Heavy Attack Squadron Two

Mark your calendars.  The dates for Reunion 2012:  September 26th through September 30 with check-in being the afternoon of Wednesday the 26th and departure, Sunday morning the 30th.  As we noted in SITREP #2, (see way below) these dates will afford those interested in combining the reunion with a little leaf peeping the opportunity to do so.  Keep in mind Mother Nature starts painting the foliage in northern Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in mid September and gradually works her way south so that the middle parts of these states are ablaze with color by the first and second week of October. 

 Reunion headquarters will be the Sise Inn*, a beautiful 19th century Queen Anne residence located in Haymarket Square, in the heart of Portsmouth, New Hampshire's historic district and within walking distance of the city’s many attractions and restaurants.  Check out the inn’s web site - www.siseinn.com and you will see why we believe the inn will make a great headquarters for this gathering of the Royal Rampants.   The inn keeper has hosted similar military reunions and is very excited about having us as her guests. 

To reserve your accommodations, contact the Sise Inn toll free at 877-747-3466 or 603-433-1200 and let them know you are part of the HATRON 2  Navy reunion group.  There are two room options:

1.  Executive rooms - $159.00 per night plus 9% tax (single or double occupancy) -

2.  there are (17) with one queen bed, (3) with one full bed and (3) with two twin beds.

3.  Executive Suites - $189.00 per night plus 9% tax (single or double occupancy) -

4.  There are (5) with one queen bed and (1) with two twin beds.

5. All rates include free parking, a light breakfast buffet served from 7am to 1100 each morning and all day coffee, tea, water and  fresh baked cookies each afternoon.  

6. A complimentary “Ready Room” where we may bring in snacks and beverages are included.

Regarding our calendar of events, Portsmouth and the surrounding sea coast abound in exciting things to do. As of this date we have put together the following top level calendar of events centered around a few anchor activities:

  Wednesday, 26 September

1. 1600 - 2000  Check-in

Thursday, 27 September

1. Morning:  Optional group tour and/or individual sight seeing

2. After noon:  Optional group tour and/or individual sight seeing

3.  Evening:  Dinner at Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier - www.chaunceycreek.com.

Friday, 28 September

1. Morning:  Optional group tour and/or individual sight seeing

2. After noon:  Optional group tour and/or individual sight seeing

3. Evening:  Dinner at a yet to be determined fine Portsmouth restaurant

Saturday, 29 September

1. A day of FUN and dinner in Portland, ME (Being planned by Matt and Judy Gardner)

Sunday, 30 September

1. Morning departure meeting and check out

2. In addition to finding out who is planning on attending this year’s reunion, one of the purposes of this SITREP is to solicit your inputs in filling in some of the holes relative to the optional group tours.  Below is a list of possible group tour options along with their associated web sites.  If any of them strike your fancy, let us know, and if there is enough interest we will make the appropriate arrangements. 

3. Also let us know if you will be joining us for the Portland, Maine adventure on Saturday, including harbor and/or museum tours with dinner at DeMillo’s Floating Restaurant - www.portlandmaine.com  and www.dimillos.com.

4. Possible Group Tour Options:

5. Strawbery Banke - www.strawberybanke.org

6. Chamber of Commerce Walking Tour of Historic Portsmouth - Web site unavailable but comes highly recommended.

7. Harbor Tours  - www.islesofshoals.com or www.portsmouthharbor.com

8. Gundalow Up-river Cruise - www.gundalow.org

9. Naval related tours (Attempting to arrange one with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, BUT they are limited because of tight base security.  Other options include a tour provided by the Kittery, Maine Historical and Naval Society and a visit to Albacore Park and a tour of the USS Albacore - www.ussalbacore.org.

10. And of course an afternoon of golf for interested duffers.

11. For those wanting to set out on their own, there are abundant site seeing opportunities.  To mention a few...

12. Boston lies an hour south of Portsmouth.

13. Kittery, Maine, just across the river from Portsmouth, a north east Mecca for outlet, is a shoppers delight.

14. Kennebunkport, Maine,  45 minutes north of Portsmouth and located along the ocean and the Kennebunk River, is a delightful village settled in the 1600’s and today offering picturesque views of the Maine sea coast and unique gift shopping opportunities.  It is also the summer home of President George H.W. Bush.

15. Light house buff?  Click on www.lighthousefriends.com/port.html and select several, all within a short drive from Portsmouth.

As for travel arrangements, Manchester New Hampshire’s Manchester/Boston Regional Airport; Boston’s Logan International Airport and Portland, Maine’s International Jetport are all within an hour’s drive of Portsmouth.

 Hopefully we have wetted your appetite and we will see you this fall in beautiful New England. 

IN SUMMARY, REQUIRED ACTIONS: 

1. Let us know if you are planning to attend this year’s gathering of Rampants and the number of days you will be attending. 

2. To help us with a head count for our dinners and various events, let us know how many people will be in your party.

3. Also let us know if you will be joining us for the Portland, Maine adventure on Saturday.

4. If you are planning to attend, make sure we have your mailing address so we can forward you a guide of Portsmouth and the surrounding area and your email address so we can keep you abreast of plans as they are refined.

5. Reserve your accommodations at the Sise Inn - 877-747-3466.

6. Let us know your desires, if any, regarding group tour options.

7. Feel free to contact us with any questions or inputs.  REMEMBER, this is your reunion. 

8. Des Coffee:  603-673-3747; cell: 603-930-6293; email: 2shotlatte@comcast.net.

9. Matt Gardner: 207-846-6072; email: gardner4077@maine.rr.com.

10. Note:  There are several RV facilities in the Portsmouth/Kittery area.  If you need information or would like us to do a reconnaissance run on one or more of them, let us know. 

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*Note:  We selected the Sise Inn because neither the Navy Yard nor the old Pease Air Force base have lodging.  I believe you will thoroughly enjoy the ambiance and location of the Inn.

 Des & Matt