Day 5, August 2, 2017 - Chadron, NE to Wall, SD
Day 5 - Wednesday August 2, Chadron, NE to Wall, SD
Distance: 331km, Time: 8:00hrs,
Cloudy, Partly sunny and Showers and Sunny, Warm 27c to 16c
Overnight: Best Western Plains, 712 Glenn st., Wall, SD
This was a short day of about 300km, but there several cloud burst which made for some interesting riding. It also made for putting rain gear twice, finely just got wet as it was not worth stopping plus there was no cover. But fresh rain on grass has a very unique scent. - there were 3 wardrobe changes today.
The owner of the Westerner had some road/route advice, which i did not follow or I would have been on a gravel road, I stuck to my original GPS route and came North on Long Valley and then West to Interior, SD, putting me in the middle of Badlands NP.
Visited about 15% of the Badlands National Park, very busy, but will be back on Thursday to complete the loop, but starting out at 8am.
Today's highlight was visiting a control/launch complex for a Minuteman Nuclear Missile Sites (there are three), which is now a National Historic Monument to the "cold war".
I toured the underground control and command centre known as D-1 or Quinn Cottonwood. The tour will be lead by retired US Air Force Colonel, Brad Riza, who is also the Astronomer for Badlands National Park. One thing he knew the operations of the underground facility including the two man two keys to launch sequence, this site may be deactivated, but it has been preserved as if it was fully operational, ie. the elevator that takes you deep underground works as does all the equpment, except it is not conncted to any active (live missiles) in fact all the Delta Section Missiles are no longer operational, part of the SALT treaties, etc..
Photos of the Delta 01 Control
Underground in the Control Bunker
Underground in the Control Bunker
Topside at the Delta 01 Control
Underground in the Control Bunker - Blast Door (5 tons) with some very interesting art work on the door, and the message is true the US can hit a target in 30minutes.
The photo that everyone wants to see. This is one of the TWO launch key switches, each Air Force Officer has control over one key and is separated by over 20ft of space, so it takes two persons to launch a missile - right - well no. It requires another control centre like C-1 or E-1 to turn there keys, and it is more complex, as there is an elaborate plan on staffing so no one knows who their underground team mate is going to be until they ride out to the site - more complex then I have time to write about here.
Distance: 331km, Time: 8:00hrs,
Cloudy, Partly sunny and Showers and Sunny, Warm 27c to 16c
Overnight: Best Western Plains, 712 Glenn st., Wall, SD
The owner of the Westerner had some road/route advice, which i did not follow or I would have been on a gravel road, I stuck to my original GPS route and came North on Long Valley and then West to Interior, SD, putting me in the middle of Badlands NP.
Visited about 15% of the Badlands National Park, very busy, but will be back on Thursday to complete the loop, but starting out at 8am.
Today's highlight was visiting a control/launch complex for a Minuteman Nuclear Missile Sites (there are three), which is now a National Historic Monument to the "cold war".
I toured the underground control and command centre known as D-1 or Quinn Cottonwood. The tour will be lead by retired US Air Force Colonel, Brad Riza, who is also the Astronomer for Badlands National Park. One thing he knew the operations of the underground facility including the two man two keys to launch sequence, this site may be deactivated, but it has been preserved as if it was fully operational, ie. the elevator that takes you deep underground works as does all the equpment, except it is not conncted to any active (live missiles) in fact all the Delta Section Missiles are no longer operational, part of the SALT treaties, etc..
Photos of the Delta 01 Control
Underground in the Control Bunker
Underground in the Control Bunker
Topside at the Delta 01 Control
Underground in the Control Bunker - Blast Door (5 tons) with some very interesting art work on the door, and the message is true the US can hit a target in 30minutes.
The photo that everyone wants to see. This is one of the TWO launch key switches, each Air Force Officer has control over one key and is separated by over 20ft of space, so it takes two persons to launch a missile - right - well no. It requires another control centre like C-1 or E-1 to turn there keys, and it is more complex, as there is an elaborate plan on staffing so no one knows who their underground team mate is going to be until they ride out to the site - more complex then I have time to write about here.
Comments
Post a Comment