We signed up on February 18 to travel from 6 terminals which have flights to Europe. Our 60 days will expire on April 18th. We hope to be on a plane heading somewhere in Europe during the next two weeks.
If that doesn't work, we have a 2nd plan; our sign up date for our passenger terminal of choice (Charleston) is March 9 which gives us travel time until May 9th. Charleston flies to Rota, Spain on occasion. So our Italy trip could begin in Spain. Our 3rd plan would involve leaving the U.S. through BWI (Baltimore-Washington airport) on a military flight to Germany that has a consistent posted schedule but it's at least a 10 hour drive. That signup expires on May 15th. We could buy a commercial ticket from Atlanta to BWI to be at the airport on the day the scheduled military flight departs but there is no guarantee that we would get a seat on the military flight. We are registered at a few National Guard units that fly to Europe on occasion and that's our fourth option.
Now, how do we get back to the United States at the end of our travels? We have registered to return from 8 departure points in Europe. Our sign up date is March 10th which means we have to be on a plane no later than May 10. I'm treating this way of travel like a game. Otherwise, it might drive me insane. The earliest military families can check their children out of DOD schools is May 16th, I think, if they are returning to a new duty station in the U.S. It is advised that Cat VI travelers avoid traveling from June through August or mid September because families will have priority for the seats available.
I'm tried of thinking about all the "ifs". It's a beautiful day and we're going for a long walk.
We had just finished our walk on Sunday, April 3rd and I checked the facebook page for Charleston AFB not expecting to see much. However, there it was -- a flight to Aviano, Italy with 53 tentative seats on Tuesday, April 5th. YES!!! Our sign up date is March 9th so that means there could be lots of people ahead of us but we're gonna try for it.
Early Monday morning I checked facebook to see if the Aviano flight was listed. It had been removed. Stoney called the terminal and was told it had been listed in error. Aviano has no passport control center. No wonder I'd never seen a flight from Charleston to Aviano.
I did realize though that I could do a bit more planning in the thinking through of what we'd like to do once we arrive in Italy. Stoney doesn't like to travel for more than 2 weeks at a time (more like, 10 days is his max) and there are lots of places I'd like to visit. So, now I have time to think through a 10 day trip to determine what could be possible without running around "like chickens with our heads cut off." Thankfully, I've never witnessed such a scene. Here's the meaning and origin of the phrase:
Meaning
In a frenzied manner.
Origin
Poultry may sometimes run around in a frenzy for several minutes after decapitation. The phrase was known in the USA by the late
19th century. It is recorded in print being used as a simile from the
1880s; for example, this piece about an escaped prisoner in The Atlanta Constitution, July 1882:
"Finding himself free from the heavy shackles, he bounced to his feet and commenced darting about like a chicken with its head cut off..."
Speaking of chickens, I remember the time my dad told my sister and me that he could hypnotize chickens. We were probably around 6 and 8 years of age and we had gone to visit Uncle Isadore and Aunt Ada on their farm in Ohio. My dad always wanted to be a farmer so vacationing/working on a farm was fun for him. My dad picked up a chicken, put the chicken's head underneath its wing, rubbed his hand over the chickens wing saying "paw me saw tah, moo mah may". When he placed the chicken back on the ground, it did not move for approximately one minute. It just layed quietly on its side. Then, it quickly jumped up, flapping its wings and took off! My dad was a man of many talents.
Last night as I was trying to firm up the best travel route to visit the places on our wish list, I was exploring train travel and looking at the departure and arrival schedules from place to place. Somehow in my search, I found this book and downloaded it to my Kindle app for iPad. It should be a great resource. So, the posting error on the Aviano flight was a blessing. It forced me to begin thinking through the plans to determine what would be feasible and I discovered a book that will aide in my planning.
And here's what happened ... our bags were packed. They can be carried on and will fit in the overhead compartments. We can get on and off trains/buses with them. They also can be carried on for Easyjet or Ryanair in Europe. Each weighed about 18 lbs.
Monday, April 11th we drove to Jacksonville, Fl and visited the passenger terminal. In order to speak with the terminal reps you go through security just like you are checking in for a flight. We were assured there would be no problem getting on the flight to Norfolk. The atmosphere of the employees at the pax terminal was very laid back. We were instructed to park our car long term "just past where the road curved and we would see the gravel lot where presently a Malibu and another car was parked." Well we did not find it. So as instructed on the NAS Jacksonville facebook page, we went to the hobby shop - maybe a mile away from the terminal. He said we should be able to park right out front in the newly paved lot for the AMC terminal. Back we went. This time Stoney spoke with a man who gave him a parking lot form to fill out and leave on the dash and told us we could leave the car in the first two rows of the newly paved lot.
We checked into the Navy Lodge, just a few minutes by car, from the passenger terminal. It was a nice afternoon and we took a walk.
When we walked by the Chapel of St. Andrew, we saw that there was an 11:30 am Mass so we attended.
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St. Andrew - holding a fish |
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| An interesting tree |
We went to the terminal and waited for the flight.
Boarded the bus about 3:30 pm which took us to Cecil Field to get on the plane. The ride to Cecil Field was a little over 30 minutes. It was a hot one. The a/c was not working and it seemed the heater was turned on! We watched as those arriving from Cuba deplaned and their luggage was removed. Those getting back on the plane for Norfolk got back on board and then it was our turn. It was about 4:25 pm. We waited. About 4:50 pm one single Commander and another Commander and his family boarded and the doors were closed. We were in the air by 5:15 pm for the approximately 1 hour and 5 min. flight to Norfolk.
