USS Midway, San Diego

John in front of the USS Midway in San Diego

As I huffed out a large breath, wondering if my lungs would recuperate, I asked Laureen how many steps we had taken during our visit to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.

“I think,” she replied in a gasp, “my watch says around sixty-five thousand, but that could be wrong since my eyes are tearing up and I can’t see clearly.”

That’s a lot of steps. I’m used to maybe two hundred per day unless I have to use the restroom more often, depending on the day of the week.

But here we were, visiting the USS Midway and traversing all around this wonderful aircraft carrier launched out of Newport News, Virginia, on March 3, 1945. It never served in WWII, but has seen plenty of action since it was officially commissioned in September of that same year.

Laureen and I love San Diego. Try to get there as often as we can, but one historical place we’ve never set foot on until a recent weekend was the USS Midway aircraft carrier, permanently docked at the Embarcadero waterfront at Navy Pier.

Why we hadn’t, in the past, taken a tour aboard this gorgeous water war machine, since it has been docked there for over twenty years, is a question we asked ourselves. Thus, the reason we had our walking shoes on and eyes watching the steps taken.

The ship is huge. Over one thousand feet long, 258 feet wide at its widest point, and as tall as a 20-story building. Wandering everywhere the tour allows is not for the weak of heart but is a must-see to truly marvel at the ingenuity and magnitude of what the United States Navy has to offer.

We walked the flight deck, studying the 30 aircraft meticulously taken care of over the vast four-acre area on the USS Midway. 

Just some of the helicopters for tourists to visit

There was the F-4 Phantom III, the A-9 Corsair II, the TBM Avenger, the UH-1 Huey helicopter, and so many more aircraft the visitor can wander and gaze at, including the one made terrifically famous in the Tom Cruise film, Top Gun, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.

A plane for any aircraft enthusiast

Just one of many planes on display

It was a somewhat warm but overcast day as we wandered about the USS Midway anchored in the San Diego Bay, but nothing could deter us from the excitement of visiting such a naval marvel as this ship is.

When active, the ship boasted a complement of nearly 4,700 personnel, broken up into the regular ship's company, the aircraft wing, and the smaller but lethal group of Marines assigned to the ship.

It was a floating city. And with a city comes extracurricular activities to make sure no one ever got bored while circumventing the Earth.

One of the best events was the steel beach picnics, where bbq’s were set up on deck, and the crew played sports, sang songs, listened to music, and enjoyed other activities. Movie nights, talent shows, driving golf balls off the deck into the ocean, and skeet shooting were done regularly to make sure being away from home for long deployments didn't feel that long or lonely.

The flight deck is 4 acres, plenty of room for activities

Plenty of room for crew and guests to wander the USS Midway

Although the ship entered service not long after WWII ended, it saw plenty of action during the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars. Sortie after sortie, planes took off and landed along the lengthy runway on the ship, making sure that American interests were well handled no matter where on the globe the floating fighting ship was.

As a floating museum, the USS Midway is a must for any history enthusiast or just any person wanting to climb aboard a historic piece of American pride and truly respect the men and women who once sailed her.

Looking southwest toward Coronado Island

There are dozens of volunteer docents, most retired military, who are glad to stand with a visitor and answer any questions that may pop up. They know the answers because they love the history and splendor of this ship and what it represents.

One docent, Terry, told us, “I love coming here and meeting people from all over the world. They ask questions, and I do the best I can in answering every one of them. Of course, if there weren’t any tourists, I would still come here; it’s an honor to those who served aboard her.”

Terry then told us of a tour to the Castle, where all the goings-on of the ship are run from. “If you hurry, you will get the first tour, which isn’t crowded; later in the day it can be an hour wait.”

I learned about waiting from Disneyland. I hate waiting in lines, so off we ran over the flight deck and within minutes were climbing steep metal stairs up four decks to where the command post sits high above the ocean.

These are really straight-up ladders comprising 12 steps per floor, and by the time I had made it to number 48, I was tired and decided to sit in the Captain’s chair overlooking all the action down below on the flight deck.

View of the flight deck from the Castle

The sense of power which overtook me was sensational while sitting in the commander’s chair. I ordered Laureen to launch 4 Tomcats to ensure we had the proper dinner reservations at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, or else!

Laureen enjoying the power of running the ship

She only smiled as she listened to the docent explain every nuance of the command bridge. The view was outstanding as we all looked out the wide glass windows facing Coronado Island, perhaps wondering what it would have been like gazing across open ocean waters, wondering if an enemy was also peering your way.

After leaving the Castle, we headed into the belly of the aircraft carrier to the crew's quarters, the many dining halls, the kitchen, the laundry, the engine room, the infirmary, the arms lockers, and so much more that I forgot all I saw except the number of stairways and ladders that each of the nearly 20 floors required to manoeuvre up and around.

