Suffolk (Day 1)

Thursday, 26 June 2008

Suffolk

Today got up and had our last breakfast with Judy and John. We have thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast conversations with them every morning. After they saw us off we felt as if we were leaving good friends of ours instead of just my parent’s friends. We had an hour and a half drive to RAF Lakenheath. The drive was beautiful as we drove through the East Anglican countryside. After calling ahead to RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Alconbury, Tim got a taste of what Joseph from the Bible must have felt like when all the innkeepers told him there was no room for him or his pregnant wife in the inn. Lodging at all three bases were occupied due to the PCS season. We even looked for hotels in the Suffolk area online; however, we could not find any vacancies. The only thing left for us to do is to go camping. We drove to Lakenheath to rent camping gear on base. After we got our supplies we toured Tim’s Elementary school that he attended while in third, fourth, and fifth grade. He was grinning from ear to ear seeing all the old classrooms that he learned in so many years ago. Some of the teachers that were there while he attended school are STILL teaching, over 18 years ago! Things have changed quite a bit on Lakenheath. Tim said it didn’t feel as homey as it once did. Beefed up security with huge fences is now the scenery around Lakenheath. We dropped by the Lakenheath Hospital to take a couple pictures. As it turns out, Malinda was born there. After going to the commissary for some food, we headed off to Orwell Campground to set up camp and settle in for the night. Tim and I had a hard time setting up the tent because of the wind. It wasn’t as bad as Oklahoma, but it was just the right strength to make tent pitching a real pain the bum. Luckily we finished when we did, it started to drizzle and now it’s just pouring down. I guess our lucky streak has ended…weather wise.