I spent a few years as a reporter on Capitol Hill for Congressional Quarterly, and I remember well the maze of corridors that coursed beneath the main floors of the Capitol that tourists see. Capitol Hill has nothing on the Navy in that regard. If I were on the USS Kearsarge for a month, I’m not sure I’d ever figure out where I was going. That I’ll be gone after just three nights and two days means I have no chance of orienting myself. We bloggers onboard have learned a few of helpful tips, though. The first is that every room has a “bull’s-eye,” a rectangular sign outside it that signifies what level the room is on and where it is located in relation to the four sides of the ship. A lot of the information on the bull’s-eye signs is useless to newcomers, but the basics can be a big help. I also learned that the corridor on the port side of the ship, at least on the second level where we’re staying, is a straight shot. It’s best to avoid the maze on the other side if you want to get somewhere without getting lost and backtracking. And about halfway back the ship on the port side, there is one airtight portal, known as a p-way, that stands out from all of the others in that hallway. Most p-way openings rise to the shin; the one I'm talking about is called a “knee knocker” because it rises twice as high -- and yes, I knocked my knee on it once or twice when entering. The knee knocker also happens to lead down the hallway that houses the ship’s public affairs office, so it’s a perfect landmark for lost bloggers trying to find their way.
