entrance. The kids all did a Junior Ranger workbook and then we drove the 13 mile scenic drive through the beautiful red sandstone canyons. We got out to touch the rocks and look for wildlife and cactuses, but the wind up there was very strong today and it had a cold bite to it. A few hours later, after a quick lunch, we headed to the Strip. After picking up Erin and Brenna, we went to the MGM Grand to see the lion show. The kids liked that. Nicky and Kelly decided to head to the Mirage, but I took Erin and Brenna over to the Luxor to see the interesting artwork and Egyptian style architecture. I think they were impressed. We even took a tour of a recreation of King Tut's tomb (1640) - that was unexpected. After riding on the tram and looking in the Excalibur and New York New York, we moved the car over to the Flamingo and started to look for Nicky... About another hour later, we finally met up in front of the Bellagio. The kids and I had been able to see a little of Caesar's Palace and the inside of the Bellagio, but Nicky and Kelly were ready to head back to the J W. On the way, we had a nice dinner at an Italian place called "Mama Jo's." Too much to eat... The evening finished with a little more visiting in Bonnie's room.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 5

Today we went shopping with our cousins (Megan, Erin, Elizabeth, Kevin). We went to the Mirage, Treasure Island, the mall and New York-New York. It was fun to go shopping and do all kinds of fun stuff with them. This was one of the best days with our cousins EVER!!!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 4

We got up early for breakfast and then met everyone in the room again. The wine we had brought from Temecula was a big hit and kept everyone busy until the 1300 family photo and 1330 dinner. In our holiday finery, we proceeded (all 50 of us) to the Irish Pub for Thanksgiving dinner. The ham and turkey, along with the many other sides, made for a very memorable meal - especially with the Murphy's Stout. Everyone was in good spirits and we had the whole place to ourselves. We visited in Bonnie's room again for many more hours. After a short look off her balcony - with a view from Nellis to Henderson - we retired for the night.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 4

Today was Thanksgiving! We took family pictures and ate dinner in an Irish Pub. It was delicious food! We made crafts with cousin Elizabeth, too.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 3

We woke up kind of early again and went down to the pool for a swim. It had been warm the first few days, but now there was a chill in the air. The kids used the pool, but most of us hid in the hot-tub. We went up to the room just in time for check-out. Mary and Leo took us over to the next stop - the J W Marriott in Summerlin. It was very nice to get to our intended destination. After checking into our room [at 1015], we spent a few hours relaxing in the room and then ventured out to see what the place had to offer. We found most of our relatives enjoying a late lunch at the Irish Pub. Later, we visited the beginnings of the Thanksgiving crowd at Bonnie's room. Dinner was at the Hotel's Casino buffet restaurant with John, Ann & the kids. We waited until everyone had arrived in our party and then went to bed.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 3

We woke up early and went swimming at the pool with our cousins Shannon and Sean. It was really cold! We tried the hot-tub - that was better. After that we went to another hotel and saw our whole family. We really loved this day - hanging out with family. This was the best day of the whole trip!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 2

We woke up pretty early, actually, because of the three hour time difference. After I went over to the airport to pick up our rental car, we started on the road to Death Valley. We had no traffic and enjoyed the smooth, straight road (US-95) until we came to the turnoff for the park. Then we started to see a little more traffic. After we had been driving for about 2.5 hours, we entered the Park on the California side. The whole family was amazed at the interesting - and colorful - rock formations. It took awhile, but we finally arrived at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center. The kids did another Junior Ranger book and got another pin... We then ventured out on one of the recommended drives - down to Badwater and the beautiful salt flats. We walked out on an ocean of white and looked up at rocks towering above us - we were around 300 feet below Sea Level. We visited the Devil's Golf Course and hiked up to the Natural Bridge. Nicky and the kids were spooked by a monster that jumped out at them (he-he-he)! The highlight of this part of the trip was the Artist's Pallette - Mollie called it the "Sherbert Mountain." Before I came here, I would never have dreamed that it could have been so inspiring a place. We left the lowest part of the valley with a real appreciation for the beauty of the desert. We had a nice (late) chili lunch after that. At the end of the day, we stopped by the huge field of sand-dunes and drove through a ghost town. The sun sets here very early (1630 because of the mountains), so we drove home in the dark. We then drove down to the Vegas Strip to meet our cousins Mary and Leo. They had a time-share that they graciously allowed us to use with them. Dinner was at Margaritaville (at the Flamingo) - we went to bed late (tired!!!).

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 2

Today we went to Death Valley. It was amazingly beautiful. We did some hiking up canyons and saw the "sherbert mountains." After we got back from the park we went to stay at our cousins' (Shannon and Sean) time share. We went out to dinner at a fun restaurant.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 1

We left for the airport around 1600 and soon found that our flight through Philadelphia had been delayed. Luckily, the airline had another flight that went through Charlotte. We even got our bags transferred... We arrived in Las Vegas early - and saw some of the amazing lights of the city. The kids were sleeping most of the trip, but they woke up for the landing at 2200. We got a quick cab ride to our hotel in Henderson and went straight to bed. It was a great trip - much better than we expected this morning.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 1

We left in the evening to go to Las Vegas! The flight seemed to take forever. It was fun to look at the lights when we landed tonight!

Topeka, KS (USA)

[departed from Forbes Field (Topeka) after midnight and flew back to Virginia Beach with our airlift - arrived in the middle of the night]

Topeka, KS (USA)

This morning, I explored near our hotel (El Cordova) on Orange Avenue. I noticed some great restaurants - will have to try some of them someday...  The weather was good and I enjoyed the beach breezes for a few hours before getting together with my friend Kelly and her husband Doug for lunch at the Rhinoceros Cafe. With the Hotel Del nearby, Coronado is a place I would recommend to everyone!  After checking out of the hotel and meeting up with the rest of my crew, we headed to the aircraft.  We departed from NAS North Island late in the afternoon (flying with Thor).  We stopped (for fuel) at Forbes Field in Topeka.  Luckily, they had the kitchen open (we landed at around 2300, just as the field was closing). I have used this airport many times and it is always nice to return for the great Bar-B-Q!  The airport treats us really well and it is a fast stop. I wish I had more time to drive a few miles east to Kansas City - sounds like the food gets even better over there... Still fueling our aircraft at midnight.

Temecula, CA (USA)

Mission to San Diego!  Took off from Virginia Beach at 0800 and arrived in California around 1100L. Unlike most trips I've done to North Island, we had trouble with the rental car because they weren't expecting our early arrival... Once that was all sorted out, I had enough time to take my co-pilot (Thor) up to Temecula for the afternoon to visit some winery's. At the Wilson Creek Winery (my family's favorite), we got free wine tasting and a good discount for the famous Almond Champagne they have. Thor and I enjoyed ourselves there for a few hours and then drove over to see my cousin, John, and his family. They recently moved to the town and survived the fires. From their house, they had a great view of the surrounding countryside. On the way home, we got rear ended on I-15... Oh well, it is a rental!  Once we were back in Coronado, we ate dinner (at Miguel's) with Thor and three of his friends from a previous job. Great margaritas all night!  Afterwards, checked into the El Cordova Hotel on Orange Avenue.  Bed late.

