Day 1 (Friday) – I was at work, packed, ready to go when I found out about flights leaving in five hours from Charleston to Dover and Andrews (with a flight from Andrews to Travis the next morning). So I decided to try to make it to Charleston as quickly as possible. But I have to run home to grab my bags – and then there’s a terrible storm – and I didn’t make it in time. Oh well, there will be more on day 2…
Day 2 (Saturday) – I called the Charleston terminal about a flight to Dover that day and they told me it would take no passengers. I’m disappointed, but still have lots of time. We drove over there that afternoon and talked to the airman and he told us the flight for Sunday should be taking passengers.
Day 3 (Sunday) – I called the Charleston terminal and they again told me the flight to Dover for Sunday would also not take passengers. Darn… And there are no other flights that could possibly be helpful (mostly Europe).
Day 4 (Monday) – I called the terminal and the only flight of the day that could help was going to McGuire (NJ) at 10 PM. So we went over there early and eagerly waited for it. The Charleston terminal is really nice. There’s a room with a large flat screen television, big comfy leather chairs, two public computers, and two children’s rooms that are private enough where you could go into them and nap. We got on the flight to McGuire with two other Space-A travelers (SPATS). They were both very friendly and nice.
The plane was a C17 – low to the ground – and huge. The seats were along the sides – they were canvas fold downs. There was a large metal floor in the middle of the plane and the “ceiling” was high – it felt really spacious and roomy and safe. It had a big metal ramp up the back.
We arrived at McGuire around midnight. I had been trying all day to get a room in billeting, but they were still out of rooms. But there were rooms available at Fort Dix – right next door. Unfortunately, most cabs are not allowed on base and the ones that are could not come. We met a Spanish-American man named Roland who was in the same predicament. We agreed to share a cab to Dix if we could find one – but we could not. The three of us found a snack bar with three sofas and I claimed the smallest one and was getting ready to lie on it for the night when Roland came back and said he found us a ride to Dix. Some really, really nice airmen went to their supervisor and got permission to take us over there in a rickety bus.
The first place they dropped us was called the Doughboy Inn. It was totally closed with a sign about going to a place on Maryland Avenue. So we quickly flagged down the airmen on the bus as they were riding back past us to avoid being stuck in the cold rain all night. They took us to Maryland Avenue where there were people and dropped us off.
Day 5 (Tuesday) The billeting was nice – a little more expensive and more difficult to get to than the Air Force one – and very hot (even for cold natured me) – but it was a roof and a bed. The next morning we decided to share a rental car with Roland to get to Dover (and on to Andrews) since there were no westbound flights out of McGuire.
Denny and I rode a shuttle bus back to McGuire’s BX where there was a Hertz rental agency. The shuttle bus ride was really nice – it was snowing – but they played really great music and we got to see the base. We picked up a car and drove back to Dix to get our suitcases and Roland.
Roland was an interesting man – he had been in the Air Force long enough to retire and was a US citizen - but was originally from Spain (very heavy accent) - married to a Spanish woman. He had four sons with good educations (one of them Harvard) – two in the US, two in Spain. He had sold his US house and now lives in Spain. We drove to Dover – checked and there were also no westbound flights from there.
I tried and could not find anywhere to stay near Andrews, so we stayed in Dover billeting. It was VERY nice. We got up at 2:30 AM and left Dover at 4:00 AM trying to get to Andrews in time to check in the car and possibly make the 8:00 AM roll call for a flight they had to Travis.
Day 6 (Wednesday). When we called Andrews, they were very pessimistic about our catching the flight to Travis. They said there would probably be only five seats and many people wanting them. As CAT VI’s, we are also last on the list so it seemed pretty unlikely we would be on the flight. As we sat there and saw lots of people coming in – many of them young people (who would take precedence over retirees), I got very discouraged. We were exhausted and cranky. We started talking about giving up and going home. I was overwhelmed with sadness that I was not going to see Trey after all. I had been planning this for two years – intensively for two months. The tears starting falling out of my eyes – I could not control it.
