Aboard the USS George Washington

On Tuesday, Darrell, Megan, and Anna had the rare opportunity to tour the USS George Washington aircraft carrier while it was docked in Singapore. (Unfortunately, the tour was limited to 2 or 3 persons per family, so I didn't make the cut.)


The GW is the navy's only permanently forward deployed aircraft carrier. The ship is currently deployed in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Here is the navy's official statement regarding it's duties in this part of the world:

"The security environment in the Western Pacific region requires the United States to station the most capable ships forward for deterrence and the best possible response times for maritime and joint force operations. The forward deployment of GW ensures the ability of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, to fulfill the U.S. Government's commitment to the defense of Japan, and the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East in support of mutual cooperation and security. This posture also brings our most capable ships with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability in the timeliest manner."

Here are some amazing facts about the ship:

Commissioned: July 4, 1992

Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors that permit the ship to steam for almost 18 years before refueling.

Speed: More than 30 knots

Length of Flight Deck: 1,092 feet

Width of Flight Deck: 275 feet

Height (keel to mast): 244 feet

Flight Deck Area: 4.5 acres

Combat Load Displacement: 97,000 tons

Number of aircraft with embarked Airwing: About 75

Aircraft Elevators: Four, each 3,880 square feet

Number of Catapults: Four

Number of Propellers: Four, each 22 ft. in diameter, brass, five-bladed and weighing 66,200 pounds each.

Number of Anchors: Two, each weighing about 30 tons

Crew accommodations: 6,250

Length of Flight Deck: 1,092 feet

Meals served daily: 18,000

Number of Compartments and Spaces: 3,360

Daily capacity of Fresh Water Distilling Plants: 400,000 gal., enough to supply 2,000 homes

Length of Wiring and Cable: More than 1,400 miles

Tons of Structural Steel: 60,000

On the flight deck.



Standing next to one of the 30 ton anchors.

Inside.

In the driver's seat.

Not Your Average Pony Ride

My animal-loving girls have fed many animals in their day: giraffes and lory birds in San Diego, penguins at Sea World (thanks to Dad's Cousin Kim), and lots and lots of goats at Tanner's Orchard. However, one species they've never fed, much less ridden, are elephants. Singapore has a wonderful zoo, with great shows and large, open enclosures that allow you a close view of many of the animals. At many places in the zoo, the monkeys are in the trees right above you. One of their daily shows is the elephant show, which demonstrates how the elephants have traditionally helped with manual labor in this part of the world. After the show, you can purchase a basket of fruit (apples, bananas, & carrots) to feed the elephants. They are very good at grasping it with their trunks, the ends of which function kind of like a hand. And then at certain times of the day, you can purchase a ticket to take an elephant ride, which the girls did on Monday. I opted to stay behind and capture the moment on film.

MacRitchie Reservoir Park

Now that we are back in Singapore, we are keeping busy before school starts by doing more exploring of our new home. One unchartered area was the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, one of the nature reserves in the middle of the island that hosts a 250m long, 25m high free-standing suspension bridge. We recently decided to do a family hike to the "tree-top walk." Any type of outdoor activity in Singapore is always a sweaty endeavor and this was no exception. There was plenty of whining from Anna about having to walk 8km, but she loved the suspension bridge (Megan did NOT) and also the monkeys, until they started advancing rapidly towards her in hopes of a handout.


Here is a view of the reservoir at the beginning of our hike:

The girls enjoying a rest in the rain forest.
Two of many monkeys seen on our hike.

Our destination: the suspension bridge.

A large monitor lizard spotted in the leaves.