Noah and the ARKcraft carrier

The title apparently shows Noah's obsession with the ark, notwithstanding the obvious difference between the original...

and the one in this story

George H.W. Bush, CVN77 is the most recent nuclear powered aircraft carrier in the arsenal of the US Navy. For an ordinary and unheard of Noah from a third world country, stepping on the deck of this formidable floating airport is unheard of. But noboody can tell when destiny will smile on you, because on the fateful day of October 15, 2016 Noah, with his heart pounding wildly, gingerly climbed the steps to America's primary monument of naval power.

Noah's lucky day on the aircraft carrier started more than a month earlier when he was informed by a nephew in the navy that he was in the shortlist of invitees to the Navy Day activities aboard the GHWBush. Noah who was vacationing in California also got a free round trip passage to the east coast courtesy of the same generous nephew. In a few days Noah would also receive some papers that he had to fill up for the Navy officials to scrutinize and double check on his identity and background. A single iota of doubt about Noah could prevent him from boarding.

D-day comes and Noah is up before 4:00, because the long queue for inspecting all guests starts then. Imagine 2,000 invitees multiplied by the time that it will take to inspect each one, so it is only wise to come earliest.

Before the sun is up Noah and kin are on the flight deck as the GHWBush began maneuvers to undock and sail out of the Chesapeake bay for the three-hour trip to the Atlantic ocean where the air show could take place without bothering civilian air traffic in the nearby airports. She would be going at a speed of 30 knots and for a ship this huge she was amazingly agile.

It was about 15 degrees celsius, but the temperature would drop to about 10 degrees as the ship went farther from land.

 at the bridge of the ship. you will note 
that they even had bleachers on the deck
for the visitors. you don't get that close
to the planes even in regular airports.

 a machine gun nest at one of the the corners of the

bow of the ship

the cavernous airplane hangar was converted

into a dining hall, playground and audiovisual hall.

 one of the many mess halls for the 5,000 sailors. they

had starbucks on board. In the hangar a few floors 
above the mess hall, they were constantly serving the guests
 coffee and snacks aside from the breakfast and lunch.

they have a good-sized jail and Noah had to 

have his photo taken in a penitent position.

that's the elevator that brings the planes to

and from the hangar. the crowd wasn't expecting

the deck to move yet and it caught them unaware.

There were 4 fighter jets

that kept the adrenaline flowing for the crowd.

fighter jets zooming past just a few meters away.

the earplugs that they distributed offered some

protection from the noise and yet the full blast of

the afterburners could be felt. 

 The sun dips into the Virginia horizon 

as Noah steps off the gangplank after
a full day of activities out at sea. 

adios GHW Bush and thanks for

giving Noah the chance of a lifetime.

thanks to this kiddo too. your gesture

of love to papa sunni will be etched

forever in his heart.

what's in your mind now Noah?

Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown tour with Raylene

One fine, balmy autumn morning in the city of Norfolk Virginia, Noah heard a knock on the door. Through the glass panel was the 
silhouette of a tall lady with a hat and matching sunglasses who turned out to be Raylene Ann Baumgart, a very close friend from the distant past - when the world was still young. Agaw Nennen came to welcome Noah to her state and to invite him out for a day of touring.

The first stop in her itinerary was Colonial Williamsburg - a town that was founded in 1632 and was about an hour"s drive from Norfolk. 

For present-day Noah, something was not right about the place. It was like he was teleported into a warp zone back by 4 centuries. Everyone except the tourists went about their business dressed and behaving like time stood still for them in the 17th century. The mandatory selfie at the start of the tour didn't help a bit, because of Noah's ancestral look sans the sunglasses.

Even the way they set their clothes out to dry had a weird twist in comparison to today's practice.

The bakery...

...Gunshop and armory...

...and even the fences remained unchanged through the centuries.

That's Noah trying out the "stocks" at the main street.

Lucky for him that this contraption for punishment

was restricted for photo-ops only.

That used to be the Govenor's residence. note the

 governess in the foreground. She governed over Noah's

activities for a day.

Lunch was at the Dog Street Pub and there was a long queue of 

patrons who were notified of a vacant table by... phone - a long shot from the 17th century ambiance of the town.

The next stop was Jamestown. A complex by the James river that was the site of the colony for the first English settlers who left London in 1606.

It housed a museum

an Indian village

A fort

even an English musketeer who demonstrated the use of the ancient musket.

 and of course the replicas of the three boats that brought the settlers across the Atlantic ocean: Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery

Noah immediately took to the task of comparing it to his ark and he noted that it was spic and span without a single animal on board.

The third and last - but not the least, stop for the day was a place that Noah had to visit... Raylene's AirBnB. With the internet and social networking sites abuzz with this Yorktown bed-and-breakfast joint, Noah had to see with his own eyes such a famous place.

 the facade of the 5 bedroom residence

 kitchen and dining room

and the room that was reserved for Noah if only

there were no time constraints. In place of Noah a 

bird managed to get in and we had fun shooing 

it out the window.

From Yorktown the trip went through the Chesapeake bridge-tunnel. A unique design to allow the huge aircraft carriers and other ships of war to get in and out of the largest naval facility in the world.

Noah rested that night with a heart full from such a generous and gracious gesture by a friend who apparently put a lot of love in showing him her side of the continent.

Thank you agaw Nennen, this day's activities and your awesome spirit will always stay in Noah's heart. Stay blessed always.