On The Road Again

Our trusty C-17 Globemaster...14 hours from McChord to Spangdahlem with a 1 hour refueling stop in Bangor, Maine. 

 

This is what the interior looks like when fully loaded with equipment and about 50 Paratroopers in the side-by-side seating along the sides of the aircraft. Our airplane was essentially empty, so you can imagine what an echo chamber it was inside. I probably could have jogged a few miles just doing circuits of the cargo deck. As it was it made for a welcome place to stretch our legs on the long flight.

Space-A to Europe

After several months of just talking about it, Rita and I finally decided to give Space-Available travel a try out of McChord AFB in Tacoma...about 2 hours north of Vancouver. After a couple of false starts (we drove up but didn't make the flight) we got lucky the other day when a C-17 flight popped up on the schedule heading for Spangdahlem, Germany. Didn't see it until the morning of its departure, but we had just enough time to grab the bags and drive up in time to make the roll call. Had 53 seats available and there were only 4 takers...with the 2 of us accounting for half the payload. Not the most comfortable seats - they're essentially nylon-netting type jump seats - but couldn't beat it for the price  (free). Managed to scam about 5 blankets and pillows apiece - enough to make a reasonably comfortable nest on the floor for sleeping - and passed a reasonably pleasant night thanks to the chemical magic of Ambien. Actually, since the plane was essentially empty we were able to walk all over the place to stretch our legs at will - much better than long hops sitting upright in airliner seats.
     Anyway, we made it. Our plan (what there was of one) was to rent a car and drive around Germany and Belgium for a month or so, but the weather has turned sour north of the Alps so we're heading to Italy tomorrow courtesy of an Army shuttle bus to Vicenza (near Venice), and will so be spending the next several weeks enjoying northern Italy instead. Will try to post some photos as we go, but right now we're very much making this up as we go along, not to mention dealing with the challenge of 9 hours of jet lag (I know - no sympathy).
     Nevertheless...here we go!