Little Rock, AR (USA)

[flew with Thor - Virginia Beach to Keesler to Little Rock AFB (dodged Hercs!!!) - to McDill to Virginia Beach]

Key West, FL (USA)

Woke up this morning at my room in the Fairfield Inn and Suites (by Marriott) on North Roosevelt Boulevard.  After reaching Boca Chica Field, we learned that our mission had been modified.  Bottom line: we needed to fly from Key West to Ellington Field (Houston) before we could go home. Traci M. and I briefed and started the aircraft but then had to shut down when our schedulers modified us again. In the end, we flew to Panama City, back to Key West and (finally) flew to Ellington Field. All the changes and extra time in the air resulted in us finishing our mission (back in Hampton Roads) very late...

Tocumen (Panama)

I got a mission to Panama, today!  Departed Norfolk in the morning (flying with Traci M.) [and had an uneventful flight to Central America].  After we landed in Tocumen, we didn't much time in-country.  However, I did get to see some interesting sights from the air and the airport. It was amazing to see some tall buildings in Panama City - they were huge!  We departed Panama and headed north to Key West.  After landing at Boca Chica, we got a ride to the Fairfield Inn and Suites (by Marriott) on North Roosevelt Boulevard (checked in at 2155).  Once I was changed into some civilian clothes, I headed out with other members of the crew.  We started out on Duval Street and enjoyed a few clubs - my favorite place was Fat Tuesdays - they had good smoothies.  To be honest, though, the whole town was kind of dead. We just missed Fantasy Fest and I guess the locals were resting.  But the evening breezes were nice and I enjoyed the lack of crowds. Another nice night in paradise!

Quonset Point, RI (USA)

[Flying with Jason - flew to Greenville-Spartanburg to Marietta (Georgia) to Quonset State Airport in Rhode Island and then to Evansville Regional (Indiana) before going home]

Panama City, FL (USA)

[Flying with Gary - Virginia Beach to Houston (Ellington) to Panama City (INTL) to Camp Springs and then to Virginia Beach]

Philadelphia, PA (USA)

Before the Detachment began, our travel office had scheduled me for a flight from Italy to Norfolk (via Catania, Rome and Philadelphia on US Airways).  However, the airlift we got last night required a complete change of plans.  Home base wanted me to take a flight this afternoon but I managed to convince them (last night) that a rental car was much more cost effective.  Also, I prefer driving to all day in the airport...  They approved my request, so I got up early and headed (with a duty driver) to the Philadelphia International Airport.  I picked up my car at the Avis counter at 0755 and headed towards Hampton Roads. Traveling down the Eastern Shore (mostly via US-13) was quite pleasant - the weather was great and there was no traffic. Just before I got to the Virginia border, I stopped for a nice lunch at a Friendly's (always a treat!). The Chesapeake Bay Bridget-Tunnel was not busy and I was able to return my car to the Avis counter at Norfolk International Airport by 1320. The drive was a good way to finish off my travels!  Despite this fact, I was very glad to get home to see Nicky and the kids...

Willow Grove, PA (USA)

[after checking out of the Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella, I ate breakfast at Big Al's this morning - after that, I flew (on a C-40/B737) from Sigonella to the USA (itinerary uncertain) - after arriving in Pennsylvania, I checked into the NAS Willow Grove Navy Lodge - heading home tomorrow!]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Cefalu, Sicily (Italy)

With noting on the flight schedule, I woke up early today and drove (with Charlie W.) over to the town of Cefalu. It is located between Palermo and Tindari on the north coast of Sicily (it actually has a Club Med!). Our primary purpose was to go to Mass in the 900 year old Cathedral. Despite being in Italian, the service was great - the artwork and architecture in the background was also a highlight. Afterwards, we had lunch in a restaurant on the waterfront - I had the Fish Menu (swordfish, pasta, etc.). We continued to walk around for a few more hours. As we were getting ready to leave the little town, we stopped into a souvenir shop that had an adjacent bar. We ended up chatting with a couple from Scotland for a few hours - they have a vacation home nearby. It was a good conversation and we enjoyed their company along with the local wine. Just before dusk, we headed towards home. We could see a pretty church on the hill overlooking town, so we decided to try to get up there. After a few aborted attempts, we located the correct road. It turned out to be the Gibilmanna mountaintop shrine - a very interesting building... It had a great view of the whole Tirrenean Sea. After looking inside (they were having a Mass), we found a little nearby gift shop. I bought the girls some scented Rosary beads. While I was waiting for Charlie by the car outside, a little boy approached me - he had some questions about a green prickly ball (some kind of fruit). He kept saying "castagna" (which I later learned meant chestnut - after I broke open the green prickly part!). He gave me one and I took it with me when we left. On the way home we also stopped in the city of Enna. In the dark, it wasn't very interesting - might be worth another trip someday. Got back to the Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella by 2100.  Another interesting day in Sicily!

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Split (Croatia)

Since we were only carrying passengers for one of our legs today, we (me and Charlie W.) asked our schedulers if we could remain in Croatia for some sightseeing. Our request was approved and we then convinced the rest of our crew to go on the adventure with us.  After checking out of the Capo Inn at NSA Naples this morning, we departed (early) from Capodichino and had an easy flight to the Dalmatian Coast (landed early).  With the passengers offloaded, we had six hours to explore! Because the airport looked to be pretty far from the historic center of Split, we rented cars and drove into the old city.  We immediately located a palace of the Emperor Diocletian - wow! The architecture was spectacular and there were lots of churches, Roman artifacts and open air markets in the vicinity. After several hours of exploring, we sat on the harbor front to have some lunch. We asked the waiter for a local specialty and he brought out a stew with gnocchi - it was good! After some shopping in the markets, we had to head back to the airport. The crew was universal in their approval of the time we'd had and happily got the aircraft ready for our departure.  [Our flight back to Sicily was uneventful.  Staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella.] It was a great day!

Napoli, Campania (Italy)

Charlie W. and I got scheduled for a mission that would take us from Sicily to Croatia and back.  Since the passengers originated in Naples the following day, we convinced our schedulers to give us an overnight at NSA Naples.  This gave us time for some exploring!  We arrived at Capodichino early and headed to the bus station. After a short ride to Piazza Garibaldi, we walked over to the Duomo (Cathedral). I found the State Archives and looked for Michele Ippolito. Unfortunately, the archives was for the entire Kingdom of Naples, so without the part of the city that Michele came from, there wasn't any way to locate information on the family... After some food at a small restaurant, we walked to the History museum. This was a great place to see the artifacts (mosaics, paintings, statues) from Pompeii and Ercolano. We spent several hours wandering among the art. We had to head back after that so we could get up early tomorrow. On the bus we met a retired couple from Hampshire, England. They talked about their travels and recommended some places to visit if I can ever get up to the UK again. I stopped at the exchange on the way to bed and learned a little about the ubiquitous clown of Naples - Pulcinella. He seems to be kind of a good luck charm and sometimes carries other good luck items, such as a bundle of red peppers.  After making our way back to NSA Naples, we reached our comfortable rooms at the Capo Inn.  What an interesting day!

