It was pretty sunny the whole in port and today you could see quite a few red faces walking the P-ways. Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) offered another load of tours that included jet-skiing (below), mountain biking, and deep sea fishing getting Sailors out in the sun.

Trust me, these guys (below) didn't last long before they took a few spills.

The line to drop off didn't look like it was going to let up anytime soon either...

AMS AN Scott Nemecheck (photo right; left) from Detroit, MI and AD AN Steven Molina (middle) from Holly, MI were getting a few pointers from FC2 Leslie Deffner from Reno, NV about Indy's CIWS (Close-In Weapons Systems). A CIWS can fire 3,000 to 4,500 rounds per minute. "The "kill" markings painted on the side indicate the targets we've fired on, the TDU's (Training Drone Units)," Deffner said. These guys said the best thing about getting underway again, "it's one step closer to home."

"Spoons," said Airman Gregory Head (right) from Locus grove, GA. "My mother collects spoons and I've gotten her a new one from just about every port I've been too." Head is a plane captain for VFA 192 and said being underway again means the excitement of the flight deck returns soon. "I like it," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm doing what other people only dream of doing."

Airman Kevin Kron (below) from Bakersfield, CA said he gets enough of a workout from moving ordnance back up to flight deck. "Bahrain went by pretty quick," he said. "I checked out the Hard Rock Cafe and just ventured out around town." Getting back to sea for him means saving more cash and looking forward to the next port call.

Liberty boats (below) ran around the clock, almost, carting Sailors back and forth from the pier to the ship. It took roughly forty-five minutes to an hour for the ride, and once you were there, you could catch a bus to the ASU (Administrative Support Unit) base. The base offered Sailors everything from bowling, movies, video games, and shopping to nightlife, workout facilities, and phones to call home.

Oh yeah, para-sailing and banana boat rides were also available.

Well, with all the in port shopping, the Post Office today was quickly getting piled up with box upon box. PCSN Miron Andrews (below) from Clarksdale, MI said that most likely all of the mail will fly out tomorrow on a COD. "Every payday and the first two or three days after a port call we'll get more than 1,300 pounds of mail to offload," he said. "I'm used to it now."

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The flight deck was just as busy as crewmembers were preparing the birds to fly again.

Airman David Renteria (photo left; left) from Hollister, CA and Airman Jason Adams from Harper, TX agreed with that. "Mostly I stayed at ASU and relaxed," said Adams. Molina (above) said before he's ready to get underway again he has to add to his collection of Zippo lighters. On board Indy one year, he has collected eight, the most expensive was $40 from Sydney, and in Bahrain he picked one up for $9. "Everybody has some kind of checklist," he said. "Mine includes finding a Zippo for each port we visit."

Not everyone was loading ordnance, or moving aircraft's, or working on jet engines. Joggers were out enjoying the sun and taking advantage of an open flight deck. Man, I keep reminding myself to find my sneakers... I need to join them.

Well, we didn't get underway alone. NOVA is on board filming a documentary on our Battle Group. They put in a fifteen-hour day today filming Indy Sailors getting us underway, using the flight simulator, walking through the P-ways, receiving a brief in a squadron ready room, a man overboard drill and more. Tomorrow they will be up early filming everything from the sunrise, an interview with the captain, a RAS (refuel at sea), and flight Ops to an interview with the Chief Engineer, a boiler light off and the action of the Combat Direction Center. Me? Well, I'm going to find those running shoes and get in shape, really. A little taste of the summer sun is steaming through the ship and the crew is brewing for another marathon on the flight deck. Sorry to have left the Notepad hanging for sooooooo long, but we're back, at least, at least until the system is "down" again... until then.