Tiger Day 2. On the Move!

Just as I suspected, the girls were beat by 8 o'clock tonight. Of course it didn't help that at 8 o'clock, we shifted our clocks forward one hour and lost an hour! Oh, how I love losing those hours. We're only 2 hours behind San Diego now. Let's see if I can recount the Tiger Adventures for them today...

They started out by heading down to the 2nd deck to tour the Brig. The line was so long for that, they waved off and headed back up to the hangar bay to sign up for a tour of the medical department. While they waited for the tour, Katelynn got to practice line handling with the Deck department, tossing lines across the hangar. She was a natural! She has an amazing sense of where she is on the ship and has learned very quickly how to find her way around. Just like her mommy.

Next we headed up to the foc'sle to see the anchor chains and hear about how the men and women of the deck department use the equipment to put the ship at anchor or tie up to the pier.

The time for their tour of medical finally arrived and just as the tour guide showed up, an actual medical emergency was called away and their tour guide disappeared, running toward the scene of the emergency. Fortunately, it was not a major problem and he soon returned to show them around the clinic downstairs, explaining about the appendectomies, and other surgeries that have been performed on board the ship during deployment. They got to see x rays of some pretty nasty bone breaks and even of a light bulb in some sailor's stomach! Don't worry, everything came out fine in the end.

After medical, we grabbed a quick lunch and headed up to Vultures Row on the 09 level (an observation deck 5 floors above the flight deck) to watch a launch and recovery operations. We also got to watch a practice of the air power demo (aka air show) that will be performed tomorrow morning. Katelynn was very brave and endured some very loud noises for over an hour! I think she liked it. She didn't want to leave, anyway! Nana had tears in her eyes.

Next, we signed up for a tour of the Bridge. While we waited for that, we grabbed a snack at the 7-11 store and watched aircraft get moved around in the hangar, and get moved between the hangar and the flight deck via Elevator 2. It was funny to see what a big deal aircraft moves were to all the Tigers. Such a mundane, every-day task was a major event for all our visitors, who were glued to the scene, often getting in the way of the safety observers! My tigers sought shelter under the stabilator of an F/A-18, knowing that the towed aircraft wouldn't run them over there!

Our tour of the bridge was quick but fairly interesting. We could tell they just wanted to get us out of there so they could get back to work driving the ship. I can't blame them. Next we went up to PriFly, where the Air Boss sits, right above the bridge. He wasn't up there, but a couple of very nice aviation bos'n's mates patiently explained what they do up there and how the tower is run. Katelynn even got to sit in Air Boss' chair! We were invited down to the LSO platform during the recovery tomorrow after the Air Show. Not sure if will work out, but we'll try.

Our last touristy stop was in Flight Deck Control where the "Handler" manages all the aircraft on the flight deck and the hangar bay using a "Ouija Board" mock up of the decks with little cut-out aircraft replica's showing where they are spotted and each aircraft's status. It's a very complicated problem with a very simple solution. For years, engineers have tried to develop a fancy computer program to replace the simple, elegant, and antiquated flight deck board, but they just can't do it.

After dinner, and a short break to rest in the ready room, we headed back up to the Foc'sle to celebrate as one of HS-8's Chiefs re-enlisted tonight. It was a great way to wrap up the day. Tomorrow promises to be just as busy. Hopefully the ladies will be able to sleep well again tonight. The gentle rocking of the ship worked wonders last night. So far, no queasiness, either. Keep praying!

OK... three days and a wake-up. Almost there. Enjoy the pictures...

Katelynn & Daddy at the USS ARIZONA museum, with JCS in the background (our home for the next six days)

Katelynn says goodbye to Mommy one last time from Elevator 1 while we sit pier-side in Pearl Harbor

Getting ready for launch.

Katelynn and Nana in the Foc'sle. Each link of the anchor chain weighs over 600 pounds!

Enjoying lunch today in Wardroom I.

AIR BOSS Katelynn is ready to run the flight schedule. Now launching from Catapult 1!!