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Ramstein (Germany)

We got scheduled for a trip to Germany!  [Charlie W. and I had a great flew through Continental Europe.]  As always, a visit to Ramstein is best completed while bringing Italian wine to the locals (to exchange for beer; this has worked numerous times). While waiting on the crew to finish fueling, I was able to stop at the local Kathe Wohlfahrt (they had lots of Christmas ornaments and "Smokies") and Willi Geck (Hummels). There was a street fair taking place at the base, with all kinds of things for sale today!  We were lucky to stop by when we did.  [The flight back to Sicily was uneventful (itinerary uncertain).  Staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella.]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Split (Croatia)

We (me and Charlie W.) managed to get a mission to Split, Croatia today!  This was my second visit - the first in four years. The weather during our entire flight itinerary was great and we were able to see the whole Dalmatian Coast, mountains included. It looks like a nice place to explore - hope we get a chance later... [staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella]

Tindari, Sicily (Italy)

Once again, our crew wasn't scheduled for a mission.  As a result, I had a chance to take a few other guys over to the Caleca factory in Patti. As before, I took the mountain road and it was fun - hairpin turns, cattle and sheep in the roads, tractors, shear drop-offs... After exploring the pottery factory, we finished up the day with the Menu Turistica at Cafe Tyndaris on the hill. This was probably my third or fourth visit to the place and the cost of the meal hasn't changed in five years. It was good (as usual) - with a nice view of the sandbars (Marinello). Charlie and Kevin enjoyed the day - it is always nice to show people around the island.  [staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella]

Mount Etna, Sicily (Italy)

We didn't have any missions so I finally got to go up higher on Mount Etna today. We got a late start, so we were fortunate that the weather has been warm and cloudless. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of haze. We drove our car up to about 8,000 feet and bought a ticket to go up even higher on an enclosed ski-lift car. The price was pretty steep - nearly $40 with the bad Euro-Dollar exchange. However, we probably saved five hours of slogging on the volcanic sand trails and roads. We could see lots of the island, although photos didn't turn out well due to the haze. There were lots of caldera holes and even small hills that looked like little pimples from earlier volcanic releases. The place where the ski-lift was had been severely damaged in 2002, so this was the first chance I had to go up the mountain.  [staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella]

Sola/Stavanger (Norway)

Flew (with Charlie W.) from Sicily to Mildenhall Air Base today - what great weather and pretty countryside! It looked like a pleasant place to stay, but we didn't have time.  During our arrival and departure, we could see from the Irish coast (near Belfast) all the way down to Cornwall. The Isle of Man was easy to spot and we had aerial views of Manchester, Liverpool and London.  Luckily, we had maps with us to find Big Ben!  After our turnaround, we departed to the northeast with our passengers.  The flight from England to Norway was interesting [join up by RAF ?] and, once again, we were blessed with great weather for the scenery.  Our destination was Sola/Stavanger, a city in Norway.  Sadly, we weren't on the ground long, but it was a nice day to see the area from the air. We saw lots of inlets (fjords?) and lakes with low hills - there were also some pretty mountains visible to the east. The weather was pleasant and I kept thinking that the area would make a great vacation spot.  [Uneventful flight back to Sicily (route uncertain).  Spent the night in the NAS Sigonella Bachelor Housing.]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[staying at Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella - worked all day...]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

Left Shannon after midnight - once again, we great flying weather! Charlie W. and I took this leg and we arrived in Sicily by 0300L. After our in-brief and (long) check-in process was complete, we checked into the Bachelor Housing for NAS Sigonella.  Fortunately, I was able to get a few hours of sleep. [Did some work for a few hours in the late afternoon - dinner in town.]

Shannon (Ireland)

I learned last night that the aircraft was ready for an early morning departure - yay!  [After checking out of the Courtyard this morning, I got a ride from a duty driver and met the Detachment crew at NAS Willow Grove.]  It was a beautiful day for flying!  With a fully functional aircraft, we headed to St. John's, Newfoundland.  After a great fuel stop, we were on our way to Europe! We stopped again for fuel at Shannon.  Devlin met us and took us to the Duty Free Shop - it's always a nice place to unwind after the crossing.  We were on deck in Ireland when local midnight arrived... 

Willow Grove, PA (USA)

I checked out of my room at the NAS JRB Willow Combined Bachelor Housing and headed over to the squadron to meet up with my crew in the squadron.  Only then did I learn that our Detachment was scheduled to leave in the late afternoon.  More waiting...  Fortunately, there was food available in a few places today!  When we assembled for our mission briefing, we were informed that our aircraft was broken. We then waited hopefully for a few hours - the squadron eventually called it a day (at around 1845) and informed us our departure was rescheduled to early the next morning. I found out the the CBH was fully booked for the night but, luckily, one of my friends (Bobby) was also visiting Willow Grove and he took me off base to look for other lodging.  Most of them were filled today, for some reason, but I finally was able to check into the Courtyard on Easton Road, located down the street from the base (1915).  Bonus: also had a nice dinner at Bennigans.  After a slow/boring day, I turned in early.  Hope tomorrow is better!

Philadelphia, PA (USA)

Another squadron was facing a pilot shortage and asked a few of our pilots to join them for a Detachment to the Mediterranean - of course, I gladly accepted!  To reach their unit, I had to take a commercial flight from Norfolk International Airport early this morning.  [Not certain about transportation.]  My US Airways flight took off  at [either 0745 or 0935] - this meant that I arrived in Philadelphia early too [either 0900 or 1035].  A duty driver picked me up but it took a LONG time to drive over to Willow Grove. I checked into the NAS JRB CBQ.  There usually isn't much to do in this little town but, without a car, there was even less opportunity than usual. Even worse, the base seemed to have NO food available anywhere! I managed to talk the bowling alley guy into selling me a pizza that he had bought for a kid's birthday party... Otherwise, I spent most of the day walking and waiting for my flight in the morning.  Bed around 2230L.

Houston, TX (USA)

Woke up in Fallon - have a lot to do today!  We ate breakfast at the Best Western Fallon Inn, checked out of our rooms (0650L) and then headed to the NAS.  After getting our briefing and flight prep completed, we departed on our first mission leg of the day. This was one of Eric's first flights anywhere with us - everything is new... Standard trip from the mountains to valley in California, then flew down to Houston for fuel. Ellington Field is a good stop. Checked weather and figured out that we couldn't make Key West (huge thunderstorm!). Took part of our lift to Norfolk - the rest will catch another of our flights to Florida tomorrow. Had to help everyone find a hotel - home at 0200.

Virginia City, NV (USA)

Got another trip to Fallon today... Itinerary enroute was Norfolk to [Jacksonville, North Carolina (Albert J. Ellis) ?] to Fort Worth to Yuma to Fallon. After checking into our hotel, the Best Western Fallon Inn, at 1800L, our crew got into a long conversation about whether there was enough time to do anything social.  We had a rental car and, eventually, everyone agreed that we should head over to the historic town of Virginia City (of "Bonanza" fame) for dinner. The drive wasn't too bad, but almost everything was closed when we got there. We ate a steak dinner at the Delta Restaurant - home of the "Suicide Table." The food was good. We spent about two hours here and then headed back to get some sleep at our hotel, the Best Western Fallon Inn.

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

We got up really early so we could get to Busch Gardens (Europe) before it opened. We learned a long time ago that if you want to ride on lots of rides, you have to show up early on a Sunday morning - the park opens some rides at 0930. The kids brought their friend, Summer. Brenna and Summer rode the Loch Ness Monster, Apollo's Chariot (3 times), Escape from Pompeii (3 times) and the Big Bad Wolf. Mollie and I did all the great rides she likes - including a swing ride that takes you 20 feet off the ground - and Erin joined us while the others rode the scary coasters. Mollie tried the 4D Corkscrew Hill - and didn't like it. All of us enjoyed another episode of Pet Shenanigans. We left before the big rush for Hallow-Scream (1800). We will miss having our pass next year...

