Pearl Harbor

Up at 4:00 a.m. again.  We were not meant to sleep in at all this vacation.  We left at 5:00 to go to Pearl Harbor.  You have to get there very early if you want USS Arizona tickets.  They only give a certain amount out.  We were there at 5:30 and we were 4th in line.  Well, by we I mean Todd.  The rest of us sat in the car waiting.  I went to the line about 6:30 and the rest were all there by 6:45.  Gate opened at 7:00 and we all had our jobs.  Tom and Judy were to get the audio tour devices, I was getting the USS Arizona tickets, and Todd was buying the admission tickets.

Watching Cameron eat breakfast.

Todd chatted up a storm with the guy in the tan shirt before
we all arrived.

We look a little tired but we were ready to explore Pearl Harbor.

We had an hour before our USS Arizona tour so we went to the Bowfin submarine first.  It was great because we basically had it to our self.  We had the audio tour so headphones were on and we checked out the submarine.  When we came back out it had rained and there was a rainbow.  It was pretty cool standing on an American submarine, rainbow in the sky, and the US flag flying.  Man, I LOVE America.

Grandma Judy checking out the submarine.

Standing on the Bowfin.

Exploring the Bowfin.

Going in.

Lots to explore in the submarine.

Grandma and Cameron gaining all kinds of facts.

A tight fit going through the doors.

Cameron loves audio tours.

We heard Cameron say "Oh Man".  He dropped his map
and it hit perfectly to go through the tiny opening at the bottom.
I was able to get it out.

Learning a lot.

LOVE this picture.

Too bad the sun was blinding Cameron.

Cool.

Time to get to our USS Arizona tour.  Cameron grabbed us 3 waters from the shop while I ran to the bathroom.  The others were in line waiting.  Time to go in.  We started with a 25 minute movie on the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  So sad to think about all the people's lives that were lost.

Going into the theater.

Time to board the boat to take us out to the USS Arizona.  Somber feeling.  Amazing to look at.  A few times I felt like I wanted to cry.  This tour really put everything in to perspective. The quietest tour I have ever been on. Back on the boat and back to where we started.

The USS Arizona Memorial.

So many people lost their lives.

A few Wallace's.

The ship still loses a quart of oil a day.

Part of the ship.

Where the ship was suppose to be docked.

Cameron taking it all in.

Looking at the ship underwater.

Leaving the Memorial.

We went to the shuttle bus that took us to Ford Island which was home to the Battleship Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum. First stop was the ship.  We got on and that things is huge.  We walked around the decks but there really wasn't a lot to see.  There was something official going on at the back of the ship.  A huge tent with a lot of uniformed people.  The National Anthem was being played.  We stopped and showed our respect to the flag.

Entering the ships grounds.

Headed to the row of flags.

Lots of guns.

Todd wouldn't act this out.

Cameron trying to shoot the big gun.

Whoa.

Where we were.

We went in and saw some planes.  Cameron wanted to do the flight simulator.  He got the instructions and started to fly.  The first few minutes he couldn't make it shoot.  He yelled for me. When I walked over to him he said it was boring.  All of a sudden the shooting started and then he was fine.  He was in the thing for 25 minutes.  It was very hard but he liked it.

This could be a postcard.

Cool looking airplane.

Cameron liked looking at the planes and stuff.

Cameron was going to take flight.

Full concentration.

He was in this simulator a long time.

This is where we were.

Tom and Judy grabbed some lunch and they also got Cameron a hot dog for when his flight was over. Once everyone was done eating we were waiting for the shuttle bus.  Cameron and I went out back where a guy was flying a big remote plane.  Of course he said he wanted one.  Sorry, too expensive.

The light house in the background is trying to get
fixed but it needs a lot of money to do so.

Back on the shuttle.  Once back at the starting point we checked out the museum.  We were done with Pearl Harbor after that.  Back to the car.  We stopped by the store so we could get food to grill out.  While everyone was in the store Cameron and I ran to Taco Bell.  He wanted to try the Cool Ranch taco.  We had a couple Doritos ones as well.  Yum!  We went to the resort.  Cameron and I went to the pool for a bit.

Leaving Pearl Harbor.

Cool Ranch Taco.

Doritos Taco.

Back up to the villa to chill out awhile.  Tom, Todd, Cameron, and I went down to grill out.  A lot of people with the same idea.  Luckily they had 8 grills by our villa.  Steak, fish, and veggies...grilled to perfection.  Up to the villa.  Dinner time.  Such a great meal.  So glad Todd loves to cook.

Who knew Grandpa Casey (Chuck) had a steak house.

Todd is the master when it comes to grilling.

3 generations.

Steak, fish, and veggies.

Time to eat all the great food.

A little euchre was next.  Cameron and Todd were partners and Judy and I were partners. Tom watched over Cameron the first few hands to make sure he remembered how to play.  He did which wasn't a surprise.  Close game but in the end Judy and I won.  A little tv and off to bed.

Gorgeous.

Goodbye sun.