Nice, roomy and comfortable seats
Upon arrival we went immediately to the passenger desk to mark ourselves present. We were told the number of seats had dropped from 70 something to less than 50. There were LOTS of people in the terminal lounges and active duty. Since this was our first time here we had no clue... We were instructed to take a seat in one of the lounges upstairs and come back down at 9:15 pm.
At about 7:30 I became suddenly violently ill. I made it to the nearest restroom. I want to commend the staff who kept it so clean. I have never been ill away from home and the cleanliness of this restroom and its availability EVERY time I had to run in was greatly appreciated. The next two hours were dreadful. I kept thinking there was no way I could get on the plane even if our names were called. At 9:15 pm Stoney went down to the desk and was told that a bus had arrived with active duty that they had not expected. They stopped filling seats with some but not all Cat IV. He came up and told me. I called the Navy Lodge and they said they had one room available. Thank God. Then an announcement came over the system that there were no more seats and no more flights this night.
We walked out of the terminal hoping for a taxi. A couple was walking in front of us, pushing their bags on carts and Stoney asked if they were familiar with the area. They had been hoping to get on the flight too. Stoney asked if we could walk to the Navy Lodge and the man said it was very close but across the interstate; no way to walk there. He said they had tried to get a room but it was booked. I guess we did get the last room. They offered to give us a ride and we most graciously and thankfully accepted. I was carrying a plastic bag (just in case) and praying that I would not have another episode (which was both ends at once now) before arriving. THANK YOU, Ernie and Jill from St. Petersburg, FL.
Miserable - all night long. At 5:30 am Stoney walked about 6 miles round trip to a Walgreens for Dramamine, Immodium and Gatorade. I started with the Dramamine (which ended up really only being ginger) but it worked and the vomiting stopped. The other end kept going but I didn't want to take a chance getting my stomach riled up so I held off on the Immodium. I was so very dehydrated but afraid to drink anything so I sipped a little Gatorade in the hopes it would remain inside. It did. This was me Wednesday and Thursday! I have never been this ill and now I understand when they say food poisoning can be so dangerous for young children and the elderly.
Then early Thursday Nick asked how it began for me ... and it was his turn. We had shared the contaminated sandwich but I guess his stomach took just a little longer to succumb to the attack. Because we had the meds, we hoped his bout would not be quite so bad. He had a bad night.
We had arranged for a taxi and it arrived a few minutes ahead of time. Roll call was 0400 and we arrived about 3 am. The taxi driver said it was good that we had asked for a pickup at 2:45 am because it becomes a "cattle call" around 3 am getting people to the terminal. We walked into the terminal, signed in and got seats within 10 minutes. There were lots of Air Force and Marines waiting for another flight. It was sad to see them waiting to go. I thought about our son who served in Afghanistan. There were 9 dogs and their handlers and they boarded first. We listened to the Marine briefing about what would happen when they landed in Germany (no drinking on the stop over but on their return in 9 mo. it would be different). I prayed for them and will continue to pray for all those who are serving in harms way. The food aroma from the cafeteria was more than my stomach could handle. I sat down stairs until it was time to board.
The plane back to Jacksonville had seats which really packed in the people -- narrow and no leg room. I was on the aisle and a very short woman returning to Cuba carrying a huge shopping bag of orchids (almost as long as she was tall) said her seat was next to me. She could not get her bag in the overhead because she was short and I helped her. She then handed me the bag of orchids so she could get in her set. After we were settled, the man who had the window seat arrived. She could not stand up with the orchid bag so she handed them to me. We got up to let the man in. She got back in her seat and I handed the orchid bag back.
I love flowers; I love orchids but I could barely handle looking at them besides the fact they were all over me. I'm glad these orchids had no fragrance.
We departed Norfolk just before sunrise. Once we were in the air, we could change seats. There were lots of empty seats so we moved up to the front row - to be nearer the bathroom - just in case. Thankfully, neither of us needed it.
Landed in Jacksonville; boarded bus back to the JAX NAS, got in the car about 9 am and drove home -- 5 1/2 hours. Stopped for one egg and one piece of toast and it remained down.
We are still not back to 100% but our bags are unpacked and we aren't planning any more Space A adventures for the near future. It's good to be home.
Lessons learned:
1. Never ever buy another pre-made grocery store sandwich.
2. Always travel with Dramamine and Immodium.
P.S. On the facebook Norfolk Passenger Terminal Page (really on all fb terminal pages), you can find the ICE form to fill out about your Space A travel experience. I completed it today giving kudos to the staff who kept the women's lavatory so very clean!
"Hindsight is better than foresight. Hindsight is better than foresight by a damn sight. If our foresight were as good as our hindsight, we would never make mistakes. If your foresight was as good as your hindsight, you would be better off by a d*mn sight." The earliest citation is 1879: Burdette, "Hawk-Eyes." From "Dictionary of American Proverbs" edited by Wolfgang Mieder & Others (Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York, 1992).
Hindsight -- Flight from Charleston AFB to Rota on Saturday, April 16 - released 58 seats and all 26 Cat VI got on. Sunday, April 17 another flight from Rota. Monday, April 18 another flight to Rota from Charleston and one on April 20th. Should have waited and executed Plan B.
We used Trail Wallet to track our expenses. It's a free app and simple to use. Cost of our "misadventure" was $461.66.