Outer Banks, NC (USA)

We drove down early today for one last day at the beach. Along the way (NC-168/US-158) we stopped at several Farmer's Markets to sample fresh fruit and other goodies. It was the last weekend for most of them... We arrived at Southern Shores (NC) around noon and had a picnic lunch. We walked along one of the public beaches for awhile - it was VERY windy - and saw lots of birds and sea turtle nests. The water wasn't really cold, but the wind put a chill in the air after we got out of the water! We stopped swimming for a little while - waiting for it to warm up - and drove north towards the towns of Duck and Carolla. We found out that there are wild horses living in the dunes at the end of the road (only 4X4 beach access). There was a great nature center in Carolla and a boardwalk through the marsh to a perfect view of Currituck Sound. We didn't see any horses, though. We tried the Corolla public beach around 1600 and found some sand-bars for boogie boarding. It was still windy, but we all took one last dip in the ocean waves. Aaaahhh! On the way home, we stopped for dinner at Sonic.

Saint Mary's City, MD (USA)

It was a beautiful fall day, so we drove through the Tidewater area of Virginia until we came to the Potomac River. We crossed and drove down the Maryland side to visit historic Saint Mary's City. It was the original capital of the Maryland colony and has important Catholic roots (including some of the first religious tolerance edicts). It turned out to be "Woodland Indian Discovery Day." There were reenactments of Native American life - complete with bows and arrows for the kids (a highlight) - and people dressed in colonial clothing. We toured some reconstructed homes and businesses and learned a lot about the Chesapeake Bay from the early 1600s. Compared to the Jamestowne Settlement, it was a little less formal. Still, we enjoyed the grounds and had a very nice day. We were able to get together with one of Mollie's school friends (who moved away last year) in Dahlgren, Virginia, on the way home.

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 7

Daddy woke up early and cleaned up the campsite. He decided to throw away the tent - he said it was old and we could get a new one! We left kind of early and ate some breakfast bars in the car. It finally stopped raining. We went down the road to the Monongahela Forest and looked at all the beautiful views. It was amazing! We visited a nature center and looked for bears - we didn't see any. Then we got some lunch - Brenna got nachos and Erin got macaroni and cheese. Daddy had some fruit. We went up to the top of a big mountain and looked around a ski resort called "Snowshoe." It was so cool - now I really want to go there! Then we drove down to see a big telescope [National Radio Astronomy Observatory]. It is called a radio telescope. We took a tour - it was very interesting. We also got to see the Seneca Rocks nearby. Daddy wanted to check out a place in Sugar Grove where he heard there were cabins. It was a tiny place with nothing to do. We had to drive over some big mountains to get back to Virginia! After we got back to the interstate, we stopped for dinner at Burger King (chicken fries & cheesy tots - mmmm). It took a long time, but we finally got home. That was the end of our trip!!!

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 6

We woke up and had more pancakes for breakfast. Today we went to Hawk's Nest State Park. First, we got information about the park and then we went to the bottom of the New River Gorge in a little tram. When we got to the bottom, we had a picnic lunch - with leftover pizza! Then we got on a jet boat. It took us up the river - we saw lots of people who built little houses along the river so they could spend the day swimming and having fun. We saw the New River Gorge Bridge from another place. We took lots of videos and pictures. After that, we walked around a little bit more and then went back to the top in the tram. We bought lots of souvenirs and post cards. We had ice cream at Dairy Queen. It was so hot and we kept telling Daddy that we wanted to go back to Summersville Lake. We finally went and we had a chance to swim for awhile and get cool! After that, we went back to camp. It wasn't dark yet, so we cooked our dinner and started up a fire. Daddy cooked chicken noodle soup and rolls. We roasted marshmellows after it got dark. Daddy told us ghost stories and we sang some campfire songs. But then it started to rain. We thought it wouldn't last long, so Daddy drove us around for awhile. It looked like it was stopping, so we went back to camp. When we checked in the tent, Daddy figured out there was a big hole - and water had got everything wet! We ended up sleeping in the car and it rained all night...

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 5

We woke up and went to Bob Evans for breakfast. It was really good and we had pancakes, eggs and potatoes (Brenna had grits too!). We stopped at the Canyon Rim visitors center and showed the ranger our Junior Ranger books. She gave us patches for getting our workbooks done and some stickers. Then we drove to Summersville Lake. First we stopped for some sub sandwiches to take for a picnic. We were glad to be at the lake today - it was really hot!!! We swam in the shallow water - letting the cold water cool us off - and then we played games. We played "Marco Polo" and "Find the Rock" and then Daddy threw us up in the air! We had a lot of fun at the lake - we like it better than the ocean. When we were done swimming, we had ice cream at "Fat Eddie's." Next, we went to Babcock State Park and saw an old grist mill. It was really interesting and pretty. We got to walk on more rocks and saw a pretty water fall. We drove over to see the place where John Henry made a tunnel through a mountain - he died after he was through. We went back to Grandview to talk to the rangers again and saw some more beautiful views. On the way back to camp we had dinner at Pizza Hut - yummy! We went to bed when we got to our campsite.

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 4

We woke up early and got ready to go river rafting! When we were ready we had some breakfast at Tudor's Biscuit World. The food was great and their biscuits were almost the size of an apple! Then we rushed over to Wildwater Expeditions to get our gear and rafts. After that they taught us some water safety! Then we left. When we got to Thurmond, we all carried coolers and put them in the rafts. Then we started paddling down the Upper New River. Later, we came to a rock about 15 feet high and everyone started jumping off of it! Brenna jumped twice from the top and Erin jumped from a place almost at the top. Then we stopped for some lunch. Brenna had two sandwiches and some fruit. When we got to the big rapids, our favorites were the ones called "Surprise" and "Little Deer's Foot." Brenna rode with Daddy in the "Duckie" and Erin rode on the big raft with our guide "Mr. Bodie." Daddy and Brenna almost fell in the rapids! We got to do a lot of swimming and played a game called "King of the Duckie." After we had rafted for eight miles, the ride was over. The big bus picked us up again and drove us back to Wildwater. We changed out of our wet clothes and went back to camp. For dinner we had hot dogs and baked beans. We hate baked beans!!! We worked on our journals and wrote post cards to Mommy and Mollie. We also finished our Junior Ranger workbooks. Then we went to bed.

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 3

We woke up to have some pancakes! Then we went to the bottom of the New River Gorge again and saw the huge bridge. It was the size of one Washington Monument and two Statues of Liberty! We went wading in the water near some rapids and climbed on the rocks! Then we went to the Thurmond visitors center and looked around the old railroad ghost town and learned a lot about the town and trains. Then we went to a place called Stone Cliff. Daddy decided to take the McKendree Road - a gravel road on the Park map. It was soooo long and scary. We were on the side of a cliff! It was long and went on and on and on, until we were finally off that road! Daddy kept saying we would make it, but we kept asking "what if we get stuck in the mud?" When we finally made it out of there, we went to see the Sandstone Falls. It was beautiful - not a big drop. People were climbing on the rocks and hiking on nature trails. We went to Grandview to watch the meteor shower. It was fun. We saw a bat house - and lots of bats at sunset! The ranger lady told us about the bats' habitat. She also talked about the stars, the constellations and the planet Jupiter (we could see it!!!). We sat out on our tarp again and saw lots of deer all around. We got back to camp really late and went to sleep!

