Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I'm So Excited!

And I just can't hide it!

Ok, so, for the last month or so, I have been in contact with a gentleman who works for the Yakima Training Center as a Historian and Archeologist.  You see, several aircraft have crashed out there over the years.  I have wanted to get out there to see the crash sites, since they are closer than many of the others I know about.  Still, there is the sticky issue of getting onto a piece of land owned and operated by the US Department of Defense.

Might help if I had served in the military, but that never happened, so I am stuck relying on my gifts of charm and good looks...obviously, I am operating at a disadvantage.  Still, persistence pays off.  I hope to go out there and see at least a couple sites this Saturday!

Since there are more than just the two, the nice gentleman suggested we could break up viewing into more than one trip.  OK, by me!  Now the question is:  How do I prepare for such a thing?  Do I go all out and take reference materials, camera, tape measure, GPS, metal detector, notebook, sketchpad, and lab coat with me?  Do I travel light, and only take a few small reference materials, like the accident reports, the camera, and maybe a notebook to take notes in?  I have been an armchair wreckchaser much too long.

I suppose this calls for some research.  Other guys seem to go out and just enjoy the hike out there.  They study the accident reports and take lots of photos.  What is the best way?  I suppose I should start by asking what I want to get out of it.  Do I want to see the sites for the reason of historic visualization ( a term I think I just made up), do I just want to have something to blog about, or do I simply want an outing to enjoy?  I think it's a little of all three.

So, how do I prepare?  ARGH!  I have been wanting to do something like this for quite awhile, but when faced with the real situation I am at a loss.  I suppose it's a bit like a kitten catching a moth.  OK, I got it, now what do I do with it?

3 comments:

frogglet said...

I have a lab coat you can borrow!!

Lorrene said...

Take a lot of photo's. Probably be more sagebrush than anything. But what do I know. I am waiting in a state of suspenseful anticipation.
I'm one of your fans.

Anonymous said...

You have the fever...I understand that. I was in the military and I loved exploring weapons training areas, it was also my job. So I understand the fever.... Oh, I took a bag so I could collect debris. No camera, no notebook, just me and a waterbottle, it was the thrill of being there.

AV