Then they called everyone who wanted to go to Travis to the desk. To my amazement it was almost all retirement age people – only one or two young ones. I was suddenly encouraged because I knew that I had signed up very early. They called back several of the other retirees to tell them they did not “make it” – but not us. Finally they called us back and said if they did not tell us we did not make it, we could go!!! Then they gave us a difficult decision – stay on the one to Travis as a “tentative” (could get bumped) or take one to San Diego as a definite. We stayed with Travis.
The plane was a KC 135. It was narrower than the C17 – wide enough for two pairs of airline seats and a narrow row between them. It was a Medevac – used to transport patients – so the first half was stretchers. Behind the stretchers were 8 airline seats (two rows) – and at the back there is a line of pull down canvas seats. We got SO lucky – we got seats on the front of the airline seats. There was lots of space for our things and comfortable seats. The loadmaster let me to go the back of the plane to a special window with controls that had three seats where you lie down on your belly and look out. Wow!!! What a view! You feel like you’re actually in the clouds.
Our first leg was to Scott AFB, IL. It was pretty cold – but I had blankets and coats. Then we were supposed to take two hours on the ground – but it was more like one hour. We could not leave the plane – but we could walk around. Then we flew to Peterson AFB, CO. We could see Pike’s Peak. There was another break for taking people off and then we were on our way to Travis.
One thing to mention is the box lunches. What a deal! For $3.65 they give you a huge sandwich (I had to take some of the meat out because it was too big for my mouth). There was potato salad, lettuce and tomato, fruit juice, a can of fruit, a piece of fresh fruit, a candy bar, bottled water, and chips.
When we landed in California, I could hardly believe we were there!!! The shuttle bus at Travis dropped us off outside the terminal and there was no transportation to billeting. So I went inside to get phone numbers for car rentals while Denny stood outside with the suitcases. When I got back outside, Denny had snagged a retiree who drives around offering rides (for a small fee) and he drove us the two blocks to billeting.
The Air Force Inn there was gorgeous inside and outside. It seemed like a many-star hotel. The only shocking thing that was missing was no internet in the rooms (only in the lobby) and most cell phones did not work. Denny’s cell phone had died in Charleston. Mine worked in the lobby only (part of the time).
We walked over to the bowling alley for dinner and then went back to the Inn and basically passed out from exhaustion.
Day 7 (Thursday). I found out that Denny was going to stay at Travis while I went to Santa Cruz to look for Trey - but there was a drill weekend and we could not have rooms in billeting over the weekend. After a lot of calls, I ended up with a rental car at Enterprise at the BX. I walked down there (1 1/2 miles), picked it up and drove to Santa Cruz. But I knew I would have to drive back that night, find a room for Denny for the weekend, drive him to it, and then drive back to Santa Cruz the next day.
It took about 2 ½ hours to drive to Santa Cruz in the morning. I went to the Homeless Shelter on Coral Street. The main office had a sign saying it would open at 1:00 and it was about 12:45. I wandered around and saw the place where Trey picks up mail (I’ve used it a lot). I started talking to the man working in there – I think his name was David. He was very sweet – and said Trey comes by at least once a week for mail.
Then I went over and the office had opened so I went in and signed in. I talked to two nice people in the waiting room. One said he was a personal friend of Trey’s - I believe he said his name was Dave – he had seen Trey about two days earlier. He said he lived with Trey in a u-haul last year. David had said I should try to talk to someone named Matt – so I asked for him. He was apparently a counselor – and very sensitive and helpful. He called a social worker named Maggie and she offered to meet me on Pacific Avenue where a lot of homeless people “hang out”. We exchanged cell phone numbers.
