After getting setup on our site for the next three nights, we headed back around the base to the BX and Commissary, but first a little late lunch. Before we shopped, Judy dropped into the beauty shop and set up an appointment for a trim on Monday.
The aircraft noise here is something else. No, not the low flying fighters like we had at Tyndall or the C-5’s and C-17’s at MacDill. This is a constant sound and it turns out it is not aircraft engines causing the noise. We had noticed a converted 747 parked near the Base Operations hanger when we arrived. It looks much like the presidential aircraft – Air Force One. Making all that noise are the APU’s (Auxiliary Power Unit’s) connected to the plane. Apparently it takes a number APU’s to keep all of the electronic gear on board up and running as the plane is one of four – Airborne Command Post the United State has. Here is a picture of one of them. You can see the strange ‘bump’ on top near the front – that is the in air refueling dock.
Sunday evening we took a long walk south out of the campground along the Banana River. We had gone maybe a quarter of a mile when we spotted several dolphins playing in the water. They continued to swim and jump for a long while.
Monday we drove around the islands and topped off the Ram before having a quiet and peaceful night. The E-4B departed sometime during the time we were off base and it was so nice to not have to listen to those APU’s all night.
Tuesday morning we headed off north to Georgia on the drive to Kings Bay Sub base near St Marys. The drive was uneventful and on arrival at the base checked into Pass and ID and ended up getting a government decal for the RAM. The Air Force no longer is using vehicle decals, but the Navy and the Army are still using them. It was either get a 48 hour pass and then renew it as we are to stay for five days, or permanently register the Ram at Kings Bay.
This is our site along the lake. It is a real nice park with probably 50 sites. Right now there lots of snowbirds passing through on their way north. The small (220 acre) lake across from our site is home to several small gators and a number of birds.
Our peaceful night’s sleep was jarred by a distance voice over a loud speaker. Not quite sure of the exact words but it sounds something like: “Warning! You have entered a restricted area. It is unlawful to enter without proper authority.” Near as we can figure there are sensors around either the sub pens or the Lockheed-Martin assembly area. No you can’t see the subs or sub pens. They are within a restricted area deep inside the base.
On Wednesday afternoon we drove to St Simon Island to visit sister Judy. For dinner we had to make the obligatory trip to Crab Daddies. We all agreed it was well worth it. On the way we stopped at an old ‘tabby’ house - it was the largest tabby ruin we have ever seen. Actually it was built as a sugar mill and there are three large rooms standing. Notice the thickness of the walls.
On Thursday we took a five mile bike ride (the base has excellent bike trails) and then drove to “Historic St Marys” to check it out. It was a quaint little spot and we picked up some information on Cumberland Island. Maybe next trip we may take the ferry for a day trip to the island. On our evening walk, we found a tortoise or turtle near our site. It appeared to be looking to lay eggs
.
Friday morning we took another long bike ride and then headed to see “Historic Kingsland” to the west of the base. There really wasn’t much to see, although it looks like they are trying to get some tourist traffic. Several of the buildings had nice murals hand painted on the sides. After lunch it was off to the exchange and commissary to pick up some needed items. Certainly is nice not to worry about rationing milk.
Friday morning we took another long bike ride and then headed to see “Historic Kingsland” to the west of the base. There really wasn’t much to see, although it looks like they are trying to get some tourist traffic. Several of the buildings had nice murals hand painted on the sides. After lunch it was off to the exchange and commissary to pick up some needed items. Certainly is nice not to worry about rationing milk.
Saturday we began to put things together for the drive on Sunday. We made one final BX/Commissary run and then to church.
watch. Mark left to do some work and we had the boys. They played outside and Jon did a couple of maintenance things on the house. After Kyra got home we had dinner and we headed back to the raceway for the night.
Her are some pictures of the boys and “Grandma” up in the tree house.
Sleep is not good where we are parked. We are in one of the ‘front’ areas very near the boulevard and there is continual traffic and street lights every couple of hundred feet, plus the lights in the campground. We would have much preferred to be in one of the areas nearer the drag strip or dirt track, but there were plenty of campers in there when we arrived.
We picked the boys up a little before noon on Tuesday and headed back to the Greystone for the night. On the way we stopped by a new park being developed by Davidson on an old farm. We hiked into a meadow for a light picnic lunch and then finished the hike. All in all we probably walked a mile. When we got back to the Greystone and got settled we tried to work with Niko on his bike. There are no others near us and we have a wide asphalt road in front of us.
After a Tuesday night movie and some Wednesday morning cartoons we took a short walk in the campground and found a mini geocache. Had to lift the boys up in a tree to retrieve it and then put it back. They were disappointed that it contained only a log….nothing to trade although Lex insisted on leaving a little soft yellow cotton ball.
When we arrived in Davidson, the boys got busy playing with neighborhood kids for a while, but soon they wanted ‘Grandma’ to read to them. So while she read several books and stories, contact was made with all the providers back home to resume services (cable, mail, etc.). In the afternoon, the boys played with Thomas from next door and his sitters. Grandma cooked a roast with potatoes and carrots for dinner and after dinner and coffee cake desert we headed back to the Greystone.
Thursday was a much cooler day and it was near eleven when we got into Davidson. As a change of pace, we took the boys to IHOP for lunch and both of them ordered the “Rooty Junior” – scrambled egg, pancake a sausage link and a strip of bacon. They were both pretty hungry and in fact Niko ate an extra pancake. Back on Lynbrook the boys played, Judy worked on some laundry and Jon replaced a light/fan control switch.
We are both looking forward to getting back ‘home’ as we’ve been gone the longest ever. We left home on the fourth of January and will not be home until the 23rd of April. Both Lydia and Lilly will be glad to have the room to roam too.
A damp and dreary day greeted us on Friday so we spent the day indoors with the boys. Niko has taken to Monopoly and really knows the rules. We played one long continuous game. At one point the adults (we took turns playing the same board) were down to only $5 and Niko had nearly $2000.
While the game was going on, Lex busied himself playing with his toys.
When we decided to end the game, it was no contest. Niko had amassed nearly $3000 and had hotels and houses all over.
After the game we had an indoor egg hunt with the boys.
The drive home on Saturday was uneventful. We pulled out of the speedway at 7:15 and were backing in the drive at 4. We were all glad to be home and were greeted by Matt and the girls. They helped us unload and Matt brought us dinner. Robert had picked up the sticks and twigs from the yard and he had even mowed.
It was another good winter, but being gone nearly four months is too much.
No comments:
Post a Comment