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 2

We woke up and had breakfast in the hotel - then we were on our way [0825]! When we were driving, we saw pretty mountains and we went over many big bridges (under them were beautiful rivers)!!! We got into West Virginia around noon and stopped at the Welcome Center for information. They told us about the State Fair nearby - maybe we can go! Next, we drove to the New River Gorge Park and looked around. After we got our Junior Ranger workbooks at the Sandstone visitors center, we started looking for campsites. We finally found one [Chestnut Creek] and started to put up tents and put our stuff away. Daddy drove us down to the Canyon Rim visitors center so we could go on a nature walk with the park rangers. It was called "Kids Nature Hike Adventure" and we had a fun time. We didn't see any ticks... Next we had dinner at the campsite. We ate hot dogs, peas and corn that Daddy cooked on our new camp stove. We drove down into the New River Gorge near the big bridge after it got dark. We saw some deer. Then we went back to the campground. Earlier today we bought a big tarp at Walmart and we laid it out in a big field so we could watch the shooting stars [Perseid Meteor Shower]. We saw lots of stars and made lots of wishes. It was beautiful!!! Then we went back to our tent and went to bed.

Daddy-Daughter Trip - Day 1

The day we left, Erin really didn't want to go. Now she is really glad she went! Before we left we had to do a lot of packing, making lists. Then we were on our way! We stopped at the Bass Pro Shops to get some camping supplies. When we came out of the store, Daddy noticed that we had a flat tire. We got it fixed at the service station by a nice man who helped us. We got some more supplies at Walmart. Then we started driving. When we got near Thomas Jefferson's house [Charlottesville, VA], we started to see lots and lots of mountains - and some big bridges. Everything was so beautiful! We stopped for dinner at a Burger King and shared some Cheesy Tots and Chicken Fries. Then we finally got to the hotel - a Howard Johnsons in Lexington, VA [1935]. It had miniature golfing and a pool! We put our stuff in the room and were going to go swimming - until we heard about a horse event nearby. We went to the Virginia Horse Center and watched a Barrel Racing competition. It was so fun and exciting. Then we went back to the hotel and went to sleep!

San Antonio, TX (USA)

[Norfolk to Camp Springs to San Antonio to Norfolk - with Julius]

Fallon, NV (USA)

[flying with Glenn - started at NAS Fallon] Woke up (at the BOQ) to a clear, pleasant morning. We were ready to leave early, but there was a massive failure of the air traffic control radar and we had to wait for a few hours. Finally flew over to Lemoore (for fuel) and then to Forbes (for more fuel) - mmm: BBQ. Arrived back in Hampton Roads just after dark...

Reno, NV (USA)

[flying with Glenn - itinerary uncertain] Spent the night in the BOQ at NAS Fallon. I was only in Nevada for one afternoon/evening, but it was enough time for us to leave the remote area of the base in order to visit "the biggest little city in the world": Reno. Compared to Vegas, I have to say that it was kind of a let-down. There was at least one big complex of casinos that we visited - most of them were connected. Some good restaurants and lots of cards/slots. I must confess that I enjoy the variety of Vegas much more... Fortunately, my Navy crew mates did all the driving tonight - this was great because I was quite tired.

Cape Henry Light, VA (USA)

This is a pretty nice place to visit - especially since there aren't many people on the US Army Post where it is located. You can see dolphins in the surf and lots of crabs on the beach. Big Tanker Ships pass by here - really close. There are some monuments to the landings of Christopher Newport and the Jamestown Settlers. I guess they weren't impressed with Virginia Beach...

Brunswick, ME (USA)

Checked out of the Rota Naval Station CBQ in the late afternoon and were airborne a few hours later, bound for the States. We first stopped in the Azores for fuel and then proceeded to Brunswick without much trouble. Part of the mission, to get Mike his flight time AND night time, was accomplished when we flew the last leg down to Virginia Beach.  We landed at around midnight and I was home much later.  What a nice trip!

Rota (Spain)

Woke up late in the day and flew over to Rota. We then transported some passengers and their gear to Sicily but then got to fly back to Rota for the night. We stayed in the Naval Station CBQ, with a late checkout for the following day.  This was one of the first times I have ever gotten to see what the night life in the little town of Rota was like. We didn't have time for dinner, since we landed after 2300, but that was OK - the night had barely gotten started! We took a taxi to reach the area where the locals were eating and having a good time - by the time we were actually eating, it was 0030. We spent several hours at "Red Square" until they closed up (0400). There were still other local establishments open until we got tired at 0500... I'm glad I don't have to wake up early tomorrow!

Terceira, Azores (Portugal)

Got another flight to Europe!  It turned out to be a pretty good day - we had some weather trouble early (near Delaware). Flying with Mike - an instructor of mine from about 15 years ago. I was given explicit orders to get him lots of flight time and night time. That means I'll have to ride in the back a good bit, but that's OK. We had a good turn in St. Johns and then a quick flight over to the Azores. [departing out of Newfoundland, we saw how tough it is to get a fully loaded DC-9 to altitude by the FIR boundary...] Stopped for the night on Terceira (Lajes Air Base).  We stayed the night at the Mid Atlantic Lodge and, even though they gave us a rental car, we didn't use it.  Instead, we ate dinner at the "Top of the Rock" before heading to bed.

Alpena, MI (USA)

[with Tracy - Norfolk to Fort Walton to Dayton to Alpena (Michigan) to [...] to Norfolk]

Outer Banks, NC (USA)

I surprised everyone again with an impromptu trip to Cape Hatteras. We drove down, stopping at a Farmer's Market for fresh fruit, and made it to the National Seashore early in the afternoon. We spent a great day near the famous lighthouse on the beach - there was an excellent sandbar for body surfing and wading. The kids made some new friends who let them use their boogie boards. Came back to car - tire was completely flat. Luckily, we had our air pump. After we had a nice dinner, we drove over to Roanoke Island (Manteo) to watch the famous outdoor play "The Lost Colony" - in its 70th year. We haven't really done too many plays, but the kids liked being out under the stars while the cast sang and danced. We got our play-bills signed and the kids got their face painted, since we were in the Indian section. Kept checking tire pressure along the road after the show (2300). It was a (slow) late night drive home, but it was well worth it.

Newport News, VA (USA)

The kids and I visited an interesting place today - the Virginia Mariners' Museum - that had added a great addition to its collection: artifacts from the ironclad Monitor. I was very impressed with the display - including a nearly 3D movie depicting the Battle of Hampton Roads. I highly recommend this attraction.

Sioux Falls, SD (USA)

[Norfolk to Joe Foss (Sioux Falls) to Minot (hot brakes) to Norfolk - with Steve]

Camp Springs, MD (USA)

[Norfolk to Camp Springs to Norfolk - with Paul]

Bismarck, ND (USA)

Still fueling in Bismarck after midnight.  The town was pretty by night - they also had windy, but pleasant, weather. Got airborne again around 0030L. We had to stop at Camp Springs (Andrews AFB) on the way to Hampton Roads (landed before 0600L).  I arrived at my home in Virginia Beach by around 0630, just in time to see the kids before school.  Glad to be back in the USA!

Anchorage, AK (USA)

After staying up late (local time) last night, it was nice not to have to leave immediately. Slept late at the Elmendorf AFB North Star Inn (Air Force Inns) and then had a nice brunch before checking out of my room. Ultimately, we departed Alaska at around 1600 local time - bound for the "Lower 48"... Landed at Bismarck, North Dakota, for fuel just before midnight.

