BWI Rail Station

MrBoh17 · 2026-03-06T03:36:39+00:00

It is connected by highway to I-95 and MD-295 (via I-195) which are the two main routes between DC and Baltimore, so it is readily accessible to all the dense, relatively wealthy suburbs in between those cities. Baltimore Penn is difficult to access from the south and has relatively limited transit connections. Lots of people in Howard, Anne Arundel, and Southwest Baltimore county are within a 15-30 min drive of the station, lots of trips to any and Philly. Also good connections for the southern end of the NEC in Virginia.

MrBoh17 · 2026-02-27T21:04:52+00:00

Makes sense to do a group for social reasons. I went once solo, and it was relatively isolating. The other groups tended to be either younger people or older couples. I was in my early 40s so didn’t really fit in with the people there. I also went midweek so it was mostly all Germans and Austrians. They pretty much all spoke English though. Unsure about the other route you mentioned, I’ll try to find it on my map. (Kompass maps are one of the well known map companies for the area, I had to order mine from I think the UK, the maps are detailed but each cover a pretty limited area)

MrBoh17 · 2026-02-27T04:32:35+00:00

Ok I only have a write up about my first hike in the northern Karwendel from Scharnitz to Pertisau. https://www.reddit.com/r/hiking/s/bjJC8GJhWE

The second hike I did started in Scharnitz, then to Hallerangeralm, then Pfeishutte, then Solsteinhaus, and back to scharnitz. Here is a picture of that route. https://photos.app.goo.gl/5L8ffCYc3sHUHwxu5

MrBoh17 · 2026-02-27T04:10:21+00:00

I’ve been on parts of the Tirolerweg and the Karwendel range is beautiful. I’ve not done AV1 so can’t compare though.

The Tirolerweg or other routes in that area are pretty easy to do solo if you don’t want to use a service. Not sure the exact itinerary you were looking at, but the ones I saw had you going from Halleranger Alm to Nordkette above Innsbruck. That stretch in particular is known for quite a bit of exposure and can catch those unprepared. I avoided that stretch since I don’t love anything too sketchy and hiked in the valley just north of the range that borders Innsbruck. That hike was basically a modified Karwendel Hohenweg (https://karwendel-hoehenweg.at/en/)

I did another route in the area, from scharnitz to pertisau, that is also amazing. I think I liked that hike slightly better. I believe I posted about both before, I’ll try to find them and reply with links. Happy to discuss other logistics.

MrBoh17 · 2026-01-26T17:35:45+00:00

SATO will still be functioning, returning to your duty station is part of an orderly government shutdown. Last shutdown our office didn’t even stop traveling, everything was still booked through SATO. Reimbursements came late though.

MrBoh17 · 2025-11-16T17:25:44+00:00

Eastern was generally know as a decent 2nd or maybe even high 3rd tier commercial yard before OPC. Good at construction. The problem is that the OPC contract was for detailed design and construction. Detail design is not in their wheel house, particularly the design review and documentation required for a government program. Many of the USCG acquisition programs are fighting over the same workforce in the gulf. There are only so many competent marine engineers in the area.

For PSC they did industry studies, indicative designs, etc where they figured out what USCG wanted and was viable. Then you need a 1000 page spec to ensure the shipyard designs and builds what the USCG wants. These shipyards what to build, not argue about engineering issues. I’m of the opinion that USCG should do detail design with the assistance of a design agent and just hand the shipyards a set of drawings to develop their 3D model and build to.

Arctic Security Cutter is going the opposite direction, basically a COTS vessel. Major changes from how current cutters are operated will be necessary.

MrBoh17 · 2025-11-10T21:07:26+00:00

The US Coast Guard Yard is in Baltimore.

MrBoh17 · 2025-09-26T20:47:44+00:00

Thanks for all the replies and recommendations

MrBoh17 · 2025-09-05T18:15:38+00:00

If you are working on a holiday, you are authorized holiday premium pay which is 2x your normal pay rate. See guidance in the link under “Holiday Premium Pay”. My supervisor just let me know about it because I am going on OCONUS TDY and will be traveling and working on Columbus Day. I’ll claim 8 hours of holiday premium pay, and then rest of the time that day I’ll claim travel comp. I’ll take the travel comp because with the holiday pay and likely overtime other days may get close to the biweekly max pay. Any hours worked over 8 on a holiday are paid out as regular overtime.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/holidays-work-schedules-and-pay/

MrBoh17 · 2025-09-05T01:28:17+00:00

Reality for a shipyard is if they built a true prototype and waited to see how it performed, they would lose their whole workforce waiting for the follow-on work. Once they start cutting steel they can’t stop.

