Sig - Westover -Norfolk - Naples - Sig

Author Message   Rob-N-sig Advanced Member Username: Robnsig Post Number: 198 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 88.45.223.190 Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 11:22 pm:    John, Yes we drove thru the strom. I meet up with a guy from Naples. I wanted to wait until the next night and catch a Airtain flight from Boston to Newport News for 84.00 but Logan was cancelling flights before the storm even got there and I was afraid of getting stuck. Also it was sort of a guy thing to me, we said we would make it to Norfolk and I didn't feel like leaving the guy. We hit the snow around 2330. It was crazy, like a TV movie where you find people days later. The state of Mass and Conn did a great job getting their trucks out there. We actually tired to stop one time and get a room but the car couldn't make it up the hill so we drove on. Caught our second wind around 0300 and finished the trip. NY was the worst roads. The NJ turnpike had snow on it but it was good driving. In Del we cut down 13 to the eastern shore and it was pretty bad. In all I was amazed we did it but glad. And then I call the Norfolk Mac terminal and the flight that left Sig Sun came straight thru on time. If I would have waited another day.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5526 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 11:03 pm:    Rob, thank you for all the postings and the general helpful information you put out there. It makes it much easier for all the others.   Rob-N-sig Advanced Member Username: Robnsig Post Number: 197 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 88.45.223.190 Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 10:59 pm:    Danny and everyone else here, thank you for the notes for posting for Sig. I really love it here and chances to catch flights make it great for me to get around. Now to answer your questions. 1. It is not the Ryan Air of Europe but of OK USA I think is where they said the crew was based. They have the Lajes - Naples contract. North American has the Rota - Sig contract. The Ryan plane was very nice and in great shape from what I saw. The crew was doing allot of training but they were good. 2. The train ticket was 30.00 Euro. It was second class. It left Naples central at 1931 and arrived in Catania at 0520. There were no sleeper or 1st class on this train but I have had that on others. So you know, 2nd class is 6 seats per compartment. Very little leg room. The hope is you get a compartment that is not full so you can lay across the seat in front of you. If there is no one on your side, you can lay across the three seats. Another, there is no food or drinks on this train so I suggest you get something to carry with you from the Naples train station, they have a McDonalds and various stands around the streets there. Or you can wait till you get on the ferry and eat some old left over food. Yes they put the train on the ferry and ride across to Messina. A nice easy 20-30 minute ride. Going up on the weather decks of the ferry and looking at Sicily is very nice. Also, the train comes down the mainland along the coast. At night you don't see much but during the day it is very nice. If you have any more questions let me know. I have done the Naples train to Cataina about 5 times now. Seems like I just miss a Mac flight from Naples to Sigonella more than once. To, all thank you for this site and the information I have learned. I look forward to Asia one day, Space-A.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 3732 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 06:01 pm:    Danny, It's probably the charter company called Ryan Air that contracts out the Pat-ex flights. Not connected with the European air carrier.   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 527 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 05:46 pm:    "I caught the Ryan Air flight from Norfolk to Lajez to Naples." RYAN AIR? Has Ryan Air expanded to include Norfolk, VA as a hub? Patriot Express, maybe? What sort of ticket did you have for the train ride from Naples to Catania, Rob? (I know you said it cost $30, but what CLASS ticket was it? Did you have to sleep in a seat?) I also wanted to say Thank You for posting flights at Sig. You have helped many SPATS by that volunteer work, Rob. Happy New Year!   John McClellan Advanced Member Username: Mccljp Post Number: 223 Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 157.127.124.15 Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 01:12 pm:    You drove through that storm from Mass to Norfolk? That was a gutzy call. Where did you hit the worst of the storm, around NY?   Rob-N-sig Advanced Member Username: Robnsig Post Number: 194 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 205.69.238.3 Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 06:36 pm:    There was a Cat 6 family on the C5. Like I said any and everyone in Sig last week could have gotten out for free. And it was a hard drive down the east coast but it was worth my half of the rental car.   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5485 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 88.108.32.214 Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 06:59 am:    Rob, glad to see you back and that you made it home in time for Christmas. Glad you didn't get stuck on the way down to Va. I guess traveling during the Festive Season isn't toooooooo bad. (For a Cat 3)   Rob-N-sig Advanced Member Username: Robnsig Post Number: 192 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 88.45.223.240 Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 03:22 am:    I long while to make my normal trip to Norfolk. Last Sat, 19 Dec a C5 came thru Sigonella on it's way to Rota and then Dover. The C5 took all 5 that wanted to fly that morning. In Rota the crew let us know they would not go into Dover due to the storm that was hitting the east coast. The decision was made to go to Westover AFB in Mass. When we arrived Sat afternoon, the weather was cold but nice....but the news shows the storm coming up the east coast. Some in the group took a cab to Bradley International to rent a car. Me and another fellow from Naples took the Peter Pan bus from Springfield to Logan Airport in Boston. The ticket agent, Nelson did a great job on the price for 20.00 each. We made it to Boston but missed the Airtrain flight to Newport News for 84.00. we rented a car from Hertz, 284.00 one way to Norfolk. The Chevy Malibu was a great ride thru the storm. The storm was like a TV movie but we made it down the eastern shore into Norfolk. Sunday, 27 Dec, I caught the Ryan Air flight from Norfolk to Lajez to Naples. Everyone in Norfolk that wanted to fly got on the plane with plenty of seats left open. Arriving in Naples around 1700, I missed a earlier flight down to Sig. From Naples, you can walk up to the commerical airport and ride the express bus for 3 Euro to the train station. At the train station I caught the slow express for 30.00 Euro. The train ride from Naples to Catania takes longer than the flight across the ocean. Arriving in Catania on time at 0520 this morning. I am back at work after seeing the family for the holidays.