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McChord-Ramstein-McChord in 6 days (C...

Pepperd.com » Space-a Trip Reports » McChord-Ramstein-McChord in 6 days (Cat. VI) ! « Previous Next »

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Edgar Inocentes
Senior Member
Username: Traveler88

Post Number: 447
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 209.242.132.226
Posted on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - 02:04 pm:   

Way to go Bob & Colleen!
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Roger Johnson
Advanced Member
Username: Rwjohn6

Post Number: 260
Registered: 05-2008
Posted From: 205.188.116.208
Posted on Wednesday, January 06, 2010 - 05:39 pm:   

I don't think it gets any better than that. Great to see things go well once and awhile.
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Bob & Colleen
Member
Username: Colleen

Post Number: 25
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 24.21.229.189
Posted on Wednesday, January 06, 2010 - 03:53 pm:   

Sign-up via email at a plethora of locations (thanks Take a hop.org!) when Cat. VI hubby says, "I'm taking this afternoon off and we're taking the first thing smokin' out of McChord!" This was morning of 30 Dec.

I packed swimsuits and winter coats in two backpacks weighing 37 pounds total together! Drove 3 hrs. to McChord arriving at 1400 hrs.

First flight showing with 10 firm seats was a C-17 to Ramstein--direct! 29 active Army headed downrange via Ramstein and 10 others in a variety of categories...of which we were numbers 9 & 10. Arrived Ramstein 1400 on 31 Dec. local time after mid-air refueling with absolutely NO reservations of any kind.

Waited for 1800 hrs. cancellations--and secured a room at Ramstein Inn for the night--and a rental car (Toyota Aygo which we pronounced "I GO") thru AMC on "M" level of new KACC facility. Rental contract thru their downtown office, but because it was closed for the holiday we were able to pick up the car on the base ;-)

No Ramstein Inn reservations available for night of 1 Jan....because there was no housekeeping staff that day. But did receive reservations for the 2nd and 3rd of Jan.

Went to Inn desk on morning of 1 Jan. and were offered to extend our current reservation to include that night with knowledge that there would be no housekeeping. Good to go! All days covered for a room and transportation!

Drove to old stomping grounds in and around Sembach AB (where we spent 1985-1989). Sad to see the poor state of the facilities and grounds--only thing we could see that was actually going on there was the USAFE band and a weather station.

A drive to Luxembourg was beautiful and returned via Trier where we shopped on Long Saturday along with enjoying a wonderful dinner meal on the walkplatz running south from the Porta Nigra.

3 Jan. and time to start trying to get back home. Ramstein showed multiple flights to the U.S. including Dover/McChord and Gander/McChord. Made the cut for a C-5 and actually managed to get off the ground, but 15 minutes out we turned around to return to Ramstein after smoke was detected in the cabin.

Ended up using that one last day of reservation at Ramstein Inn that night--thankfully hubby managed to make it over there just short of the 1600 cancellation time.

Back to terminal at 0530 to wait for what might appear for travel on the 4th. Again...multiple flights to McChord--one direct, one via Dover and one via Gander...all C-17's. Yippeee! Missed the first cut-off--only one cat. VI made it! Made the next cut-off being manifest on a Dover/McChord C-17.

While waiting for show time we visited with agents there to attend plane-side ceremony for 7 deceased agents. Sobering.

Upon boarding C-17 bound for Dover and McChord we were saddened, but honored--to accompany remains of 5 active duty warriors.

Arrived Dover with thru manifest to McChord--spent less than two hours in the terminal before heading out. Arrived McChord 0130 on 5 Jan. where hubby transported a few folks to billeting before returning to pick me up and stopping by the 24 hour gas station/shoppette on McChord and heading home to our own bed!

Can't wait for the next no-notice adventure!

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