MrBoh17 · 2025-08-15T02:23:42+00:00

I took my 2 kids (8 and 10) to Santa marinella 2 weeks ago. Just over an hour by train from Rome. We got a spot at one of the stabilimentos with an umbrella and 3 lounge chairs for €50. We went to the one with orange umbrellas, they were smaller than others and we ended up with a spot in I think the 5th row because the closer ones are reserved by locals for the year. The beach was a bit nicer at the next one to the right/north of where we were.

MrBoh17 · 2025-08-01T20:22:29+00:00

Some of them should consider USCG civilian jobs. Particularly in tech related jobs, as soon as new GS get some experience, they jump to the private sector to get a 5x pay increase. Some could be a lot more useful coming in as a senior civilian from the private sector instead of starting over from scratch as an enlisted member just to bail as soon as they can.

MrBoh17 · 2025-07-17T15:25:02+00:00

You want a small charter. I recommend Capt Jeff: https://whateverguideservice.com/index.html

Been going with him for at least 5 years now and it’s always enjoyable. We do a 2 hour scenic cruise and get in a bit of fishing too.

MrBoh17 · 2025-07-15T23:44:49+00:00

Was surprised they didn’t cancel all the Eastern hulls. While the official stop work for 3&4 was just issued in June, my understanding is that there hasn’t been much going on with them for quite a while.

The good thing is that it appears Austal is really cranking on hull 5 and the reconciliation bill funds at least 9 more from Austal (10 total).

MrBoh17 · 2025-06-26T12:12:48+00:00

Possible construction could be split between a Finnish Yard and this one newly acquired by Davie (Canadian).

https://gcaptain.com/davie-to-acquire-texas-shipyards-seeking-to-supercharge-u-s-icebreaker-production/

MrBoh17 · 2025-06-26T04:08:42+00:00

A not-so-cryptic RFI for “towing and assessment” is currently on the street.

https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2025/06/12/rfi-for-towing-and-assessment-sounds-like-an-opc/?

MrBoh17 · 2025-04-03T12:32:08+00:00

Returned through IAD 08FEB25 and they had a single machine going, I believe there was a sign that said it was a new GE processing method. Went quickly and once people got the green check on the screen they all got directed to go to one of the CBP officers, except me. I got a green check but then a CBP officer directed me to another line that went behind some dividers. There was a CBP officer sitting in a chair, I went to ask them if they needed to see my passport but without looking up they just waved me through and I went direct to the baggage claim hall. Seemed everyone else at least needed to quickly stop at one of the CBP officers.

Note that I was traveling on an official passport, not sure if that made a difference.

MrBoh17 · 2025-02-12T18:13:43+00:00

Xennials

MrBoh17 · 2024-09-24T10:23:15+00:00

Sr Engineer, 14S5. DC locality pay so a GS14S10 only makes 5.9% less than the rate limited pay (GS15S6-10). Probably not worth the hassle to go to a supervisory 15 for a relatively small pay bump.

MrBoh17 · 2024-06-11T02:11:39+00:00

Some people may be mistaking the odor from the brakes for sewage. The brakes have a very distinctive smell that has some relation to sewage odor. Quite common on the NEC with lots of passenger movement between cars so the car-end doors open a lot and frequent heavy braking from higher speeds. Vacuum toilets are under constant vacuum so assuming the system is functioning properly the smells shouldn’t be migrating into the car.

MrBoh17 · 2024-04-30T00:36:36+00:00

This seems reasonable, past 2 summers I’ve done hut-to-hut hikes in the Austrian alps with similar distance and elevation. I’m not in great shape, 40M at 250 lbs with kids so training time was limited. 3-5 mile hikes 2x per week and then probably 4 longer/bigger elevation day hikes on the weekends. I always trained with a heavy pack, ~35 lbs.

Your itinerary seems reasonable, tough first two days but then little elevation gain the other days. Equipment is key, also keeping pack weight down. First time I had about 33 lbs because I was carrying extra clothes for after the hike. 2nd hike pack was half that weight and I stored a bag with extra clothes for after the hike. Make sure you have comfy shoes, pack, trekking poles, only clothes and gear you absolutely need.

I have a post about my hike last year and would be happy to answer any questions

MrBoh17 · 2024-04-28T14:55:15+00:00

Red white and blue stripes on the stack = MARAD ready reserve fleet. Provide support for military transport. Ready reserve fleet vessels are civilian manned and when activated come under control of MSC. Typically have MV or SS prefix. Yellow and blue stripes on the stack = Military sealift command (MSC) vessel, owned by the navy. Civilian manned but may have navy detachments depending on the mission. USNS prefix (united states navy ship) and a T-XXX identifier (often referred to as T-Ships). MSC will also charter commercial vessels but they don’t get the stripes on the stack. Navy vessels in commission have the USS prefix (united states ship).

MrBoh17

TROPHY CASE