Howdy, all

Although I've been back in the states for a bit over a month, it's been a busy time! Out-processing finished up in Bangor within the first 2 weeks, so that went relatively smoothly. I then headed for Phoenix to visit family and friends (and see my beloved Sacha), then took about 5 days to drive up to WA via much of the route I will (eventually) use to do my epic ride. That's delayed now, but that's another story.

Is there any bike-related content to this story, you ask? Why yes, there is. I got all my stuff (which was stored away for almost 1.5 years) delivered in addition to picking up my gold Mexico from Alex Moll. Although for the next year I've simply signed a lease on a 1-bedroom apartment, it all fits. Check it out:







I even have space in the bedroom's walk-in closet for one more, and a pantry off the kitchen that will also serve as bike storage. And I found a nice coffin-like floor chest at a local antique store in which to store all my parts and tools.



I've already begun to get back into my other hobby - namely car modeling - and have gotten caught up on some reading (thanks to Alex Moll for "Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape" and Scozim for "Wheelmen"), too.

I'm headed back to Phoenix on the 21st for my niece and nephew's HS graduations. Hope to see John and Will and maybe some others while there. Since I've had to cancel my big ride, I'll most likely be getting around locally to do some rides this summer with some of the PNWers, but I am also looking to do some road trips to visit old Navy friends and perhaps link up with some C&Vers outside WA, too.

Anyhow, just checking in to say hello, I'm nearly settled and only waiting for my last shipment to arrive from Diego Garcia. That shipment, friends and neighbors, contains my Dremel; soon, yes, I will be back to playing with my favorite toy ever

Good to be back.

DD

Welcome back, Dude!

Thanks for the catch-up and it's great to read your new thread. You've got a nice looking apartment with plenty of room for more toys.

Good to read that the Dremel may be getting a workout soon - by the way, I just bought my first Dremel (just a little hand held one but just right for small jobs) and a bench mounted drill press. I'm going to 'jewel' a few ***** bolts as my first job.

It's good to have you back.

Welcome home!! I agree nice place but lets see how organized that closet is in about a month! LOL

Look at that pile of Tamiya Ferraris. Nice! Welcome back , sailor. Keep us posted on your upcoming big adventure.

The only thing missing from those pics is a certain orange feline.

Very tasteful decoration.

Hey Jeff, welcome to your new home! Sent you a PM.

Diggin' that shoe rack

Looks like a pretty place DD, enjoy.

Welcome back! I need your help to organize my place.......

I approve of your interior decorator....she must be Italian.

Looking forward to putting in a ride upon your return to PHX!

Rock on! Glad you're settled and the place looks nice for a year stay! Did you bring Sacha home yet?

Welcome back, indeed. You have a great collection of bicycles.

That's what a lifetime in the military will do for ya.

I started laughing when I saw how organized your shirts are--Just like my twin brother's closet vs mine where everything is organized in "piles". I do like how your bikes are integrated into the home instead of being delegated to the basement/garage. I cannot imagine my wife would go for that though.

Welcome home DD! If you got rid of those excess shirts you'ld have room for another bike I bet.

It's time to update your location in your profile.

Bangor, Maine? You were New Englanders neck of the woods.

Bangor Naval Station near Seattle.

Welcome back!

Uh oh, who's guarding the country?

Somehow, I am imagining a room full of crypto's running in circles, speaking in tongues, without the Chief.

Thanks for coming back to a new reality, where accountability is classic and vintage.

Been to the courthouse to "register" your DD214 yet? No one seems to know why.
Do not scream, though; they hate that, and you'll just have to come back.

Welcome back, and a big thanks for your service.

Dude, welcome home! Include me in any plans to ride in PHX when you return. I've been riding my Tommasini lately with John and looking forward to riding with Will and other Phoenicians when you get back. Cheers!

Welcome back! And thanks for your service.

So you prefer the PNW area to any of the other places you've seen and visited? Just curious. I was out at Whidbey in '88 to scavenge parts off a P-3 that had been stricken due to intergranular corrosion to the main wing spar. Beautiful area, I thought at the time, but I haven't been back since.

So I want to see pics of that gold Mexico. Wonder if it rides as nice as a blue one.

