Scooting Around with Steve: March 2011

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest state in the Union (1959) and is the only state comprised of islands. It is the only state that has a royal palace located in it (we overthrew their government in 1893 - you can look up the details).

This is one of the most amazing places on Earth...it is absolutely gorgeous. You can tell God took his time making this little Pacific gem into what it is today.

Me at Honolulu International Airport with my seabag
on my back ready to go!

The office...CVN 72

I flew to Hawaii the day after my birthday to meet the ship. I flew on a little puddle jumper to Portland on Alaskan Airlines and it was the bumpiest flight of my flight...so I thought until my AA flight to Honolulu.

My good friend and retired Navy PAO, Chuck Bell (Mr Singapore) met me at the airport and took me to Pearl Harbor where I saw my new office...USS Abraham Lincoln! The first person I met on the ship was my new DIVO (ENS Robyn Gerstenslager). Then I met LCDR William Marks and they both helped me move my things up to the office.

We dropped things off and William showed me around the ship some. We left with Corky (the asst navigator) and heading to our pre-turnover location...the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach. I know, my job really stinks!

My view...9th Floor

The little island in the pond below my room

A Hawaiian rainbow

Sunset...totally awesome

Downtown Honolulu

just beautiful

So here's a few pics of my turnover days on the beach...rough life I have...compliments of the U.S. Navy!

Off scooting...

Friday, March 25, 2011

Turnover at Sea...

I started my turnover in Hawaii with LCDR William Marks (who is off to the Naval Academy to be their PAO). I have a great media shop comprised of a bunch of talented and professional Sailors who love what they do...they make this look easy!

My new office door

Refueling (for the jets)

The COD

The arresting wire...150 mph to ZERO in 3 seconds!

The inside of the catapult

San Diego

Wow...I still remember flying into San Diego for the first time in June 1982 on my way to boot camp which is now an outdoor mini-mall! There are still some buildings there and the ship that we did damage control on but for the most part...it's a shopping mall

La Jolla beach and pier

surfer...it was cold

seagulls doing their thing

La Jolla coves

Seals lounging around

Looking down the beach down towards
La Jolla

La Jolla Coves

Seals

Jim taking a picture of me taking a picture of him!

what a life?

The waves...nothing like it

Coronado from Pt. Loma view

Here's a few pics of my scoot with Jim and Terry around SD. I still a fan of the Padres...you can drive 20 mins to the beach, 20 mins to the mountains and 20 mins to TJ...which of course was now off limits to us Sailors!

San Diego is a wonderful place and there is something for everyone...Balboa Park and the Zoo, the Padres, La Jolla, Mission and Pacific Beaches, Horton Plaza and the fudge at Sea Port Village...hmmmmm, brings fond memories back!

The Tiger Cruise

Downtown San Diego

Jim Isbell

I picked Jim Isbell (cousin - mom's side) and Dr. Terry Clark (UCO professor and good friend) in San Diego for a quick Tiger Cruise on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to Everett, WA.

Dr. Terry Clark

Tiger sign in

Terry on the Quarterdeck

LCDR William Marks conducting a tour
for former NFL cheerleaders...my job sucks!

Jim and Terry on the flightdeck

Terry in the CO's chair on the bridge

Jim in the Captain's chair...

When I drove them to the base, I said, "Here's my office!"...and their jaws hit the floor! 20 stories, 4.5 acre flight deck, over 3000 compartments, 70 jets and helicopters, and nearly 5000 Sailors!

I think they had a a great time (thanks Diane and Sue for letting your new "sailors" join me on this little adventure on the high seas. They will probably need to be rocked to sleep because at the end they were getting use to it on the ship.