The traffic was heavy – so it took a little while to find Pacific Avenue - and Maggie called and told me to park in a parking garage. I did and found her on the street. We walked and talked and she introduced me to people we ran into. One was a lady named Chrissie who was the “host”. Another was a police officer called “Sergeant Mike”. We talked to several homeless people too. All of the people were very caring and helpful! After a while Maggie had to leave for an appointment, so Mike walked up and down the street with me. I showed Trey’s picture to a lot of people. Maggie and one other lady gave me their business cards and asked me to email them pictures of Trey (which I did later that night). It was drizzling and there were not many people on the street – and I’m not sure if Trey had gotten my emails saying I was coming.
After I left Mike, I found the library and talked to several people in there. They said there was no way for Trey to do Skype or Magic Jack to call me (I had brought a Magic Jack and a headset to give him if they would let him do it). The library was right in the middle of the downtown area where he could get to it easily.
The most interesting homeless person I saw had this teepee on a cart that he dragged around. He had long gray hair (so I know it was not Trey). I was surprised at how many women there were. But from talking to Mike and seeing the people, I got the distinct impression that it was a choice for many of them. Mike said there is more help for the homeless in Santa Cruz than anywhere in the US and that’s why they have so many (thousands). The weather is great – moderate year round.
One of them told me to go to the Homeless Shelter at 4:30 because they had a big dinner for them. So I went over there and talked to more really, really nice people. Several recognized Trey’s picture and encouraged me. I assured them that all I wanted was to visit him – I was not there to rescue him. I think they are a little cautious that I might be trying to force something on him.
Finally around 5:00 I was exhausted – my back was aching – so I left the shelter. I tried to drive to the wharf (at the suggestions of several) – but could not find it. So I headed back to Travis. When I got on the mountainous road to San Jose, I called Denny to let him know I was on the way back. His voice was tense and I was upset over not finding Trey, and I lost it as I was hanging up. It took 3 ½+ hours to drive back. There was two hours of stop and go traffic. There are too many cars in California!
I made the decision that I could not drive back and forth to Travis – we would have to get a hotel nearer to Santa Cruz for the weekend since we could not stay at Travis (they were full). So when I got back to Travis I Pricelined a room in Santa Cruz. I only bid $35 and they took it – so it will probably be a dump compared to Travis. But we can stand it for two nights – and then head back to Travis.
Day 8 (Friday). Denny and I drove to Santa Cruz and checked in at the Torch Lite Inn. To my surprise, it was very nice and in a great location – right across the street from a bridge that takes you to the boardwalk. It had a comfy bed, nice carpet, wireless internet and a nice owner/manager.
We went to the soup kitchen and I talked to the workers and the clients. I showed them Trey’s picture. They were sure he did not come there any more – but several did know him. One Hispanic guy named something like Estevez insisted I go to the Jumping Monkey on Front Street – said he hangs out there. So we went there and talked to the people who worked in there. They said Trey comes there most nights and is friends with a lady who works there in the evenings – but she was not there. Since it was Halloween, they would be closed that night and there would be many thousands of people at a street party on Pacific Avenue.
At that point, I basically gave up. We were leaving on Sunday and it was Friday night. I wrote Trey an email saying to let me know where to meet him (it was about the 20th similar email I had written to him) and reminding him of my cell number. I had told him to check his email every day the last week of October and had been emailing him several times a day.
Denny and I then drove south on Hwy 1 towards Big Sur. We stopped at Monterey for lunch. It was a beautiful and interesting drive – and our first fun activity.
That night we went to the VFW. The person sitting next to me asked what brought us to Santa Cruz and I told him about Trey. Big mistake. He was very nice, but turned out to be drunk or crazy or some combination of the two. He said he was sure he could find him if he could see his picture. So I said I would drive back to the hotel to get the pictures. He wanted to ride with me to help me find it faster. I whispered to an older man who was talking to Denny and he said it would be okay – just not to tell this man Trey’s SS number. When we got in the car he rolled down the windows and started screaming at the people on the sidewalks (who were all dressed up in Halloween costumes – it’s apparently really big in Santa Cruz). He kept trying to get me to run red lights and drive faster (it was dark and raining and I was in unfamiliar territory and there were people in the streets wearing masks). When we got back the VFW I was very glad to have made it back safely!!