One of the officers' quarters aboard the USS Midway

In the dining hall, in honor of those who did not return

The hallways were narrow, the ladders steep, the bunks tiny, which shows that to be aboard the USS Midway was a guaranteed way to keep in shape.

No one was knocking back a dozen Crispy Cremes and then racing up and down between decks. Nope, instant heart attack, though maybe with a smile on a glazed face.

We spent four hours on the ship, and that was probably not enough. But with nearly a hundred thousand steps on my made-up watch, I was tired and thirsty.

Luckily, there was the Cafe 41, which served adult libations on the aft deck, which helped with my parched throat and tired feet.

John R Beyer enjoying Cafe 41

Why we had not visited the USS Midway in the past, we don’t know. But we will be back again to enjoy all the Navy has to offer aboard this wonderful fighting ship.

John can be contacted at: beyersbyways@gmail.com

For more information: 

https://www.midway.org/

Stay In Your Element

John R Beyer always stays in his element

Laureen and I generally never recommend one hotel over another unless we have had a tremendous stay or a terrible stay during our many travels. And believe me when I say we have had some awesome stays in the past and some dismal ones.

When we stayed at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji. That was one to talk about. A suite that overlooked Suva Bay and, further in the distance, the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Fabulous restaurants and a bar, attended by waiters and waitresses just waiting for us to order another drink. Well, waiting for me mainly.

Then we stayed in a thatched hut along the Amazon River in Peru, where guests were advised not to venture out into the jungle alone at night. Heck, the size of the insects crawling beneath our hammocks got us thinking that this was not where a sane person would wander day or night.

Our home away from home on the Amazon River, Peru

As any traveler knows, accommodations can either enhance an experience or detract from that experience. Let’s be honest, traveling is not cheap unless you are a good sprinter and can land on an empty boxcar in one leap.

So, as we travel, we look for the best quality in places to spend our nights. Are we always correct? Nope, but we do our best, like most folks who want to go out and explore.

After a recent blog, we received a couple of emails asking why we don’t recommend a place here or there. It is as if we travel and never stay the night. We fly to Italy and then return the same day without putting our tired heads on pillows.

We’re not travel agents or work for hotel chains. We go out around the nation or world and explore the best we can, but a couple of questions make sense. So, for this blog, we will discuss a place that we stayed in recently in San Diego.

America’s Finest City, the nickname for San Diego, is a place we love to visit no matter the time of year. In fact, I lived there a million years ago before moving north to the High Desert. After visiting time and again, Laureen and I joined the marina crowd for years and had a floatel; that name was given to our boat by our loving daughters. A floating hotel which they loved to use in the perpetually beautiful weather of San Diego.

The Beyer floatel

So, recently I suggested a weekend away. Laureen jumped at the idea, and we decided we wanted a place that we could just park our car and take the San Diego Trolley around town. 

After a bit of research, I came upon a newly constructed hotel by Marriott: The Element, in Mission Valley, right off Interstate 8.

The Element was completed in June of 2026 and boasted an eco-friendly, laid-back atmosphere for their guests. It was only a three-minute walk to the Rio Vista trolley station, which meant our vehicle could just sit in the parking lot for a couple of days, saving the cost of fuel and parking fees for the places we wanted to visit.

The trolley is a short 2 or 3 minute walk from the Element Hotel

San Diego has an extensive trolley system that allows passengers the comfort and affordability to go pretty much anywhere they want in this city by the bay. The tracks run for nearly 70 miles North, South, East, and West. A visit to the Mexico border? Hop on board. A visit to the snooty, rich enclave of La Jolla? Hop on board. Visiting relatives in Santee? Hop on board. Want to go Downtown? Hop on board.

It is a great system, and we took full advantage of it on this recent trip.

After a long day of riding the trolley and visiting Downtown, Little Italy, and Old Town, it was time to enjoy the spacious room that we had booked. 

Old Town geared up for the Day of the Dead festivities

Our home base was The Element, which shares a large plot of land with the Marriott right next door. Both hotels are interlinked in the services rendered for their guests. The picturesque waterfall pool at the Marriott is enjoyed by guests from both hotels. There are gyms, restaurants, and bars that patrons can enjoy during their stay in San Diego. The hotel is very family-oriented, with each room having a small kitchen, large refrigerator, microwave, and more than enough room for a large family to be comfortable.

One item that is not shared is the bicycles that The Element loans out to their guests. Tired of the trolley and wanting to stretch our legs, Laureen and I took advantage and rode several miles along the paths next to the San Diego River. Helmets are provided, as well as a written waiver in case a careless rider takes a header on Mission Center Road.

