All aboard!

The Taggart family did a lot of traveling, mostly by minivan (the good ol' Ford Aerostar, God rest her soul) and camper, all over the United States.  There are two types of places we'd visit, the historic (Civil War battle fields) and the natural (e.g. national parks), but not so much the contemporary or "amusement" venues unless it was convenient and cost-worthy.  Two adults and four kids...it adds up, for sure.

So from Joshua Tree, we headed south to San Diego...another scenic route with breathtaking views of mountains, vineyards, valleys, and finally the Pacific.  Our first stop was the USS Midway (CV-41), an aircraft carrier (Essex class) that was built and commissioned right after World War II.  It's pretty much the only aircraft carrier that anyone can board without being Active Duty Navy and assigned to the ship.  The history is fascinating, but its also amazing that so many of the parts and workings of that ship are similar to the sailor's life on Navy ships today.  So now Jonathan knows how I spent my 6 weeks aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), sleeping underneath the catapult and waiting in the long chow lines.  It was incredible!

USS Midway

In the hangar

First aircraft carrier on the left...planks on top were the airstrip!  Right side is the next generation of carriers.

Touring the flight deck

Amber is the color...Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System and the meatball!

Classic...enormous statue on the ground next to the carrier.

Go Navy!  Beat Army!

View from the Island.

The Captain of his own ship.

We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the USS Reagan because she's usually across the way from the Midway, but she is up in Washington state, dry-docked for maintenance.  I guess we already got enough "Reagan" for the week though.