Wow, thanks for the welcome back, everyone! It's nice to be here

Looking forward to some riding now that I have my toolbox and pump - I drove to Bremerton and picked up my final shipment myself today (there was a paperwork problem that was delaying the shipment, but I adapted and overcame like a good Chief should ). Hopefully tomorrow I'll meet up with Patrick who's in town and do some riding on Friday.

Gaucho777: thank you!

Gary: good for you! I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in what you come up with after playing with your new Dremel. Please do share when you get the chance!

BG: oh, it'll still be the same - I suffer from incurable OCD and have spent 26 years in the military, after all!

Scott: yes, and I'm already getting to the models. Will keep me really busy come winter! But the "big adventure" has turned into a few smaller ones as the medical appointments put paid to my original timeline. Oh, well - there's still Cino in September. And Sacha will be here in about a month!

Chrome Molly: thank you - I like a minimalist look (except for behind closed closet doors, of course).

Patrick: thanks - looking forward to meeting up with you in the next day or so!

Italuminium: thank you. Most of the boxes have shoes, and most I can actually fit into, which is a bonus. But I like collecting shoes as well, and there are some tiny pairs there.

Thrifty Bill: if I ever get out your way, you're on. One blonde floozie is all it will cost you (Scott would get that one...)

Will: definitely! Hope we can get John, you and Saguaro all together for a few miles. You can mount up on your new Tommasini!

RS: Sacha comes out in July, so the place, while nice, isn't yet a "home", but I'm not complaining. Everything fits, so that's a real bonus!

decotriumph: thank you! And you know, I'm going to be thinning the herd a little in the coming months...

Tim: exactly! Although I'm not sure if I was already OCD before I came in or developed the character flaw over the past 26 years...

dailycommute: well, I'm single now so I don't have the issue a lot of you guys would probably have, but I've gotta agree with you - they integrate well. As far as the closet, the colors were accidental, but I do keep long and short sleeves separate, and of course my old uniforms will have their special place separated from everything else. I'm sentimental like that!

Kactus: thanks! And it's funny you say that - I moved some stuff around and was able to fit the Davidson in the closet! Might be able to get one more in there, too; hope we can get together for a ride sometime out here.

Tom: derned if you're not spot-on about that - I forgot all about updating my locale! Thanks for the reminder.

Pastor Bob: yes, as Kactus notes, Bangor WA over on the Kitsap Peninsula. Although after reading so many Stephen King novels, getting to Maine someday is on my Bucket List.

Sofia: thank you!

Robbie: ha ha, actually it's probably not as bad as that. I had the distinct pleasure of Transitioning one of my IT1s (who had just arrived last July) to Chief while doing my last Season. He took over for me and I've been in constant touch - he's doing a great job and is the go-to man for the upcoming CSI Inspection. I left behind a well-trained and motivated crew, and it seems they're carrying on as if I were still there - that's the best compliment they could give me, you know? I'm going to have to watch out for that accountability thing in the real world, and that's sad, but... As for the DD214, going to have to do that - and put an original in a safe deposit box, too, I reckon. Believe me, they made it VERY CLEAR that it needs to be registered and not to lose it or else! I got that message loud and clear.

MA: thank you - nice to be back, and nice to move onto something new. It was a great ride, tho!

Saguaro: thanks! I've been coordinating with Will and spoke to John before I left last time, so I think we'll do it. Looks like we'll have two Tommasinis on that ride.

satbuilder: I would have to say yes, although slamming around London back in the mid-90s was an experience I'll never forget. I mean, I grew up here so I have fond memories of learning to ride and taking my first medium-distance rides back in the day around here. Then I made a number of summer vacations here with a bike, and finally, when I got stationed here in 2001, I just went all over. Got some great riding pals, super scenery, temperate weather (well, at least in the spring and summer). So, yeah - I like the riding here best. And I'll post up some more pics of the gold Mexico here in a day or so for ya!

So, a few more days of getting some minor things done with the car and having the shippers pick up their empty boxes, then I jet off for Phoenix on the 21st. Looking forward to riding some with my pals in the Valley of the Sun!

DD

Btw, I have a nice-sized balcony (third deck). Since the weather has been outstanding lately, I'll be using it to tune up a couple of bikes - the Medici needs some TLC after its year in DG (I was bad and didn't clean it up properly before having the guys box it up some two months ago). I'll probably get my hands dirty on that in the next few days.

Here's the view from my little slice of heaven:



DD