Cuba, day three...
Most of you probably know this already, but for those that don't, this guy
/points both thumbs at self
is in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
A brief description of the trip:
Early Friday morning, get to a private aviation terminal in the arse end of Ft. Lauderdale airport. We planned on normal airport waits for everything, and so got there two hours early. However, in the world of private aviation, TSA security checkpoints don't exist, and there's no walk from the ticket counter to the gate. The door to the gate is right next to the ticket counter.
A side note: for every other flight we've taken on this deployment, we've taken civilian, commercial aviation. Among the things they set aside for us at the security checkpoints was taking our boots off, because I'm here to tell you, taking combat boots off and putting them back on is a pain in the tuchas. I appreciated that.
Okay, so we get on the American Eagle turboprop plane, whatever whatever. Prop planes are to even small jets what wooden roller coasters are to steel ones. I'm not personally bothered by prop planes, but we have a couple of skittish fliers in our unit, and it was a little dicey for them. But it was a pretty uneventful flight, aside from looking out the windows at the gorgeous Caribbean water. Saw an island out the left side of the aircraft about 90 minutes out. No idea what it was, but it did have roads on it.
But the approach? The approach was *highly* entertaining. We went into a deep starboard bank that the pilot didn't get out of until, I swear, 50 feet off the deck. He straightened up, and no more than 20 seconds later, the wheels hit. It was awesome.
Did some inprocessing paperwork/briefings, and then we got on the ferry to go to the other side of the Bay, where pretty much everything but the airfield is.
I can't tell you how awesome that ferry ride was. The bay is gorgeous, the seabreeze was perfect, and I thought to myself, dangit, maybe I shoulda joined the Navy. I could get used to this water stuff.
I've told myself I was gonna move to S. Tampa when I get home, but St. Pete beach might work better. I really do love being this close to the water. The breeze is outstanding.
Another thing: this base is HILLY. I could see myself riding the crap out of these hills. Love it.
So we get off the ferry, get our housing sqaured away (holy crap, I'm living in a closet...) and go eat. McDonald's. Not what I would have chosen for my first island meal, but I was so hungry I didn't care. The dining hall is pretty spectacular here, so I won't have to put up with that any more :)
We've had the last two days off to get settled, explore a bit, relax. It's been really nice. I went to the pool today, signed up for scuba classes, made a bunch of trips to the Navy Exchange (which is right across the street from our housing area) and have been using the Internet in the library, which is also right down the street. The only snag? The library won't let us get on FaceBook. Nazis. But I have Internet access coming to my room, and that network allows access to fb, so it's just a matter of patience.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, James is gonna go somewhere where he's no longer at the top of the food chain. On purpose. But I'm totally excited about it :) I just hope the sharks don't think I look like food. I hear there are Tiger Sharks out here.
I'll know more about work flow and all that jazz tomorrow. The outgoing unit (a Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from the Wisconsin National Guard) are all really cool, so it should be a pretty good transition. We've already met most of them. They leave in two weeks, and to say they were happy to see us would be an understatement.
It's hot, but you know, I'm kinda used to that. Go figure. All the Wisconsin folks were like, "You gotta hydrate like crazy until you acclimate!" I was thinking, "People, do you know where I live? This feels like home :)"
This is gonna friggin' rule.
/points both thumbs at self
is in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
A brief description of the trip:
Early Friday morning, get to a private aviation terminal in the arse end of Ft. Lauderdale airport. We planned on normal airport waits for everything, and so got there two hours early. However, in the world of private aviation, TSA security checkpoints don't exist, and there's no walk from the ticket counter to the gate. The door to the gate is right next to the ticket counter.
A side note: for every other flight we've taken on this deployment, we've taken civilian, commercial aviation. Among the things they set aside for us at the security checkpoints was taking our boots off, because I'm here to tell you, taking combat boots off and putting them back on is a pain in the tuchas. I appreciated that.
Okay, so we get on the American Eagle turboprop plane, whatever whatever. Prop planes are to even small jets what wooden roller coasters are to steel ones. I'm not personally bothered by prop planes, but we have a couple of skittish fliers in our unit, and it was a little dicey for them. But it was a pretty uneventful flight, aside from looking out the windows at the gorgeous Caribbean water. Saw an island out the left side of the aircraft about 90 minutes out. No idea what it was, but it did have roads on it.
But the approach? The approach was *highly* entertaining. We went into a deep starboard bank that the pilot didn't get out of until, I swear, 50 feet off the deck. He straightened up, and no more than 20 seconds later, the wheels hit. It was awesome.
Did some inprocessing paperwork/briefings, and then we got on the ferry to go to the other side of the Bay, where pretty much everything but the airfield is.
I can't tell you how awesome that ferry ride was. The bay is gorgeous, the seabreeze was perfect, and I thought to myself, dangit, maybe I shoulda joined the Navy. I could get used to this water stuff.
I've told myself I was gonna move to S. Tampa when I get home, but St. Pete beach might work better. I really do love being this close to the water. The breeze is outstanding.
Another thing: this base is HILLY. I could see myself riding the crap out of these hills. Love it.
So we get off the ferry, get our housing sqaured away (holy crap, I'm living in a closet...) and go eat. McDonald's. Not what I would have chosen for my first island meal, but I was so hungry I didn't care. The dining hall is pretty spectacular here, so I won't have to put up with that any more :)
We've had the last two days off to get settled, explore a bit, relax. It's been really nice. I went to the pool today, signed up for scuba classes, made a bunch of trips to the Navy Exchange (which is right across the street from our housing area) and have been using the Internet in the library, which is also right down the street. The only snag? The library won't let us get on FaceBook. Nazis. But I have Internet access coming to my room, and that network allows access to fb, so it's just a matter of patience.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, James is gonna go somewhere where he's no longer at the top of the food chain. On purpose. But I'm totally excited about it :) I just hope the sharks don't think I look like food. I hear there are Tiger Sharks out here.
I'll know more about work flow and all that jazz tomorrow. The outgoing unit (a Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from the Wisconsin National Guard) are all really cool, so it should be a pretty good transition. We've already met most of them. They leave in two weeks, and to say they were happy to see us would be an understatement.
It's hot, but you know, I'm kinda used to that. Go figure. All the Wisconsin folks were like, "You gotta hydrate like crazy until you acclimate!" I was thinking, "People, do you know where I live? This feels like home :)"
This is gonna friggin' rule.