The bartender kicked that man out shortly afterwards. Then the older man asked to see the pictures so I sat beside him for a while. He was insistent if I would bring the pictures to him or to the post the next morning they would definitely find Trey. Whoa… He was drunk too and told me about killing someone. It was an interesting evening!
Day 9 (Saturday). The next morning I got up and drove around for about 30 minutes trying to find a drug store. We needed aspirin and advil for our backaches (from carrying suitcases). I asked if they had means to copy the page of pictures and they sent me to Kinkos. I went in there, made copies, and carried a copy to the VFW. Some really nice and sober people were in there and they acted like it was not something they could help with (which made sense to me) – but they gladly took the poster I had made.
When I got back, Denny and I drove across to the boardwalk and had lunch in a pricey little sandwich restaurant. Then we walked across the street to the boardwalk and walked around to the front and saw the ocean and the amusement park. It was very cold, windy, and raining. We could see the wharf and see that cars were driving on it – so we got our car and drove down there. You drove way out in the ocean. There were some steps and I saw that you could see sea lions if you went down them (we had been hearing them from our hotel). So we walked down and saw dozens of them lying on the pilings under the wharf – and some swimming around. It was amazing! The ocean sprayed us a few times – and I tasted the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life.
When we got back to the hotel I sat down to see if Trey had answered my email. I got an email from his brother Todd instead saying “Don’t give up!”. Minutes later my cell phone rang and it was Trey!! He told me where to pick him up – and I went there at 5:30 - but it took a while to find. It turned out that the very first person I spoke to in Santa Cruz – David in the mail room at the Homeless Center – had told him I was there.
He was in his friend Isaac’s apartment. He described Isaac as an “angel” and he was correct. Isaac was a really nice bright young man – an engineer with a nice apartment on Pacific Avenue – right next door to the Kinko’s I had been to earlier that day! He was letting Trey stay there for a couple of weeks until his girlfriend gets there. He had been a friend of Trey’s in Charleston and had just moved to Santa Cruz. He handed me his business card as we met – so now I have a contact I can get in touch with.
Unfortunately, I believe that Trey’s mental illness is worse now than the last time I saw him. He told me that one of his paranoias is of cell phones. I wanted him to call his brother on my cell phone and he held it about a foot from his face and left him a voice message (he did not answer).
We drove through a redwood forest to a small town a few miles away and had dinner in a little Italian restaurant. Trey had a salad and vegetable soup. He does not eat wheat or sugar – mostly stays with organic vegetables. He is very thin.
We went back to his apartment and showed Isaac the magic jack and talked a while. Around 10:00 I went back to the hotel.
Day 10 (Sunday). We got up and drove up highway 1 towards San Francisco. Wow. What an incredible drive! We could see the ocean most of the time – mountains a lot of the time. It was amazing to see farmlands on the ocean and so much undeveloped land on the ocean! When we got to San Francisco, we drove over the Golden Gate bridge. We drove up a ways more and then went on another bridge and over to Napa. We stopped in an American Legion in Napa. Then we drove back to Travis AFB and checked back in to the Air Force Inn there. We walked across the street for a light supper at the bowling alley – and I actually bowled one game.
3 comments:
Not your average Space-A adventure. A compelling story. And I thought I had challenges... Glad you finally made contact with Trey.
Wow, that was an adventure. I know how concerned you were for him. I guess you are able to finally breathe a sign of relief for a while. thanks for sharing with us.
Judy from Montgomery AL
We loved reading your trip report. Thanks for sharing with us. Sounds like it was a very successful first space a trip.
Angie from Irmo
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