I recently had to make site visits and started by leaving DC, heading to Charleston, then Savannah, Kings Bay and Brunswick, then to Jacksonville and back to DC. A quick turn and back on the plane to Honolulu, then Japan, to LA, to Phoenix, to Page, to Utah (quickly), the Grand Canyon, then back to Phoenix and a return home. It’s been a busy summer and it’s not over yet, but I've surpassed $84M in new business this year and there's moar to come!
Dillo prepares to leave Reagan National Airport:
Dillo arrives at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Charleston, S.C.:
Dillo visits a drug cartel submersible used to smuggle drugs, which is now a training aid for law enforcement:
Dillo visits one of the vessels used to train officers:
Dillo travels to Savannah for negotiations. Dillo enjoyed the $29 pork chop that had a much fancier name:
It was expensive ‘cause they had stuff like this throughout the “Manor:”
Dillo then travels to Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base to visit the troops – not many pictures from KB for this trip:
Dillo hangs out at the club at the Jacksonville airport before the flight home:
Dillo flies home, but it’s a quick turn:
Dillo takes a 777 to Honolulu for an Army Conference. Dillo flies first class while D3 is in 67G:
Individual touch-screen entertainment systems in this upgraded 777 – dillo liked:
Dillo arrives at the hotel – beach view – see it two blocks away:
Dillo need to at least see the beach and do the tourist thing – Diamondhead at Waikiki:
Dillo was thirsty from all the tourist stuff and needed refreshments - the .99 cent Mai Thai place has been turned into a store so we had to hit the beachfront and get the costlier beachfront option. Pay attention – there are 5, yes 5, food groups in a Mai Thai – 1. Alcohol (a proper Mai Thai will have a light rum mixed and the dark rum poured on top), 2. Water (from the ice), 3. Sugar (from the fruit juice), 4. Fruit (pineapple) and 5. Roughage from that umbrella thing. I can neither confirm nor deny that there was a continual quest to find the ultimate Waikiki Mai Thai:
What people do after consuming copious amounts of adult beverages – look at the sunset:
Dillo visits one of our previous contracts – the Sea-Based X-Band Radar vessel – SBX-1:
Dillo pays tribute to those lost Dec 7, 1941 – U.S.S. Utah Memorial:
Dillo visits the U.S.S Missouri:
Dillo was again thirsty and may have visited a bar known for having 52 drafts on tap – friends crappy potato photo:
Many places to visit at night – all over priced:
Dillo travels the island:
Dillo waits for the next flight to Japan – Honolulu airport is not known for its cuisine:
Dillo flies a 747 to Japan – older model that has not been updated – row 177Q:
Dillo arrives in Japan:
Dillo has to travel from Narita International to the national airport, Haneda via bus. While waiting for the JAL flight, Dillo gets some chow:
Dillo arrives in Goshogawara, Japan (Aomori Prefecture):
Dillo takes a break and visits the local Nabuta Festival building. This is a small-scaled repro of one of the three 72’ tall floats they use for the festival annually.
One of the 72’ floats while it is lighted:
Dillo’s business is complete and he awaits the trip to LA – the United lounge:
Dillo’s plane at the gate, notice those engine nacelles, larger passenger windows and a four-panel cockpit? Yup, a new 787:
Dillo arrived LA and then transferred to Phoenix. Once in Phoenix it was a three hour drive to Page:
Dillo arrived at the next site and started his tour of a big wall of concrete used to hold back water:
Dillo received a complete tour of the facility:
Locations in the big wall of concrete used to hold back water are measured using the “blocks” (the poured concrete) and elevation. Here we’re at the lowest part of the big wall used to hold back water and are between blocks 11 and 12 and at 3045 feet above sea level, which is 150 feet under the river:
A little further up is the plum line used to measure the shift in the big wall of concrete used to hold back water:
Dillo passed PT that day as the only way up are the stairs:
Dillo walks with the dinos:
Dillo visits Utah since he was so close:
Lots of great views in the area of Lake Powell:
Dillo had some time to kill and took a detour on the ride back to Phoenix – the Grand Canyon:
D3 takes a selfie, had to ask the daughter how, after she taught me how to text:
Dillo arrives back in Phoenix:
Dillo is flying an A320 back to DC:
Pilot is a dillo fan:
Dillo arrives home after a long road trip:
Mission Complete: