Overlanding in Stormy

March 15th, 2022
Spokane, WA

I have been looking for some kind of 4WD camper vehicle for years.  More seriously for the last two, and decided about a year ago on a van conversion.  I looked diligently for the last six months, but the pandemic made campervans even more popular, so scarcer and more expensive.  Everyone and their uncle are converting vans, but the more reputable companies are booking 18-24 months out for delivery of new conversions.

In my research, I developed fairly specific ideas about what I wanted.  Sportmobile has been doing van conversions for decades, but their styling seems rather dated.  A favorite was Outside Van out of Portland.  They do some sexy conversions, if you have a cool quarter million to plunk down on it.  Yes, seriously.

I finally found something very close to my ideal in a used 2018 Sprinter converted in 2019.  The sellers called her Stormy Vaniels, and so shall I.

Continue reading →

Short for the Last Time

September 22nd, 2021
Spokane, WA

The Army is big on traditions. Some of them, like saluting, standing at attention facing the flag during retreat, and rendering the greeting of the day (e.g., “Good morning, Ma’am.”) are formal. Others less so.

Some of the most beloved, and not strictly limited to the Army, revolve around being a short timer.

Throwing boots means more than saying goodbye
Continue reading →

9/11/2021

September 11th, 2021
Medical Lake State Veteran’s Cemetery

The 9/11 anniversary fell on the Saturday of one of the last Army Reserve drills I’ll ever participate in.  Retirements looms. We had an event at a local veteran’s cemetery this morning that I wasn’t looking forward to as standing in formation while long speeches are made is not my idea of a good time.

It was nice, though.

Continue reading →

Hurricane Eta

November 4th, 2020
Ft. Bliss, Texas

I am now back in the United States, quarantining at Ft. Bliss, TX, for fourteen days on my way home to Spokane. So I definitely cannot be blamed for what’s shown in this video back at Soto Cano in Honduras today.

I guess they got a bit of rain.

Central American Thunderstorms

August 29th, 2020
Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras

Some time back, friend Tom asked about why many of the older buildings here seem to be built on stilts. We just had a most impressive thunderstorm move through. Torrential rain and hail the size of grapes. The photos below should speak for themselves regarding the efficacy of the stilts.

Continue reading →

Fun With Helicopters in Honduras

August 3rd, 2020
Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras

Sometime back, several of us got the opportunity to go flying with 1/228 Aviation Regiment. They have three companies. One flies Blackhawks for air evacuation. We work closely with their high-skilled critical care flight paramedics when evacuating patients by air. The second company flies Blackhawks for personnel transport and special missions. The third flies CH-47 Chinooks. We flew on a Chinook.

Continue reading →

Dr. Death

July 27th, 2020
Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras

I have developed something of a reputation when I am on call every several weeks. The call hours are 1700 to 0630 the next morning, and all weekend. Usually it’s just little stuff like nausea and vomiting, but sometimes more serious stuff comes in. The first week I took call I evacuated three to the hospital, one by air.

So the medics and the nurses have various names for me: Dr. Death, The Cloud of Darkness, the Harbinger of Doom, etc.

Continue reading →