Shemya Island, AK (USA)

Left Japan early - I had to check out of the NAF Atsugi CBQ/BOQ at 0415L in time to make our flight to Misawa!  Due to a crew/aircraft change scenario, I ended up flying with a squadron mate, Kevin F. It was so beautiful - I've ever had weather like this before while flying along the Japanese Coast! To spread the flight time out fairly, we switched crews a few times (I later flew with Jeff B.)  On the way to the North American mainland, we stopped for fuel at Shemya Island - a very deserted place on the Aleutian chain.  Never thought I'd visit a place like that! Our trip to Anchorage was uneventful and we landed there at 2200L. We checked into the Elmendorf AFB North Star Inn (Air Force Inns) after midnight but then we realized we were actually reliving the same day again because we'd crossed the Date Line.  In addition, Alaska was still lit up as bright as daytime!  In the end, we decided that we had several hours to enjoy the city nightlife before the sun actually went down. Dinner (more of an after midnight snack) was at a pub downtown.  Wish we were staying longer...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Nagasaki, Kyushu (Japan)

[Flight with Waylon - Atsugi to Nagasaki to Atsugi - welcome change from Iwo runs - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi]

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Iwo To (Japan)

[after checking out of COMFLEACT Okinawa CBH, we returned to Kadena and set up for our mission.  we (Waylon and I) then flew from Okinawa to Iwo Jima/To with a lift that planned to climb Mount Suribachi - since it started to rain soon after we landed, none of us borrowed one of the bikes that were staged for aircrew use - instead, we waited for our passengers to return and then flew back to Okinawa - after dropping them off and getting fuel, we flew back to Atsugi - returned to my room at the CBH NAF Atsugi for the night - great mission!]

Mindanao (Philippines)

After checking out of The Westin Resort Guam (1200L), we headed to Andersen AFB.  Our mission took us from from Guam to the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines. [Flying with Waylon W.] We were only scheduled to be on deck in [Z] briefly today, but the flight down gave us an opportunity to check out the remote island scenery. We saw an unbelievable number of thunder storms but some of the places we saw were sunny and peaceful. It is too bad that this place has a semi-civil war going on, because it seemed like it could have been a nice vacation spot. After picking getting fuel and taking care of our passengers, we departed the Philippines and flew to Okinawa.  Despite other visits to Kadena Air Base, this was the first time I was able to stay on the ground for any length of time. Our crew was lodged at the COMFLEACT Okinawa CBH.  Unfortunately, we had no car and I didn't have time to figure out the public transportation system. However, I was able to walk around a bit and got a better feel for the island.  I know I say it all the time, but there seems to be some good potential for future exploration...

Tumon Bay, Guam (USA)

Woke up refreshed after a night at the The Westin Resort Guam - this is the life!  I had time to walk over to the K-Mart for some much needed supplies and checked out the shopping. There is a good shuttle that people use to get around the malls - it's a pretty good deal because they had lots of stops. Spent a few hours on the beach working on a paper for grad school. Nice sunset. Got dinner at the hotel restaurant (Misty's / Starlight BBQ) and enjoyed the meal tremendously.  Bed late.  We're out of here in the morning...

Tumon Bay, Guam (USA)

[Flew (with Waylon) from NAF Atsugi to Nagasaki and then continued on to Guam.]  We were ahead of schedule all day and made it to Andersen AFB with nearly 48 hours before our scheduled departure (an extremely unusual experience!). I have been able to overnight in Tumon Bay before but, during this visit there was with lots of "rest" time - no rushing. Our crew checked into the The Westin Resort Guam by 1650L. Like many of the other places, the resort had a restaurant with a $50 all you can eat/drink dinner. Waylon and I enjoyed the meal, especially our table was outdoors on the beach. The rest of the crew joined us later and we all took a dip in the pool.

Iwo To (Japan)

[Flight with Waylon - Atsugi to Iwo and back - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi]

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Kamakura, Honshu (Japan)

Rafael and I took the train over to one of the old capitals of Japan today - Kamakura. This is my second time here - his first. I recently saw this city in the old version of "Around the World in 80 Days." It has some old palaces, temples and a 60 foot Buddha statue. We enjoyed some great food and great exercise. Bought lots of souvenirs.  [Staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi.]

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Iwo Jima (Japan)

We've been visiting the tiny island of Iwo Jima several times during this detachment.  However, today was the first time we were able to stay for nearly the whole day! [Flew with Waylon W. from Atsugi to "Iwo To" (the name acceptable to the Japanese).]  This turned out to be one of the more interesting things I have been able to do in the last few years. Featured in several World War II movies, it was the site of a horrific battle. To visit it now, though, you would never know that so many people lost their lives defending the black volcanic soil and sweltering caves. The assault by the US Marines can only be appreciated with a walk along the steep beach. As I stood at the top of Mount Suribachi, I was moved by the images of flag raisings and stunning bravery that the battle required - on both sides.  [Staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi.]

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Iwo To (Japan)

[Flight with Waylon - Atsugi to Iwo and back - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi]

Iwo To (Japan)

[Flight with Waylon - Atsugi to Iwo and back - 2X? - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi]

Yokohama, Honshu (Japan)

Another nice day in Yokohama - my favorite city in Japan. We had a delicious lunch at a restaurant I have visited before - we cooked meats and vegetables on a small hibachi grill. Time spent at the Minato Mirai (a "new" shopping district) is well worth it. We arrived on a day of celebrations and parades - complete with opening day for the Yokohama Bay Stars (baseball). The weather was awesome and we visited all the interesting places - European section, Chinatown, etc.  [Staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi.]

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Iwo To (Japan)

[Flight with Waylon - Atsugi to Iwo and back - staying at the NAF Atsugi CBH]

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Atsugi, Honshu (Japan)

Worked all day - staying at CBH at NAF Atsugi...

Kwajalein (Marshall Islands)

I met my crew in the lobby of the Hilton Hawaiian Village early this morning and we were checked out by 0700.  After reaching our aircraft at Hickam Field, we left Honolulu and flew west. [Waylon and I rode in the back of the aircraft.]  On the way across the Pacific, we stopped in at a rather deserted island (Kwajalein) on the way to Japan. I had never been here - although a lot of my Master's Degree research has been on the launch facilities that are out here. The place was extremely humid and hot. The ocean waves some breaking (fast!) up to the beach. There isn't a lot of elevation here - maybe 4 feet above sea level (?). I am not sure I would like to live here... Arrived late in Japan and checked into the CBH at NAF Atsugi - I'll be here for nearly a month!

Honolulu, HI (USA)

Checked out of the Comfort Suites by 0650 this morning, got gas and then returned the rental car to Enterprise.  Once at NAS JRB Fort Worth, we got set up for our mission.  Our flight to San Diego was uneventful - we got to fly along the harbor before landing at NAS North Island. After our fuel stop, the plane was packed on the way to Oahu. We arrived in Honolulu early in the afternoon and got transportation (taxi) to the Hilton Vacation Village (checked in at 1620L). It was a very relaxing hotel on the water - like most of the ones I have visited before in Hawaii. There was a lot to see/do - dancers and swimming and relaxing drinks by the pool. Waylon and I walked over to Dukes (at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach) and had some drinks and fish tacos. [With no work tomorrow, we can relax - we just have to be there by the time the plane leaves...]

