Tadaima

Hello all. I'm back home from my adventures in Japan (and the surrounding ocean) safe and sound. Here are a few highlights of the trip.

After a long 10 hour plane ride and a 1-1/2 hour bus ride we arrived in Yokosuka. Luckily is was dinner time when we arrived and I was hungry so being in Japan it was sushi for dinner. Eight of us went out and found a sushi-go-round, where the plates of various sushi travel on a conveyor belt and you just pull off what you would like to eat. After a while we all had a pile of empty plates and full bellies so it was a good evening.

In between meetings we had a bit of free time to explore the city. The people were all really friendly and since the Naval base is here they are all pretty used to Americans and our unusual ways. Lunch was a bit more interesting, no we didn't go to the McDonald's, but to the place right next door. The menu was all in kanji, but there were pictures and I understand those. There's no point to being in a foreign country if you don't try and be a bit adventurous.

Downtown Yokosuka

The next day we packed up and boarded the Ship for a pleasure cruise, umm I mean for work. Even though we planned on working 12-14 hour days there was still going to be a bit of time for some fun.

Me on the Flight Deck before departure.

Being that I am my fathers son, the best part of the trip was hanging out on 'vultures row' and watching flight ops. I probably spent at least 10 hours just watching planes take off and land enjoying the sights and sounds associated with it all.

F-18 landing on the deck.

We got done with all of our testing early. And since the ship wasn't back at the pier yet, there are only a couple of ways to get off, either by helicopter or plane. So we got our names on the list for a COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) flight. Me and 20 of my new best friends got strapped into the C-2 for the ultimate thrill ride from zero to the end of the deck in 2 seconds. Woowee! what a ride! After being shot off the deck of an aircraft carrier commercial airline flights are pretty boring.

C-2 COD plane

After landing at Atsugi Naval Air Field we had a 1-1/2 hour bus ride up to Narita that went right through downtown Tokyo. I wish there were a couple more days to explore Japan just a bit more, but it was not to be on this trip.

Our last night was spent in Narita (right near the airport) at a pretty swanky hotel. Around the hotel was a really nice japanese garden (hee hee).

Ten days after it started I was back home again and very tired. Was an awesome experience, but would have been better if Ash could have been there as well.

I'll post some more specific accounts of life on and around the ship. Till then.

Sayounara!