A Hidden Treasure

We have stumbled across a beautiful place on our little R & R trip this week. We are on the Outer Banks and visited the Currituck Sound Lighthouse yesterday. It is a beautiful place that didn't even have a road to it until 1980. It's also the place where the wild mustangs roam freely on the beach. It was fascinating. There's actually a stretch of the beach from the tip of the OBX, NC to Virginia, where the only road is the beach. So, here we were, driving down the beach. It was awesome! There are lots of beautiful houses on the beach and the only road leading there is, you guessed it, the beach. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before...a sand highway. I guess you don't get home during high tide...

It was a wonderful, family day in a picturesque setting...

Blessings,
LT

What a day...

One of the highlights of our time in the Air Force happened on Tuesday afternoon when a new friend was able to give us a tour of Air Force One. Once we were through security we enter this huge hanger and there it is...it is tremendous! Our friend began to tell us all sorts of neat things about the plane and then the six of us BOARD Air Force One.

Now, first of all you have to remove your shoes, or wear booties over your combat boots. So, the girls and I removed our shoes and stepped into "The Flying White House". We were able to see "his" bedroom, bathroom, office. We even took turns sitting in "his" chair. "His" jacket was still hanging on the back. The main level has over 4,000 sq. feet. It is truly huge. There is an operating room, conference room, two kitchens, a section for Secret Service, White House staff/aides, and the Press sit in the very back. Isn't that funny?

Well, one unexpected surprise is that "his" chef came on board to inventory the pantry, etc. We were able to talk to him and ask him all sorts of questions. (The chef was a southern guy- big surprise! :) W's favorite ice cream is Blue Bell's Vanilla Bean. You can't get it here, so they stock up when they land in TX. He loves hamburgers and quesadillas and always has his hot sauce handy. No fru-fru food for W. They showed us how they arrange the china on a tray to serve the meals on the plane. Everyone eats the same meal.

The dogs have free roam of the plane. The girls thought that was funny.

We were moved to see the place where Pres. Reagan's casket rested on his last ride to CA.

This was interesting... several great First Ladies actually chose the colors and design of AF1.
Jackie Kennedy came up with the design and colors for the outside of the plane. Nancy Reagan chose the colors and such for the interior. Laura Bush is also choosing some new things for updating.

The girls each sat in the pilot and co-pilot's seat. I was the engineer, Andy the navigator.
Somebody pinch me...

It was surreal...sorry no pics allowed. You'll just have to trust me...

LT