8th Combat Cargo Squadron Reunion in Wichita (2005)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Another 8th Combat Cargo Group [Squadron] Reunion this time in Wichita.

10-5-2005 Pensacola – Greenville, Miss.  396 mi.

This was an easy drive – miles and miles of cotton being picked, stacked in rectangular piles with colorful tarps of orange, blue, yellow + green ready to be sent to the terminal for processing.  From Mobile we followed Rt. 98 to Hattiesburg where we saw a lot of damage from Katrina.  I drove from there through Jackson on Rt. 49.  We drove on through Vicksburg on rt. 20 to the Ark. Welcome Center where we stopped and enjoyed our box lunches we brought from the Trace.

It was very confusing which state we were in.  Was it Ark., La., or Miss.?  Those states all converge into one land mass.  Was it any wonder we thought Greenville was in Ark.?  Anyhow we crossed the Miss. River into Greenville + bedded down for the night at a ** Comfort Inn which had one “holey” chair – used – comfortable bed + a $55 + Tax price tag.  No bargain.

Ate at Wendy’s, then watched the Division Playoffs.  The Braves lost to Houston 10-5.  The White Sox are beating the Red Sox.  May as well call it a day!

10-6-05 Greenville, Miss. – Tulsa, Okla.

Mileage 819

The only rewarding feature about the Comfort Inn last night was we had a comfortable bed, and the shower was hot.  However our breakfast of cereal, biscuits – gravy, juice, waffles, Danish etc. was above average.  Our gas tank was filled at $2.89 a gal. costing $46.00.  I pumped while Bert cleaned the windshield.  We were off at 7:30 – drove 425 miles + arrived at the LaQuinta Inn in Tulsa at 3:15.

The drive here was very scenic.  We crossed the Miss. River into Ark. + from Pine Bluff into Little Rock we had little traffic along country road – 2 lanes.  We made good time on Interstate 40 stopping at a pleasant city – Conway – where we stopped at a Target to wash up + eat a lunch in the van.  From Ft. Smith we crossed into Okla. + stopped at the Welcome Center which was nice + clean.  I drove from there into Tulsa following Rt. 40 + the Muskogee Turnpike.

We bedded down for the night at a clean, comfortable LaQuinta for $58.00.

Dinner at Denny’s was quite ample + cost was $17.00.  Had a good night’s sleep after watching the Braves take the Astros 7-1.

10/7 Tulsa – Wichita

Gas - $1.74 – Filled tank $46.76

After several wrong turns, we made it successfully to Rt. 244 which we followed to Rt. 35 and the Turnpike into Wichita.  We arrived in town shortly before noon + had a bite of lunch at the mall.  They were giving flu shots + since we would be missing ours next week, we opted to have the nurse give us ours there.  The only problem was my long sleeve blouse wouldn’t roll up far enough so she shot me by taking my shirt off my shoulder.  Blood shot out from the vein + covered the top of my shirt.  She apologized + I forgave her.  I washed it when we got back to the hotel.

It was great seeing every one again.  The Cs had the Control Tower reserved for us + we had fun catching up on the news.  At least 15 of the guys + their ladies were here.  We had a few libations followed by a nice spread of cold cuts, beans + salad.

The ladies – 10 of us – went next door to play our card game of “Boogie your neighbor.”  I lost my 15¢ early on + Lois V was the winner.

Peg Van H + I decided to make a date for in the a.m. to go work out in the pool.

It was difficult getting to sleep because of all the excitement.

10/8 Wichita

Peg + I met + tried out the pool.  It was cold, but we managed to get in a half hour’s activity.

Met in the Control Tower for a nice breakfast + interesting conversation.

At 4 o’clock we boarded a school bus for the Prairie Rose, a fun evening with tasty barbecue and very talented Western musicians.

While there – because we arrived early – we had time to visit the Hopalong Cassidy Museum and movies.  How those movies kept our interest – on the edge of our seats is hard to believe.  We went back a few years + reminisced when our little guys wore those little cowboy boots in the 50’s was a trip back in time.

Our barbecue wasn’t ready so we had time to see a movie of Roy Rogers + his horse Trigger.  Wow!

It was a packed house – 400 - + within minutes we were all served.  This was an outstanding fete!

After a 40 min. drive back to the hotel, we were all too tired for much activity.  One thing I forgot to mention was the 2 hr movie in the afternoon of the 8th Combat Cargo Group [Squadron].

10/9 Wichita

Mileage – 1,031

This was a lazy day.  After breakfast of bagels, juice and coffee in the Control Tower, we visited with friends.  Later we went to lunch with Peg + Van + had time to watch the Braves/Astros play off before going to our meeting at 4 pm.  The guys included us ladies this time deciding where we’ll have our next reunion.

Two people volunteered to be in charge in ’06 – the Hs in Ind. + the Ts in Peoria.  After much discussion, lead by Paul V + Bert, we decided on Peoria for ’06 + Ind. for ’07.  It sounds good.

We had a great dinner here in the hotel of filet, chicken, potatoes + vegetables/salad/dessert white cake + cherries + cheese cake.

The gals played card + the guys met in the Control Room for our final farewell.

We thanked Sandra + Earl C again for their fine job caring for [us].  This was a wonderful reunion!!  Our bill at the hotel was $267.00.

10/10/05 Wichita – Pine Bluff, Ark.

We left the hotel at 7:30.  Filled the tank in Tulsa @ $2.49.  Everything went well until we got to Tulsa + went round and round looking for the Muskogee Tnpk, dropping coins in the wrong turnpike.  Confusing markers, or was it us??  Anyhow, all went well for us through Ft. Smith, Little Rock + finally to our final day’s travels, beautiful Pine Bluff and understandably properly named.  Miles and miles of beautiful pines for miles leading into this city of 55,000 people.  The Hampton Inn next to the new Pine Mall was our *** choice because of the attractive add in the AAA Book.  We have a comfortable room with two double beds, an ECB (extraordinary continental breakfast) + most important, a Wi-Fi for the laptop which is entertainment for dad while I watch Yankees-Angels game.

We ate at the Shanghai Buffet in the mall + had more than we could eat, but it was good.  We had coffee in the room which is fair, but I’m looking forward to the real stuff tomorrow with our ECB.

Well, that’s it for now.  Good trip.

10/11/05 Pine Bluff – Pensacola

The mileage today is 535 miles.  After an exceptionally good breakfast, we got off at 8:20.  We followed Rt. 65 along the Arkansas + Mississippi river Delta regions which is noted for the production of cotton livestock, lumber + agricultural products.  We kept on going past the Welcome Center as we’d been there before.

At Tallulah we followed Rt. 20 to Vicksburg and on to Jackson.  From there we followed Rt. 98 once we found it.  The signs were confusing + we figured 198 would get us from Hattiesburg + we were right, although it was confusing and we added a few extra miles here.  It was pretty driving through the DeSoto National Forest Area, and also seeing the campus of Southern Miss U.

It was a breeze driving from Mobile to Pensacola on Rt. 10 and the Pensacola sign was a welcome sight.

It was 1,009 miles + we made it safely in 9-1/2 hours.  A wonderful trip and we’re happy to have such a nice home to come home to!