Fort Worth, TX (USA)

[WESTPAC Mission] We (Waylon and I) left Hampton Roads early and arrived in Fort Worth before lunch time. After some coordination with Base Operations, we picked up a rental car from Enterprise (on Alta Mere) and took our to a BBQ restaurant called the Railhead. They had a great menu and big beers! By the time we sat down, it had already started to pour, so we stayed there for awhile. After our meal, we checked into the Comfort Suites on Highway 30 (1320).  By the end of the afternoon, the storm had become a Tornado threat - sirens and weather reports for hours about the track of the storm. Nothing dangerous ever materialized, but it sure makes me wonder about this place...  We're out of here tomorrow.

Bristol, TN (USA)

[after checking out of the Joint Forces [AKA NAS] Training Base BOQ this morning, we (Rich and I) flew from Long Beach (Los Alamitos) to Tri Cities (Bristol, TN/VA) - the next leg was to Camp Springs (Andrews AFB) - last flight was home (to Norfolk)]

Long Beach, CA (USA)

[mission to the west coast - flew (with Rich) from Norfolk to Forbes (Topeka) to El Centro - as we departed the latter stop, we had problems with the GPS (Rich took it...) - we arrived in Long Beach (Los Alamitos) kind of late - checked into the Joint Forces [AKA NAS] Training Base BOQ - fortunately, I still had a chance to visit with Mary and Leo (we ate dinner late)]

Spring Break Trip - Day 8

We drove into the City today - it was more relaxed this time. I spent some time in the National Archives trying to find information about our great-great uncle who fought in the Spanish American War. No luck, though. The kids were enjoying a walk on the Mall while I was busy - they are good sports... They walked through the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. One thing they were surprised to see there was some of the displays from the Museum of American History (it's under renovation). We all met later to tour the National Gallery of Art - the kid's first visit there. They seemed genuinely impressed with all the statues and paintings. We finished our explorations around 1700 so we would have time to drive home. We used US-301 and US-17 - a pleasant drive.

Spring Break Trip - Day 7

We basically did a repeat of yesterday's itinerary, with Mike dropping us off at the Metro Station (more tickets for everyone), a ride on the train into DC and visits to some more Smithsonian Museums.  For lunch we had some awesome noodles at a restaurant called Chinatown Express. For about $5, we had a huge bowl - and they made them right in front of us!  More museums afterwards, another train ride back to [Shady Grove] and Mike picked us up.  In the evening, there was more genealogy fun and the kids got to hang out with their cousins.  Dinner was takeout from Giuseppe's Pizza.  [I believe there was Wii playing and Irish Dancing demos] It's been a wonderful visit!

Spring Break Trip - Day 6

Mike took us over to the Metro station this morning so we could ride into the City. I had to get Metro tickets for all of us - not cheap!  It was worth the cost and effort, though, because we wanted to spend some more time in the Smithsonian and the kids wanted to visit Ford's Theatre. They are very interested in Abraham Lincoln. We had never gotten to stop there before, so they were excited. We navigated the city just fine and made it back to the Metro station in the late afternoon.  Mike picked us up and took us back to Rockville.  In the evening, Pat and I met with Elizabeth and Aileen to talk about our family tree.

Spring Break Trip - Day 5

Checked out of the Navy Lodge early this morning.  Before we left Annapolis, we drove over to the Naval Academy so we could walk the grounds. We visited the tomb of John Paul Jones and watched the Midshipmen muster for the noon meal. That was very special - the kids started talking about wanting to join the Navy! We then drove over to Rockville to stay with Pat and Mike. On the way, we stopped at the Goddard Space Center. It was really interesting and had some great information on the Hubble Space Telescope and an outstanding 3D Earth presentation. The kids liked the interactive displays. We were really glad to see Pat and Mike again - it had been awhile. As always, they were gracious hosts.

Spring Break Trip - Day 4

Today, we got a late checkout from the Residence Inn and this allowed us to take a water taxi around the harbor.  This transportation option was unique and interesting but we really wanted to visit Fort McHenry, home of the "Star Spangled Banner". For my part, taking the boat was good because I didn't have to drive... The presentation at the National Park was great - wait until you see the end! The kids did more Junior Ranger workbooks. After returning to the city, I checked out of the hotel (1245) while Nicky and the kids did some window shopping.  I parked the car on in a nearby garage and met up with the family again so we could visit the home of Mary Pinkersgill - she was the lady who sewed the Star Spangled Banner. We got a personal tour and learned a lot about her life and the history of early Baltimore. At lunch time, I retrieved the car and drove over to Corned Beef Row.  I dropped Nicky off at Harry Attman's Deli . It was one of those New York Style places - lots of yelling and throwing - and it was packed! The sandwiches were awesome - I would love to go back there! We next drove down to Annapolis so we could explore that town for our first time as a family. We stayed at the Navy Lodge, which was located in a nice place near the main attractions.  We later strolled along the waterfront and had a great dinner at Buddy's Crab House. We all tried the Chesapeake blue crabs - they were excellent! We also got to see a late night women's soccer game at the Naval Academy - the girls really enjoyed cheering and meeting the players.  Bed was quite late for the kids... We are looking forward to having some more fun in the morning!

Spring Break Trip - Day 3

Staying at the Residence Inn at the Inner Harbor gave us the opportunity to walk everywhere that was interesting - the aquarium, Camden Yards, the restaurants and shopping. We had tickets to the National Aquarium - it was great. The kids told me that visitors to Baltimore shouldn't miss the Dolphin Show! The special exhibit included animals and habitats from Australia.  In the late afternoon, we got some tapas at a Spanish restaurant (La Tasca) on the Harbor. After a fun-filled day, we settled back into our hotel room with plans to depart the following day.  It's been a great trip in Baltimore!

Spring Break Trip - Day 2

We woke up early so we could drive up to have brunch in "horse country" on the north side of town. It wasn't a long drive and we made it there just after they opened.  The restaurant (Manor Tavern) was actually an elegant manor that served some great food - we were very fortunate to have reservations! After a filling meal, we drove over to visit the Ladew Topiary Gardens, which was located at a semi-private residence. While the weather was cold, we enjoyed the funny shapes (Fox Hunting, a big Buddha).  Dinner was at Roman Delight Pizza - the kids liked that after having to be so "fancy" all day...  We spent the night again in the Residence Inn on Light Street in Baltimore.  Happy Easter!

Spring Break Trip - Day 1

We drove up to Baltimore today - there was actually some snow on the way! We wanted to get there before the Easter Vigil. Arrived in the city by 1545 and checked into our hotel (Residence Inn by Marriott), which was located in the Inner Harbor area of the city - it was very convenient!  After getting settled in the room, we headed out the the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (north side of town) for the service. It was an amazing experience! The Arch-Bishop was presiding and the cavernous atmosphere of the Cathedral made the Vigil very special.  Late dinner was at Wendy's and we then headed back to the hotel (valet parking will take some getting used to).  I think the kids will remember this Easter for a long time...

Long Beach, CA (USA)

After checking out of the Glorietta Bay Inn early, we (me and Micah) left San Diego at around 0800L. First stopped at Los Alamitos (Long Beach) to pick up more passengers.  After that, flew East. [Had to stop at Forbes for fuel (and BBQ - mmmm...)]. Dropped everyone off at Camp Springs. In Virginia Beach by 2100.

San Diego, CA (USA)

Great chance for exploring - we had another trip to San Diego today (and no passengers). Left Norfolk around 0800 and arrived in San Diego at 1100. Micah and I got the rental car and quickly headed up to Temecula. We went to Wilson Creek Winery and sampled some of their stuff. Tried another nearby place too. Then headed back to San Diego to check into the Glorietta Bay Inn. This is a repeat visit for me and I think I like this place as much as El Cordoba... Had dinner at Coronado Brewing Company with the guys and went to bed rather early.

San Diego, CA (USA)

Checked out of my hotel (Glorietta Bay Inn, Coronado) at around 0900 and headed back to the flight line on NAS North Island.  Today, our flight home was scheduled with no passengers. We were in the air by noon and back in Hampton Roads by 2000.  Not a bad gig!

San Diego, CA (USA)

Second mission to California this month!  Didn't get an early start and, by the time we were on our way, it was nearly noon. Stopped in Topeka for fuel (and food) and then arrived at NAS North Island by around 1900. Checked into our hotel (Glorietta Bay on Coronado - nice!!). Went to dinner at Miguel's with all 11 people in our crew. Had a great time with beer, margaritas and Mexican food...  San Diego is always nice!

Williamsburg, VA (USA)

Had a chance to visit Busch Gardens again today - they open a little early for the Season Pass holders (a nice perk)...

Miami, FL (USA)

Up early - Sims finished before noon.  We checked out of the Residence Inn Coconut Grove at 1335 and headed towards Miami International Airport.  Made a stop for gas at Exxon (1615) and arrived at the airport soon after that (returned the car at 1625).  After boarding my American Airlines flight (scheduled takeoff was 2040), we had to wait for a bit (weather) before we were able to depart. Arrived at Norfolk International Airport just after 2300 (about 15 minutes late) and was able to get my car from the Airport parking lot by 2325. Overall, this recurrent simulator training trip was an interesting experience!  I hope to do my training in Miami again but we'll see if the Sim is still being used there the next time I have to go...

Miami, FL (USA)

[Recurrent Simulator Training during the day.] We had lunch at a great Thai place near the airport. Finished with almost all the classwork - we leave tomorrow. It was much colder this evening, so we didn't venture far from the Residence Inn Coconut Grove. This area has some nice shops and restaurants!

Miami, FL (USA)

[Recurrent Simulator Training during the day.] Sean and I checked out another side of the Everglades today - there was time enough to drive over to the Gulf Coast side of the Everglades. We drove along a lonely section of highway (US-41) - the only thing out there, really, was boats. We had dinner at a great seafood place in a little section of Everglades City. On the way home, we took a dirt road detour through the park. As the sun set, we saw a large black cat (panther ?) - we still aren't sure whether it was something exotic or more "normal" wildlife...  On the way back to the Residence Inn Coconut Grove, we got gas at Gator Express (1840).  [Stayed local for the evening.]

Miami, FL (USA)

[Recurrent Simulator Training during the day.] After work, Sean and I were able to explore South Beach, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne. The weather has turned colder and windier, but walking on the beach was still nice. I really like Key Biscayne - some of the homes out there explain why people love this area. I was not impressed by Miami Beach at all - it's just condos! I thought there would be more going on up there, but the action is clearly in South Beach. Overnight again at the Residence Inn Coconut Grove.

Miami, FL (USA)

Had my recurrent simulator training due this month so headed to the latest location for it: South Florida.  This was much different from the last time I went, when the Simulator was still in St. Louis.  After arriving at Norfolk International Airport early in the morning (I parked my car in the Airport lot at 0610), I took an American Airlines (direct) flight to Miami International.  [Scheduled takeoff was 0740 and landing was 1010 - not sure if we were on time.]  After getting through baggage claim, I met up with my simulator partner (Sean R.) at the Dollar rental car desk (1135).  Once we had the vehicle, we both decided that it would be a good day to down to the Everglades National Park. This turned out to be a great decision!  There were some great places to see alligators and enjoy the ocean breezes. Even in March, the temperatures were extremely warm. The park was experiencing a significant lack of rain and was not as "swampy" as I expected. After our little adventure, we drove back to Miami and checked into the Residence Inn in Coconut Grove (1950).  The area nearby was a very pleasant slice of South Florida!

Monticello, VA (USA)

We got up early and drove over to Charlottesville. It wasn't too far, all interstate. The weather was nice - it had been snowing a lot (west of Richmond). When we got to Monticello, we bought tickets and then toured the grounds. The kids were very impressed with Thomas Jefferson's house and the design of the estate. After we left, we drove over to James Monroe's plantation to look at it (we didn't stop) and checked out an old mill. On the way back to Hampton Roads, we visited Pocahontas State Park.

San Diego, CA (USA)

[started the day in our hotel (Radisson Hotel Harbor View San Diego) - drove rental car back to NAS North Island and returned it to the Enterprise counter (0900L) - flew back (with Rich) to Hampton Roads - itinerary uncertain - lunch at Rice King]

San Diego, CA (USA)

[mission to the West Coast - departed Hampton Roads (flying with Rich) - itinerary uncertain - ended up at NAS North Island - picked up rental car (from Enterprise) at 1315 - drove with crew to our lodging in downtown San Diego (Radisson Hotel Harbor View)]

San Salvador (El Salvador)

Had an OK sleep in the Quality Inn Real Aeropuerto El Salvador.  Met the crew early and headed to the airport for our mission (flying with Jack T. again).  We were able to buy some good coffee inside the airport while we waited for our next leg. It wasn't too hot - I'm glad it isn't the middle of the summer! [did we stop in Gulfport for Customs?] Made a stop in Atlanta and, during our leg back to Hampton Roads, encountered huge thunderstorms - they were all around us, but we picked our way through...

San Salvador (El Salvador)

[flew with Jack T. - itinerary uncertain - we ended up on an RON in San Salvador, El Salvador and we stayed in the Quality Inn Real Aeropuerto - we ate a nice dinner in the hotel restaurant]

San Diego, CA (USA)

[checked out of the NAS North Island Navy Lodge, returned our rental car to the Hertz desk (0700L) - then flew (with Andy) from San Diego to Virginia Beach - itinerary uncertain]

San Diego, CA (USA)

[Mission to San Diego] Flew (with Andy) from Virginia Beach to California.  [Itinerary uncertain]  Arrived at about 1700L and picked up our rental car (from Hertz).  Checked into the Navy Lodge (on the beach!) and then left the base for some fun.  Ate dinner at the Coronado Brewing Company tonight - it was good (as usual).  Bed relatively early - home tomorrow.

Terceira, Azores (Portugal)

[checked out of the Mid Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) and departed Lajes Air Base in the morning - flying with Jack, Gary and Glenn - itinerary uncertain (we must have stopped for fuel but was it Brunswick or St. John's, Newfoundland ?) - regardless, we were back in Virginia Beach by early afternoon (local time)]

Vila Praia da Vitoria, Azores (Portugal)

[after checking out of the Sigonella Bachelor Housing in the morning, I met up with my crew (Jack, Gary and Glenn) and we left Sicily - we made a stop in Rota (for fuel) - we then departed the European mainland, enroute to the Azores - we landed at Lajes Air Base and checked into the Mid Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) again - we were changed and ready to go out in town early enough that we were able to eat dinner at O Pescador (Vila Praia da Vitoria)]

Sigonella, Sicily (Italy)

[checked out of the Mid Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns) - flew (with Jack, Gary and Glenn) from Lajes to Rota (fuel stop) - then flew to Sicily - checked into Bachelor Housing at NAS Sigonella - (dinner in town ?)]

Terceira, Azores (Portugal)

[flew (with Jack, Gary and Glenn) from Norfolk to the Azores - itinerary uncertain (non-stop or Newfoundland ?) - arrived at Lajes Air Base very late and checked into the Mid Atlantic Lodge (Air Force Inns)]