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Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on May 19, 2019 14:27:16 GMT 9
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Trips
Jun 1, 2019 1:16:49 GMT 9
Post by Bullhunter on Jun 1, 2019 1:16:49 GMT 9
I'm grounded until Fall. Been nursing a very bad cold or flu for the last two weeks. Almost over it now.
Belinda and a girlfriend are going to Dallas, TX in July for a Christian Conference. So I'll have some home alone time.
Come fall we have a big trip planned. There is a Sembach Air Base Reunion in Germany that we will try to get a C-17 out of McChord into Ramstein AB. We will be there during the Wine Fest at Bad Dirkiem and the Octoberfest. After that its a driving trip to Garmish. BTW incase you have not heard, our government & the German government have just changed the rules for the big military resort in Garmish. Retired Military & 100% disabled veterans can now stay there space-avaliable. We stayed there in 2014 and its a beautiful resort. I heard it cost 80 million to construct. With a few days in Garmish and a trip up to the Zugspitz we will then drive through Switzerland. Then travel down the east coast of Italy and up the west coast and back to Ramstein to catch a flight back to the USA. We have been researching places to stay and things to see and do.
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 18, 2019 1:29:45 GMT 9
Heading out again.
Belinda and I will be leaving for a few days to celebrate out 36 anniversary. This year she picked the spot and I won't know where it is until we get there or at least close by. Something we do each year this time. I was told I needed to pack a bathing suit so I figure its the hot springs, or a resort/hotel/casino with a pool.
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Trips
Aug 23, 2019 9:17:41 GMT 9
Post by Mark O on Aug 23, 2019 9:17:41 GMT 9
Just got word that our Granddaughter has arrived at Lackland AFB for USAF BMT. I think we all remember what an adventure it was for us. Gary, Very cool! I may have missed it, but what AFSC will she be going into? Jet Engines like grandpa, perhaps??!! That would be neat to have the opportunity to meet her if she shows up at Sheppard! Good travels, and as always we look forward to your updates, and photos! Mark O |
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Aug 23, 2019 11:20:56 GMT 9
She told me she is going to be a Lingwist. (Spelling looks wrong) Russian & some other.
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Post by Mark O on Aug 23, 2019 12:27:09 GMT 9
She told me she is going to be a Lingwist. (Spelling looks wrong) Russian & some other. Linguist. Yep, I know the job. They will send her to Monterey for the Defense Language Institute (DLI), then probably to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX for her actual tech school. I went to Goodfellow when I was in the Army for Signals Intelligence Analyst school. I chose not to go to DLI, but knew, and worked with linguists regularly in the Intel field. Nice! |
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Post by LBer1568 on Aug 23, 2019 21:39:32 GMT 9
My younger brother joined AF and went to Russian linguist school in Presidio of Monterey, CA. Him and his wife were stationed there while we were at RAF Upper Heyford. After school he was stationed at RAF Chicksands Station England. We were both there together for three years. After he separated he finished his degree and used his knowledge of Russian in his first job helping design and build computers to translate Russian.
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Aug 25, 2019 3:14:01 GMT 9
I wrote this while we were flying to Ramstein Germany. Had to do something until I was tired enough to fall asleep. Was a nice flight and I went up to the flight deck. We are now resting at the Ramstein Inn. Will head for Garmish in the morning.
Belinda and I arrived at the McChord AFB Terminal a few hours early before show time. We got all checked in with our Military ID’s and passports.. We were the third folks to be called during the roll call and the first CAT-6 people to be called. They first called out “Prince” a few times and when no one answered I spoke up and asked if they meant “Price” and the reply was “Yes.” So we went up with out bags.
We had our bags weighted, tagged, and x-rayed. Then I was asked to check the boarding passes to ensure they were accurate. I quickly noticed my first name and my wife’s first name were printed wrong. After playing around with the passenger terminal computed they got the system to change my first name , but the system would not correct Belinda’s name, kept printing Shirley. All 20 some passengers were then put into the boarding area and their carry on bags were x-rayed. We were left outside that area and told we would make the flight, but that name had to be to be corrected first. It took awhile and about time we got into the boarding area all the passengers were already out on the bus. We quickly got our carry on bags x-rayed and boarded the bus and drove out to the C-17 aircraft # 218.