Laureen Beyer loving the free bike

The hotel also offers free breakfasts cooked on-site by professional chefs. They strive to be healthy, forgoing the usually highly processed breakfasts that most other hotels we have stayed at provide.

Our favorite breakfast was one egg, medium-cooked, laid upon a bed of mushrooms, ham, sweet potatoes, corn, onion, and spices. It was delicious.

Dinners have a large menu, from Flat Top Smash Cheeseburgers to Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Wraps. Of course, there are sides like the Tzatziki and Dill Pickle Chips ot the Salami and Fontina Board.

We had a view west toward Downtown overlooking the green belt surrounding the San Diego River. It was peaceful, quiet, and just a great place to rest and get re-energized for further adventures in the morning.

Overlooking the San Diego River from the Element Hotel

And, yes - San Diego has so much to offer for a weekend or longer visits.

John can be contacted at beyersbyways@gmail.com

For further information:

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sanme-element-san-diego-mission-valley/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0

https://www.sdmts.com/transit-services/trolley

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Astronaut practicing near Meteor Crater

Buzz Aldrin looked at the rim of the massive crater hovering five stories above him. It was treacherous terrain, but Aldrin, being a part of the exclusive group of Apollo astronauts, was not nervous. It was his job to explore where no one had explored before.

The heavy suit hindered his movements, but Aldrin knew he had a job to do, and no difficulty would stand in his way.

Suddenly, his right boot caught a rock sideways, sending him to the ground with a painful crunch. Worse, though, was that a gaping tear had ripped through the suit's arm, and Aldrin knew what could happen within moments.

On the moon’s surface, he may lose consciousness within 15 seconds as his brain depletes the last of his oxygen supply. Since there would no longer be any artificial pressure within the suit, the water in his body would immediately begin to boil at normal body temperature. Finally, the lack of oxygen would cause his death within one or two minutes.

This was a serious situation, but the iconic adventurer would have another day to ponder that tear in the arm of his suit. This was Meteor Crater in Arizona, and NASA had just learned a valuable lesson.

Suits to function on the moon or other planets must have redundancy after redundancy to ensure a simple fall will not end catastrophically, thus ending any hopes of a successful mission. By the time NASA sent a man to the moon, the suits had 21 layers to ensure the astronaut was as perfectly protected from any unforeseen and possibly tragic situations.

Laureen and John Beyer enjoying Meteor Crater, Arizona

During the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration would utilize the first impact crater recognized on Earth for their astronaut training, gearing up for the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, and follow-up missions.

Mining area and astronaut training grounds, Meteor Crater, Arizona

Colonel Buzz Aldrin, who would become the second person to ever step onto the surface of the closest celestial neighbor, may have been grateful for that tumble he had taken within the confines of Meteor Crater, way back on Earth in Arizona.

Meteor Crater, 44 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona, is now a mecca for those who are interested in not only space but also what sometimes falls from space.

Early geologists believed the three-quarters-of-a-mile-wide by nearly 600 feet deep crater was the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. 

Meteor Crater, Arizona

One man, Daniel Barringer, a mining engineer, saw the crater for himself in 1903 and proposed that the nearly circular crater was caused by a meteor, and not volcanic activity.

Daniel Barringer

The scientific world scoffed, but the stubborn self-made man spent the next 27 years digging in the center of the crater looking for that elusive meteor, along with dozens of skilled workers he hired through the years. He never found the meteor and suffered a massive heart attack on November 30, 1929.

Neither the engineer nor his contemporaries understood that when a meteor enters Earth’s atmosphere, nearly 90% of its mass is burned off by the friction of speeding at 26,000 miles per hour, as was the case with the meteor striking the Arizona High Desert. Thus, this meteor was only 

Dig as he might, Barringer was never going to find a large meteor, only tiny shards that were blasted all over the surrounding desert for miles. 

Viewing window looking toward Flagstaff to the northwest

It would take four more decades before planetary scientist Eugene Shoemaker told the world that Mr. Barringer had been correct.

Shoemaker studied the crater sides and floor, and compared them to craters left after atomic bomb detonations. He referred to ‘shocked rocks’ and microscopic high-pressure minerals like coesite that had been pulverized by a hyper-velocity impact.

Just like Barriniger had once theorized.

Meteor Crater is only 50,000 years old, relatively young compared to the North Pole Dome Impact Crater, which could date back three billion years. Or the most famous one, the Chicxulub, which plummeted into the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago, killing off nearly 75% of life on Earth, including the dinosaurs.  

Nevertheless, Daniel Barringer will forever go down in history as the man who first recognized a meteor impact crater on Earth.

And that is a pretty huge legacy.

John R. Beyer getting ready for next mission

John can be contacted at: beyersbyways@gmail.com

For further information: https://meteorcrater.com/