Pax River Geo-Bach

[BigIron]

Gents, any knowledges on the Pax River Geo-batch situation? It's looking like I'm heading up for some class desk action, and plan on commuting home to Va Beach on the weekends. This probably isn't going down until next year, but I'm doing some research now.

Anyone know if this is common occurrence, or what the geo-bachelor situation (housing, drive, etc) is?

Thanks
BI

 

[PRICE311USN]

BI,
I am not a geo bach but i do live on base housing. i will ask around at work (vx20) and see what i can find out for you over the next week. from what i know, there are no O BOQ's on base, just the "BOQ" Visitors Quarters. Nice rooms, typical 2 room setup with a small kitchen in them...i have stayed there a couple times when our hooch was closed for building maint and we still were on pax for alert. the base housing is brand new from lincoln housing, but of course you would qual for that if you were a geo. anyways, good luck on the pma job, and ill get back to you.

CP

 

[SteveG75]

As a Va Beach guy who just retired and is hoping to get picked up for a job at Pax, I can tell you that the drive is right about 4 hours. 198 miles from my house (by Wesleyan) to Pax.

As for the geo-bach, there a plenty of small apartments around Pax. A couple of non-traditional solutions:

1) Get a camper and get into the Navy RV park at Solomons. Downside is the Solomons bridge traffic during the commute.
2) Buy a sailboat and live onboard at the base marina. I had a buddy who did that in reverse. Left family at Pax and commuted to Little Creek for the week. Bought a 25' boat to live on and sold it when he left. Downside to that is that the marina at Pax is currently getting new docks so not sure what they have for space. But the marina is on base so traffic is not an issue.

 

[BigIron]

Gentlemen, I appreciate the inputs.

 

[Pags]

The drive is a consistent 3.5 to Norfolk, so probably 4 to VaBeach. Mostly back roads with very little traffic once you cross the York River.

Know of a few folks who have gone the trailer route at Solomons.

After last year's winter, I'd avoid the sailboat. It was cold here. Real cold. A guy I went to school with was living out of a boat in Quantico. During the depths of Snowpacalypse/Winter, it was pretty chilly inside the hull, even with a space heater going.

I'd think you could get a decent apartment for a reasonable price. That way the family could still come and crash with you if they decided to (over the summers?). Might give you some more options then a trailer.

 

[HeyJoe]

BI,
I am not a geo bach but i do live on base housing. i will ask around at work (vx20) and see what i can find out for you over the next week. from what i know, there are no O BOQ's on base, just the "BOQ" Visitors Quarters. Nice rooms, typical 2 room setup with a small kitchen in them...i have stayed there a couple times when our hooch was closed for building maint and we still were on pax for alert. the base housing is brand new from lincoln housing, but of course you would qual for that if you were a geo. anyways, good luck on the pma job, and ill get back to you.

CP

Minor point: it's a CBQ as in "Combined" so depending on availability, you can end up in pretty decent 2 room suite in main building w/kitchenette, across the street in a one room cram-it-all-in-here decor and no kitchen or down the road in painted cinder block average to below average room that was a barracks.

 

[HeyJoe]

The drive is a consistent 3.5 to Norfolk, so probably 4 to VaBeach. Mostly back roads with very little traffic once you cross the York River.

There are two main options:

1. 64 to 295 (around Richmond) to 95 north, take exit 104 (at Petro Sign), merge onto 301, right on 234, take 246 shortcut to 235 and sail into Pax. This route adds 15 miles, but you take advantage of 65 mph speed limit for 125 miles and avoid all the stoplights on route 17. If you add 9 mph to speed limit, this route can be run in 3.1-3.2 hours from Little Neck. If you like Starbucks or variety of view, see below (most of this trip is endless views of pine trees ad nauseum).

2. 64 to 17 to 301 (at Port Royal) and same route thereon as above. Route is shorter, but you have to transverse many lights between 64 and Tappahannock so this route can easily go from 3.5 to 4 hours depending on how the traffic light gods favor you.

I use both routes and mix them up typically using first one on the way up and relaxing on second one upon return.

Note: biggest hassle can be backups at Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel so make every attempt to avoid the peak traffic there as it can add 30-45 minutes to your trip and a disabled auto in tunnel can really turn into a major delay (spoken from experience). Only traffic in and around Pax is 10K+ people trying to escape the base at COB and play NASCAR on 235. Leave early or late and avoid Gate 1 if possible (Gate 3 and direct to 234 is gouge but it closes at 1800)

 

[Pags]

Note: biggest hassle can be backups at Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel so make every attempt to avoid the peak traffic there as it can add 30-45 minutes to your trip and a disabled auto in tunnel can really turn into a major delay (spoken from experience). Only traffic in and around Pax is 10K+ people trying to escape the base at COB and play NASCAR on 235. Leave early or late and avoid Gate 1 if possible (Gate 3 and direct to 234 is gouge but it closes at 1800)

Only time I ever had the trip take longer than 3.5hrs was when the HRBT was backed up 7mi, but the HRBT non-sense should be nothing new to tidewater folks. I've heard of some folks having better luck with the MMMBT, but I think it depends a lot on where you live in Norfolk/VaBeach.

I've never taken the 64/95 route. Maybe I'll give it a whirl next time. I enjoy the 17/301 route because there's never any traffic, just some lights and there's an ample supply of WaWas to stop at.

 

[Swanee]

There are two main options:

1. 64 to 295 (around Richmond) to 95 north, take exit 104 (at Petro Sign), merge onto 301, right on 234, take 246 shortcut to 235 and sail into Pax. This route adds 15 miles, but you take advantage of 65 mph speed limit for 125 miles and avoid all the stoplights on route 17. If you add 9 mph to speed limit, this route can be run in 3.1-3.2 hours from Little Neck. If you like Starbucks or variety of view, see below (most of this trip is endless views of pine trees ad nauseum).

2. 64 to 17 to 301 (at Port Royal) and same route thereon as above. Route is shorter, but you have to transverse many lights between 64 and Tappahannock so this route can easily go from 3.5 to 4 hours depending on how the traffic light gods favor you.

I use both routes and mix them up typically using first one on the way up and relaxing on second one upon return.

Note: biggest hassle can be backups at Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel so make every attempt to avoid the peak traffic there as it can add 30-45 minutes to your trip and a disabled auto in tunnel can really turn into a major delay (spoken from experience). Only traffic in and around Pax is 10K+ people trying to escape the base at COB and play NASCAR on 235. Leave early or late and avoid Gate 1 if possible (Gate 3 and direct to 234 is gouge but it closes at 1800)

This was my default route when heading North when I lived in Yorktown. It's a great drive. Sometimes I took 64 to 95, usually when the weather wasn't great.

 

[BigIron]

Thanks, Guys.

I'm heading up there somtime this fall to check things out. I appreciate all of the input.

 

[The Chief]

I'm heading up there somtime this fall to check things out. ,,,

KIT, Margaritas' on me, Cheeseburger Paradise, Hollywood, best in town.