A place of afterlife legends atop the water, where certain sections are still closed for asbestos removal. Many areas are flat-out off limits, and there are plenty of living bodies around to tell you where not to go. Of course those sectors always make me most curious. :)
It was early August, 2015. The ALPS team took me to the ship. It started on a top level, the museum full of aircrafts and other era artillery. A fantastic place to see familiar faces that all seemed to start with the Spirits of the Old West event at the Washoe Club back in 2012.
The ship was packed with different exhibits that appeared around winding corners and in unexpected rooms.
Early on, a tour guide briefly led the team down to an engine room where unexplained things were heard by naked ears and also recorded on audio. Off to a good start.
My next question... where will I crash?
At first I was worried to have to rest my head surrounded by many people on the top level. Couples, strangers, snorers! But then we were shown down to the bunks that were yet another level below the busy and packed area of the others. A less-occupied level that Faye had mentioned earlier.
Indeed, it was dark. So I paid attention to the guide when he flipped switches for lighting. When I saw Faye ask him the procedure a moment later, I knew there was backup as usual.
In the evening they served us dinner. A filling meal that made me just right for a smoke. I stepped back above, where the dark museum opened up to the rear of the ship– and this sight hit me.
The sunset was far beyond the bridges, the ships, and the water, far beyond the buildings of San Francisco. It made plenty of colors as we socialized, smoked, discussed, then prepared for when the sun went down behind the city.
Many people were assigned in different groups that explored separate areas. We passed by each other and BSed.
Sommer took us up to the control room, a fantastic display of blue radars and yellow charts. How many emotions and energies from important decisions had made their way through that place over the years?
We explored lonely rooms that branched off shadowed hallways. Supernatural experiments with different strangers. The hallways were ominous at all times. Several people later found EVP’s in their archives. One from Scott seemed to mention me by name, and it touched on a major past nerve.
And who knows what else was found by the many investigators who were there? Do share your evidence if your eyes reach this post.
We were guided to some of the most notorious spots, and it was easy to feel uneasy in most of them. Being surrounded by so many people made the areas easy to face.
But the night got quiet, and other groups seemed to fade off like souls in time. The USS Hornet is not a place you want to be stranded in the dark. Odd noises from all directions is enough to make the mind wonder– but the things that are really there?
Four of us were on the grind latest into twilight hours. Myself, Faye, Scott Litaea, and some guy who followed us, said nothing, and crunched on vending machine snacks that made me envious. Everything seemed quiet, except for the hum of the ship. Time came to call it quits around five in the morning.
I was tired enough that the bunk felt like a bed.
The alarm in the morning, a surprising siren that blasted like the good old military days. It was a sound meant to rise you from that bunk and be ready for plans in store for you. I can’t say, after maybe an hour of deep sleep, that I was entirely annoyed when I reached a lower deck. The kitchen area! It was an awesome breakfast.
The experience felt like a camping trip aboard a haunted and historic American vessel. It was a mixture of so many different people with goals that revolve around a similar subject. What can ever go wrong there?
How amazing it was to see so many familiar faces who are currently working hard on the grind for their passions and for the future. Here’s links to some of their Facebook accounts where you can find further links to their projects:
Josh Heard: https://www.facebook.com/josh.heard.9
Conner Hopkins: https://www.facebook.com/connor.hopkins.9
Scott Litaea: https://www.facebook.com/scottdlitaea
Sommer Jonez: https://www.facebook.com/sommer.jonez
Jessie Garcia: https://www.facebook.com/JessiePGarcia
.... and so many more.