Hey,all!

I've decided it's time to go exploring something new *cough* of course, only for the benefit of all y'all here that might run into the experience at one time or another. :) *cough* *snicker*

LOL :)

Richard and I are doing the midtour thing, hopefully leaving Friday, and are planning on taking advantage of the Space A adventure... :)

We'll be gone for 2 weeks-ish...where we're going? Hmm...wherever the first plane that has an availability takes us? :)

And of course, I'll definitely fill you in on the total space A flying experience, the good bad and the ugly of it. :)

*G* Ooooh, I sound like an AFN reporter, don't I? :)

Ohhhhh, Commander Lawhorn, if you're still here.. I'm ready for my close up! LOL :)

I'll miss you guys..and will definitely be thinking of you.

While I'm out enjoying myself somewhere,and y'all are here! LOL :)

Seriously, *HUGS* Love you guys, will see you when I get back!

Dee :)

Have fun! I'm looking forward to your report on your Space A experience.

Have a good trip, Dee! We've had really positive experiences flying Space-A. It's my preferred means of travelling!

Kara

Oh, Kara!

Thank you -so- much for that encouragement..you don't know how much I needed that right now!

I was talking to some of the moms of kids in my son's class yesterday during a class field trip, and you wouldn't believe the horror stories I heard. I came home last night -terrified- about the whole situation! :)

Those of you who have been around long enough to remember my posts from before I actually got over here may well remember how anal I am about wanting to plan things out,etc, so I'm actually fighting my own inner organizer (*cough* control freak!) already in even doing this whole thing completely off the cuff, anyway... after the nightmare stories, I definitely needed a good report! :)

Dee :)

Hey, everyone! :)

We're finally back home from our vacation, and as promised, here's my report of my experience of flying Space A! :)

We finally ended up getting out of here 5 days after we had begun leave, managing to catch a ride on a KC 135 to Hickam AFB in Hawaii. For anyone considering Space A travel, I would -highly- recommend getting to the MAC/PAX terminal and getting your name in the system as quickly as possible once you're able to do so...also, fax your paperwork to any *possible* destination you may be going as soon as you sign up for your leave here..don't wait until you arrive wherever to do it! Sign-up time is of the essence when it comes to Space A travel.. believe it or not, even a couple of hours can make a difference. We met a wonderful couple from Camp Humphreys while we were waiting for the first flight we tried for, and ran into them again while waiting for the flight to Hickam...they registered only a couple of hours behind us, but had the flight not opened up seats at the last minute, they would have missed out.

As soon as you know you're on a plane, call billeting at that destination, if you intend on staying on base, and make reservations/get on the waiting list ASAP! Also, *overestimate* your stay..get your room for more days than you actually need, it's actually easier to get money refunded to your card for leaving a few days earlier than you expect than it is to extend. Prepare for the unexpected, planes often don't get out on time, or at all... and trust me, it's no fun not having a roof over your head. Sign up for your maximum number of days in the beginning and get your name on the waiting list for more as soon as you can!

One thing that we consistently encountered was that the way things are handled at different lodging places was totally *INCONSISTENT*. Each place seemed to have it's own way of handling things,and each was different from the others... make sure that you get the straight scoop on the billeting regs as soon as you know you're going to be travelling! :)

Our trip to Hickam was *wonderful* - we had a great time there,and really enjoyed our stay. We were able to extend our dollars there by sharing a 2 bedroom TLF with the couple we met at the PAX terminal, making our lodging costs for the time we were at Hawaii a whopping -28- bucks a night! :) While I realize that arrangements such as sharing living spaces might not work for everyone, if you're travelling with a friend,and have the opportunity, it really does save you money, and makes for a fun time. :) Having a kitchen to share also helps out with expenses,as you can do breakfasts or lunches in your room cheaply, then spend your savings on souvenirs or a really nice dinner out! :)

While we were in Hawaii, ITT became our best friend! :) We were able to take advantage of a luau and the experience of a lifetime- a swim with dolphins at Sea Life Park- and our tickets were *less* than half the price normally charged for the activities because we purchased them through ITT. Be sure to check in with whatever base you're going to, and ask about their prices ..you may find yourself pleasantly surprised! :)

From Hawaii, we travelled to Yokota, in Japan...Before we left here, I had heard horror stories from many folks here who had travelled to Yokota about trying to get planes out of there back here (a lady I know here was travelling back to Osan after a trip to Hawaii a few months ago, and had been stuck at Yokota so long that she was so desperate to get back here that she tried to hitch a ride on the NEO flight back)... and sadly, I have to say..the horror tales, from my experience, are *true*. I realize that space A depends a great deal on flexibility and circumstance, but..I'd have to say that Yokota, from my experience, is a huge black hole in the universe of Space A! We were stuck there for 6 days, with 3 separate show times falling through..once due to a plane being changed to a "contracted" plane at the last minute, once due to a plane deciding *after* the roll call was held that they weren't going to take any passengers, and once due to a mechanical failure.

Lodging at Yokota was difficult to obtain-long story, there,and if you really want my non-diplomatic opinion, ask me privately sometime :)- and when we were in the East Side lodging, transportation to the lodging site was difficult.. to the tune of a $12.00 cab ride *one way* from the billeting office to the actual billeting. There's a base shuttle that runs all the way around the base, it's free, but only runs once an hour, and that service stops at 6 pm. Now, given that one of our call times was at 4 am, and cab service stops at 2 am.. the base shuttle stopping at 6 pm makes it really hard to get to where you need to be! We ended up taking a taxi to the office at billeting at 2 am, sitting in there until 3:30 or so am, and then walking to the PAX terminal, to discover the 4 o'clock show time had been cancelled due to the plane breaking, leaving 14 of us, 3 of whom were AD who had to be back before the end of the weekend, due to their leave expiring, stranded.

We all ended up heading to ITT and flying home commercially...but all made it home safely yesterday, at least those I've heard from (and I've heard from all but 3 at this point! :) )

On the bright side of Yokota.. good things I saw:

a) The Outback- the equivalent of Osan's Checkertails, located right next to the Yokota O'Club.. great place for a burger, and they're open 24 hours on weekends!

b) East Side Blues- a little barbecue restaurant on the East Side of the Base... a real taste of home for those of us from the South!

and

c) The staff of the Community Center at Yokota, who, while we adults were trying to get planes booked at ITT, offered our kids a place to relax, and play, away from the stress, with pool tables, ping pong tables, and video games, as well as supervising the kids,and even providing them with juice and a snack or two.. just a simple act of kindness that meant all the world to us already stressing parents! :)

The best part of the trip? As far as activity wise..the dolphin swim was definitely it...the Arizona Memorial was particularly moving, as was a visit to Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa, Hawaii, where my grandad was stationed in WWII.. a chance for me to revisit his past and reconnect with him.

But by far, the best part for me were the friends we made along the way...the couple from Humphreys we shared the entire trip with...the 13 or so we shared the "Great Escape" with, that became like a little family, all pulling together, taking care of one another...

Because of them, it was definitely a vacation I will never forget, in more ways than one. :)

Dee :)

Sounds like you had a great time! I am actually stationed at Hickam now and just missed you. Won't be back until 3 July. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I am so jealous! :) Our follow-on WAS Hickam, and I guess the person my husband was supposed to be replacing extended his time at Hickam, so we are now headed somewhere else. I was really looking forward to the year round sun in Hawaii! :) Oh well-- the base we are headed to now isn't bad, and I am actually able to find a house to buy there-- unlike Hawaii.

I am glad you had a great time. Sounds like things didn't go exactly as smooth as you might have hoped, but that just makes for more fun stories to tell!