# Norfolk Pre-Fall Dopefest and Carrier Tour **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 19, 2000, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894 "2000-06-19T20:26:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/1 "2000-06-19T20:26:55Z")
Well, the cat’s out of the bag. So I may as well put out the initial feeler… Yes, I have made arrangements (not hard, since I’m in charge of approving/assigning IKE ship tours) for a group of Dopers to tour the U.S. Navy’s third nuclear-powered aircraft carrier _USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)_! Here’s the tentative schedule: \*\*Fri. 25 Aug., (p.m.) – East Coast Dopers pour into the Tidewater Area check into hotels. Un-official meetings, beverages imbibed. Sat. 26 Aug., 1030 – Dopers gather at Norfolk Naval Naval Station Pass and I.D. office. ChiefScott introduces himself. POV (personally owned vehicles) on-base passes distroed. Safety/security rules discussed. Visit list verified. Sat. 26 Aug., 1050 – Enter base. POV transit to Pier 12 visitors’ parking lot. Sat. 26 Aug., 1100 – Board IKE. Commence tour. Note: Tour includes: Navigation Brige, Flight Deck Control, Flight Deck, Launch/Recovery procedures, Flight Deck Photo OP, fo’c’s’le, Hangar Bays, 5-Star Room, static aircraft display, Jet Engine Shop, Mess Decks, and Medical. Time may be alotted for additional spaces, if interested. Off limits spaces – Reactor/Engineering Space, spaces containing classified information, magazines, CDC, CATCC and as designated by CDO. Sat. 26 Aug., 1400 – Depart IKE. Re-load vehicles. Sat. 26 Aug., 1415 – (If Dopers’ intersted, tour NAVBASE Norfolk, to include Jamestown Exposition Buildings (Great White Fleet World’s Fair). Sat. 26 Aug., 1500 – Depart Base. Return passes. Gather at Pass and I.D. Final wrap-up. Sat. 26 Aug., 1500-1930 – Free time. Sat. 26 Aug., 1930-?? – Official Norfolk Dopefest. I’m thinking a downtown waterfront bar. Possibly at Waterside. Sat./Sun. – Return to hotel/depart area as required.\*\* This is still sketchy, but you get the idea. There will be **no cost** for base/ship tour. Signed affidavits that you will no longer use smilies on the board will be required. (Just joking) Limited number of vehicles will be allowed on base. I will condence the group to the minimum number of vehicles possible. I will post hotel reservation sites (cheap, mid, expensive) at two sites (downtown and Hampton Blvd. – just off base). You should know that you are going to have to provide me a lot of information at least a week in advance, should you want to take the tour, like vehicle make/model, license, proof of insurance, etc. What I need from you now: Suggestions, recommendations, a rough idea of the number of folks I should be expecting. What should I look to change improve? Is there anything I’m blatently overlooking? **fff folks** – This board is where I’ll update Dopefest info. What I don’t need: **e-mails!!!** At least not yet. _I’m serious._ Anything you need to say, questions need answered, do it here. I won’t answer e-mails. I’ll let you know when and what to e-mail me. Everyone’s invited and I don’t foresee limiting the touring group, but be forewarned, I can’t absolutely exclude that possibility yet. Your tax dollars paid for IKE, you might as well see if you got your money’s worth! ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/2 "2000-06-19T20:34:02Z")
I’m in! I swear I’m coming this time! Cleared the calendar and everything! I will also volunteer to help you out on gathering hotel info, since I’m stateside and relatively close. I have experience from helping out Valerie in Chicago. Lemme know if you need anything, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/3 "2000-06-19T20:51:38Z")
When Cutters - the band on our label that played your fine ship - was there, _they_ got to sleep ON THE BOAT! Well…? * * * Yer pal, Satan _I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Two months, one week, three days, 18 hours, 53 minutes and 11 seconds. 2871 cigarettes not smoked, saving $358.93. Life saved: 1 week, 2 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![aenea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@aenea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aenea)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/4 "2000-06-19T20:55:21Z")
I’ll be there Chief. Can I bring hubby too? ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/5 "2000-06-19T21:01:59Z")
Don’t listen to Satan. I am NOT sleeping on the ship. A hotel room will be JUST fine, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![SmoothOperator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SmoothOperator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmoothOperator)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/6 "2000-06-19T21:14:19Z")
I’m planning on coming too. I’m trying to see if my husband wants to come. But I think I’ll be there one way or another. Miss an opportunity to meet more dopers, are you kidding (and see most of the drunk??)? ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/7 "2000-06-19T21:15:33Z")
Sounds like fun! I wish I could go. _POUT_ Take lots of pics, and post them, somebody! _Please_? ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/8 "2000-06-19T23:16:58Z")
::bump:: For the evening. ---
**Author:** ![dcnewsman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dcnewsman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcnewsman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/9 "2000-06-19T23:39:03Z")
Sqrl and I are planning to come. I’ll bring the digital camera, even if we have to black out a lot of stuff. (Pssss…I leave the disks under the photocopier for someone to sneak out.) ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/10 "2000-06-20T12:00:45Z")
- and I won’t be there - OTOH, I didn’t help to pay the ship. Capital idea, anyway - I’d really, really like to meet some of the AmeriDopers and I’ve never even seen a nuclear-powered carrier. Did you get the postcard from the EuroDope convention, Chief ? Oh, and Satan: If you want to get on the Chiefs good side, I think you’d want to consider refraining from calling his ship a “boat”. Take pictures! Post them! S. Norman ---
**Author:** ![tatertot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tatertot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tatertot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/11 "2000-06-20T12:15:48Z")
Hey, Norman, maybe if we ask nicely, Chief will pick us up on his way back to the States. I don’t think Hamburg would be that much of a detour, and we could peel potatoes to pay our way. OTOH, I have a package for the Chief sitting right by my front door, that I was supposed to mail last week; he probably doesn’t like me much anymore. ☹ Oops - I better go to the PO tomorrow morning sickness be damned. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/12 "2000-06-20T12:28:14Z")
Well shit Chief, why didn’t you do this last summer when Ultress and I were down there? We toured the Enterprise and I got a chuckle when they took my passport because I’m considered a foreigner. At least I got it back and didnt get deported. Ships are pretty damn cool!! ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/13 "2000-06-20T18:31:15Z")
I now count 6-9 folks interested. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/14 "2000-06-20T20:42:01Z")
We’re in. ---
**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/15 "2000-06-20T20:50:51Z")
Darn! Sounds like fun, but I’m too far from Norfolk. Now if we were talking Mayport, woohooo! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/16 "2000-06-20T22:32:06Z")
El jefe, The Eisenhower!!! Why don’t ya cruise them over to pier 23 and let them check out some real ships. Remember, there are two types, submarines and targets!! ::: duckin’ and a runnin’… ::: ---
**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/17 "2000-06-20T22:48:05Z")
BF, Assuming we don’t get to see the reactor, Sherwood Forrest or the torpedo room, I can save everyone some time. For a Boomer (a missile sub for you civies). Open a can of your favorite veg, and empty it. Dump in various electrical junk. Squint. For a Shooter (a hunter / killer sub). Use a smaller can. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/18 "2000-06-21T18:48:04Z")
Bluesman and I will definitely be there, Chief. \ ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/19 "2000-06-21T19:13:37Z")
\ Kidding. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2000, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894/20 "2000-06-22T02:03:29Z")
I’ll be there, Chief - and the lovely Mrs. Firefly sounds interested, too! Make that one ‘yes’ and one strong ‘maybe’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norfolk-pre-fall-dopefest-and-carrier-tour/22894.md?page=2)