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Message |
    
Lester Green
Advanced Member
Username: Rtgreen5
Post Number: 321
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 72.219.235.248
| | Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 09:18 pm: | |
Thanks Cherry for your input.
As usual, you are fountain of information. |
Cherry C.
Senior Member
Username: Cherry
Post Number: 6405
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.163.18.160
| | Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 05:45 pm: | |
Kauai is a lovely island, worth at least a week, and Barking Sands is a fine place to stay if you can get lodging there. (The beach cabins are very popular and reservations fill up fast.) If you cannot get in at Barking Sands, check the AFVC -- at least one member of this board has used that to take a Kauai vacation.
A car is a must (rental agencies are found ONLY at the airport as far as I know), and that "40 minute" drive from the airport to Barking Sands is only at non-rush hour -- the road system on the island is definitely inadequate considering the number of cars using it.
The best guidebook IMO is Andrew Doughty's "Kauai Revealed" -- see
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0981461018/ref=sr_1_1 ?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275244866&sr=8-1 |
Lester Green
Advanced Member
Username: Rtgreen5
Post Number: 320
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.143.222.224
| | Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 01:21 am: | |
Thanks John: I think all of these problems can be solved with a rental car, so I would have to research where the closest agency, if any, is. If none service the base, then Lihue is the place to land. Thanks again for your response, as I intend to visit the Island at some point. |
John B. Ives
Member
Username: Jbives
Post Number: 45
Registered: 11-2007
Posted From: 161.11.133.16
| | Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 07:05 pm: | |
Lester,
The reason I said to not think about space A is that the airfield is in the middle of no-where. There is no pax terminal. There is no car rental agency. If they would take you there, you would be left on the ramp. There is no shuttle. You are miles from the BOQ. I got this info from a crew that I met at the club.
Smith's Family luau is a must do on Kauai. It is a beautiful island. A helicopter tour is expensive; but worth it. There are waterfalls to photograph. There are many beautiful beaches. There is a coffee plantation to visit. If you really want detailed info, see me a private e-mail. I will give you my son's cell number to call.
Happy travels,
John |
Lester Green
Advanced Member
Username: Rtgreen5
Post Number: 319
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.143.222.224
| | Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 06:10 pm: | |
John: What is your rationale for saying NOT to think about Space Aing to Barking Sands? There are flights occasionally from the States to Barking Sands and I thought that I could go Space A on one of them. Is the reason that there may be no rental cars agencies out there, or is it an agricultural inspection issue by the Hawaiian Government? If not, please inform me why we can't get on a flight going there.
Also, how you like the rest of the Island when you were there and do you recommend it for a week or so of leisurely sightseeing? What specifically do you recommend? Thanks |
John B. Ives
Member
Username: Jbives
Post Number: 44
Registered: 11-2007
Posted From: 161.11.133.16
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 07:41 pm: | |
Edgar, regarding Barking Sands, typical BOQ type rooms for $50./night. They are nice and clean. Cottages on the ocean for $80./night. (Very nice.) Could eat in the galley. B-$2.30, L-$4.25. Be mindful Barking Sands is on the west side of the island. Lihue commercial airport is about 40 minute drive away. Must have a rental car to get around. Don't even think about space-A to Barking Sands. They are just not set up for it. I personally talked to the aircrew as a fellow military aviator. I was persuaded by crew it is not practical. You are in the middle of nowhere. Feel free to send me private e-mail for more info. |
Edgar Inocentes
Senior Member
Username: Traveler88
Post Number: 556
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 209.242.132.226
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 04:48 pm: | |
John, you just re-emphasized the definition of a military "hop". Great report.
How were the accommodations at Barking Sands? |
John R Garrison
Senior Member
Username: Majorg
Post Number: 2652
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 208.81.157.86
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 02:26 pm: | |
John:
Great trip report! Thanks for taking the time to write it up and share it with us. Great demonstration of flexibility and having the right attitude.
Happy Travels, John |
Carole G
Advanced Member
Username: Greengal
Post Number: 185
Registered: 01-2010
Posted From: 68.205.151.181
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 12:05 pm: | |
John,
Great trip report!. Everything came together just as you planned and the space a gods shined down on you. You were able to see both of your sons on one trip. Attitude is everything.
Happy travels. |
Cherry C.
Senior Member
Username: Cherry
Post Number: 6394
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.163.18.160
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 11:24 am: | |
Great report! I think John made a lot of his own "luck" -- he planned ahead (I know, because he consulted me in advance about possible plans B or C for getting from Andrews to McGuire to pick up his POV), was flexible, packed light (as witness the C-21 rides), presumably had signed up everywhere well in advance, knew he might have to pay occasionally for lodging (off base) or transportation (by air or by rental car), AND he was a solo traveler.
Needing just one seat can be the make-or-break sometimes, especially as schools let out for the summer and Cat III families with kids flood into the terminals. (However, I do not know if this was the case on his particular itinerary -- sometimes everything just seems to go right!) |
Ayana Pitterson
New member
Username: Triniaw1
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2010
Posted From: 173.79.94.3
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 03:26 am: | |
John, great trip report. I am trying to leave from Andrews or Dover to get out to Hawaii this weekend. Wish me luck. |
John B. Ives
Member
Username: Jbives
Post Number: 43
Registered: 11-2007
Posted From: 161.11.133.8
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 01:59 am: | |
I had two weeks vacation; and the space A bug. I wanted to see what I could accomplish. Follows, is a brief log of what I did.
May 7, 2010 drove from Albany, NY to McGuire AFB. Stayed on base at McGuire.
May 8th-still at McGuire.
May 9th-McGuire to Travis on a C-17. Stayed on base.
May 10th C-5 Travis to Hickam. Stayed on base.
May 11th Oahu to Kauai aboard Hawaiian Air. May 11th to May 14th at Barking Sands Naval Station.
May 14th Kauai to Oahu aboard Hawaiian Air. Stayed at terminal the night of May 14th.
May 15th Hickam to Scott AFB on a VIP C-40. Stayed off base due to drill weekend at Scott.
May 16th Scott to Peterson AFB in CO on a C-17.
Rented a car to drive to Salt Lake City, UT. Got as far as Rawlins, WY.
May 17th arrived at Salt Lake City, UT. Stayed with son.
May 18th drove from Salt Lake to F. Warren AFB in WY. Stayed on base.
May 19th arrived at Peterson AFB in CO. Stayed on base.
May 20th Peterson AFB to Scott AFB on a C-21 with a 3 star general. Stayed at Scott that night.
May 21st flew Scott AFB to Andrews AFB aboard a C-21 with just one other retiree. Stayed at Andrews that night.
May 22nd flew Andrews AFB to McGuire AFB aboard a C-17. Got my pickup and drove home.
Mission accomplished. I saw two sons. Met a lot of nice people. Flew in some very nice aircraft. I will space A again!!!! You have to have the right attitude............. |
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