We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:25:35 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification If you need to catch up - Part I. This is the story of a young man walking across the US. In today's installment - well, anyone who has done road marching, much less managed one, will relate. It wasn't that long ago when we moved Armies like this... Hey Lee, I'm rushed. And I've got no photo capabilities right now, sorry. Thank You. It's been a week since Rory and I flew to LAX. We did our vacationing while we stayed with my cousin Kristen and her husband Nick in Hermosa Beach. On Tuesday Kristen drove us down to... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html Sun, 27 Mar 2005 08:39:12 -0600 John, if you told me about these poor souls when they were actually doing this they could've stopped at my mothers. She lives western bank of the SA river bed(she even gets her house pelted by duffers on the golf course, River View Golf course.), right at the Santa Ana/Orange border. She'd of loved the company and they could've ridden out the rain there on the first day. AS LSP says, I'm surprised these guys weren't mugged as they made their way up the river trail in Santa Ana. YOu go through some pretty scummy parts. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19410 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19410 Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:51:48 -0600 Bingo! Though I woulda done it with 1:50's. And Dr. Funk - GPS is great - for telling you where you are, and what direction to go in - and I suppose the new really expensive ones come with maps loaded in 'em - but unless they've got readable maps, I want a map to plan my route - which I will then enter the legs in the GPS. Our Hero is obviously humping a laptop... but that is not the most useful of tools to use on foot, whereas the map book Bill so thoughtfully provided the name for, is a wonderful tool. And I'd just make 'em and mail 'em ahead to my different legs - not hump 'em. If that's "thinking like a gunner" - well, so be it. Things like that got me through some infantry-oriented training, too. I understand the "soldier's load" - but as a big guy, it's a smaller percentage of the package, eh? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19409 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19409 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 22:37:25 -0600 Neffi - John's referring to the way we cut, fold an' tape a couple of 1:24,000 map sheets into a 6"x6" book. It's called the "Australian fold." http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19408 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19408 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 22:11:52 -0600 An aviator's map is called a 'sectional' and wouldn't have helped these guys... it's geared to marks observable from the air. Sounds like they need all the help they can get... REMFS (sigh) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19406 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19406 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 21:52:01 -0600 Aviator's Map book? John, you're thinking like a gunner, not a grunt. The standard isn't what you can throw in the back of your M109..its what you can carry on your back. A GPS might have been a good idea though. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19403 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19403 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 21:36:52 -0600 I live about 80 miles south of all these goings on, so I am somewhat familiar with the area. Actually, I am rather suprised that they didn't get mugged. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19393 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19393 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:39:01 -0600 Good point, Papa Ray. I'll cut the kid some slack... he's a public affairs soldier. But you are correct - I wouldn't have thought about moving off without maps, if only a road atlas, much less an aviator's map book all nice and cut and taped so it unfolds to just what you need. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19392 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19392 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:36:31 -0600 Hee. Sounds like these boys never heard of the six P's. Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Preformance ! Do they still have maps and such in California? Maybe they need a GPS? How about a Guide? Papa Ray West Texas USA http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19388 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/03/american_walkabout_part_ii.html#comment-19388 Sun, 27 Mar 2005 11:16:19 -0600