We all got on board the aircraft and waited and waited. We were advised that we were waiting for the water, juice bottles, and inflight box meals to be delivered before take off. About 10 minutes later the supplies arrived , engines were started, taxied out to the runway, and got airborne. During climb out the flying crew chief passed out the box lunches and when he gave me ours the bottom fell out and the apple and soda can rolled down the cargo floor. I thought to myself, “What next could possibly go wrong?” It’s a ten hour flight and we were less than an hour into it.
     
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
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Post by Bullhunter on Aug 25, 2019 11:12:19 GMT 9
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Trips
Aug 25, 2019 11:50:51 GMT 9
Post by LBer1568 on Aug 25, 2019 11:50:51 GMT 9
Gary, way back in 1978 while stationed at Spangdahlem AB GE my mom came to visit and we took her to Garmisch, stayed in US Hotel at bottom of Zugspitze. We also took the trolley/cable car up to top. The day we went it was foggy so about half way up we broke out of the clouds and it was sunny and clear to see mountains. But we couldn't see city below. Lots of sweet tourist places around there. We still have boxes of photos.
Hope you have great time and try not to drink all the beer...save some space for the wine.
Lorin
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Trips
Aug 28, 2019 4:54:03 GMT 9
Post by Bullhunter on Aug 28, 2019 4:54:03 GMT 9
Drove through the Alps of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy and saw some awesome sights. Got into Italy and witnessed how wild and crazy the Italian drivers are. They will pass you and cut right back in front of you with maybe 8 or 10 feet. They do that even with the big trucks. Currently we are at Venice.
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Post by Jim on Aug 28, 2019 6:44:46 GMT 9
Drove through the Alps of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy and saw some awesome sights. Got into Italy and witnessed how wild and crazy the Italian drivers are. They will pass you and cut right back in front of you with maybe 8 or 10 feet. They do that even with the big trucks. Currently we are at Venice. |
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
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Joined: May 2005
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Trips
Sept 2, 2019 1:33:29 GMT 9
Post by Bullhunter on Sept 2, 2019 1:33:29 GMT 9
I think I have about had it. Enough of this crap and stress.
After a long drive through the mountains of central Italy we arrived at our castle hotel on the mountain top northwest of Rome. It was not an easy drive with several problems.
I up dated the Garmin GPS when we were in Germany and later it said the updates did not load successfully so I loaded them again yesterday and this morning before our drive the GPS stated the updates loaded successfully, so off we went. A few times the GPS map showed the road we wanted as a right turn, but the voice command said, “Turn Left” so we were left several times pulling over to check the Italy Road Map. Once I got really upset when the GPS said, “Take the ramp” and showed a ramp on the other side of the overpass so I took that one, which was the wrong one. The correct one was before the overpass and that caused us to travel 9 ½ miles farther down the toll highway. So the GPS is not updating like it says it is, or Garmin is not putting all the new information in for the updates.
Anyway the Castle is fantastic and very well maintained. Our room is up in a tower and we have our own balcony. A wedding was set up for this evening, but a massive thunderstorm moved through with lots of lightening, thunder, and high winds. Even left a rainbow in the valley, knocked out the lights for a few minutes and the internet. The lights were restored but so far not the internet until this gets posted.
The wedding setup had to be moved inside the castle because more thunderstorms were moving through.
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Trips
Sept 2, 2019 8:11:51 GMT 9
via mobile
Post by Mark O on Sept 2, 2019 8:11:51 GMT 9
I taught my kids how to use paper maps when they were young. I seriously doubt any of the four of them actually OWN a paper map today, but I feel better! Ha!
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Sept 2, 2019 13:28:53 GMT 9
I've had to refer to our paper map several times to confirm what the GPS says. I will be writing a letter to Garmin when I get home.
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