Nasa, Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral

Whew, we just spent 16 days in Titusville, Florida.  Titusville has tons of things to do if your a nature lover and a space geek.  We had not originally planned on spending so long there, but one of the two satellite launches was delayed until 1-30-15 so we had to spend more time so we could watch the launch.

Tickets to Kennedy Space Center are $50.00 per day with $10.00 parking.  Or you can purchase an annual pass for $89.00 which provides free parking, 20% off food and 10% off merchandise.  We purchased one annual pass and one multi day pass for $75.00.  We used the heck out those passes as we went just about every day.  We saw every item on display, went on several of the tours, and enjoyed those imax movies about the International Space Station and Hubble.  It is hard to wrap your head what we did in the 50s and 60's to get us on the moon.  

After the Shuttle program ended, the surrounding towns took a hit and it is very evident in Titusville.  There are lots of abandoned buildings, for sale and for lease signs are everywhere.  The town went through something similar at the end of the Apollo program.  There is a light coming however as NASA teams up with civilian contractors to once again get us into space.  There really are plans in place to get us back to the Moon, Mars and even landing on an asteroid to see if we can give it a push out of the way.  Amazing stuff.  I can't wait to watch the new Space Launch System blast off with test capsules.  The word is they will be 2.5 times the thrust of the Shuttle which was over 6 million pounds of thrust to get it into space.  Wow!

A model of the SLS

The proposed Orion capsule that will take us to Mars

We learned all about the Shuttle program from 4 very experienced docents whom all worked on the shuttles.  The most fascinating for me was the use of thermal blankets hand sewn onto the shuttle in place of 7,000 tiles.  Yes, just like a quilt.  These blankets are about 1 to 2 inches thick with silica based 'batting' in between quilted layers of thermal fabric.  There are huge round rings of these blankets hand sewn onto the base of the engines for noise suppression.  I was amazed and never imaged fabric could fly into space.  The wings are made of a fuzzy felt.  Yes, felt.  I know it's a little funny, that all I can really remember in detail about the shuttle was not the amazing power at liftoff and the fact that it goes 17,500 miles per hour and links up to the ISS which is also going 17,500 miles per hour, but that seamstresses worked on this incredible ship.

The Shuttle Atlantis with it's bay doors open

The NASA meatball on the fuzzy wing

The robotic arm that does a lot of the work

This is what replaced 7,000 tiles.  The round pieces go around the thrusters

While we were there, they had astronauts come each day and talk about their missions.  We were lucky enough to hear Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden talk about his mission.  Afterwards he signed his book, "Falling to Earth".  It was a well written. good read about his mission, how he got there, and the aftereffects of a first day cover scandal that changed his life.  We asked if he would record a little shout out to our daughters classroom and he was happy to oblige.  We were also able to have shuttle astronauts Wendy Lawrence and Barbara Morgan (the first teacher in space) to do one also.

Apollo 15 crew

Al Worden

Barbara Morgan

Wendy Lawrence

The docents that worked on the shuttle each did a video for the students detailing what they did on the shuttle.  A big thank you to Jean, Gloria, Brad and Terry for getting these fifth graders excited about going to space!

Terry and Brad doing his live podcast

One of the highlights of our time there was the Atlas rocket launch on January 20, 2015 which we watched from the Saturn V bleachers across the Banana River.  It was way too cool!  The winds kept changing so the launch was delayed for 5 minutes at a time for over 30 minutes.  The anticipation was building and when the go commands were given and the countdown started at 10, it was so cool to be there.  Afterwards, our driver let us know that this little rocket was like a bottle rocket compared to the shuttle.  The launches of the SLS will be 2.5x bigger, so you know I am making the trip across country again just for that!

We have liftoff!

We took the Then and Now tour that takes you over to Cape Canaveral Air Station where the original Mercury/Gemini/Apollo launches were done.  The incredible part was Launch Pad 5 where Alan Shepard sat atop a redstone rocket for hours then bam! into the earth's atmosphere then back down into the ocean.  This whole flight lasted 15 minutes.  We also stopped at the Lighthouse, the pads where John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra and Gordon Cooper launched from for their trips around the Earth.  Launch Pad 34 was closed as it was the anniversary of the loss of Apollo 1.  Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White lost their lives as a fire ignited inside the capsule and the hatch would not open during preflight testing.  The families were there and NASA was doing a memorial ceremony.

The control room for Alan Shepard

The capsule and rocket on the launchpad from the control room

A monument to the Mercury 7

Launch Pad 34

We just missed the memorial service for Challenger, Columbia and Apollo 1 on the 28th of January.  The flag was at half mast and wreaths were placed at the Mirror Memorial at KSC.  I think the Challenger event is one where we all remember where we were when we saw it occur.  I was at work conducting training and we watched the coverage.  It was our 1 month anniversary.  Very sad.  We did do a brief stop on our Cape tour near the underground silo where the Challenger parts were placed.  The Columbia loss was the beginning of the end of the Shuttle program as it brought to light the fragile nature of space flight.  We had begun to think that these cargo ships were ordinary, when nothing is farther from the truth.  By 2011 the program was finished and we now get our supplies and astronauts to the ISS by the Russians.  Just my opinion, but not the best plan as political agendas change.

The monument

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is owned by NASA and is a 35 mile long barrier island that protects over 500 species of wildlife and 1000 species of plants.  Your America the Beautiful Pass works here otherwise it is $5.00 for the days pass.  Here they have a Visitors Center with educational programs covering Florida's wildlife and birds.  We attended programs on the Florida Panther and Alligator.  We took several drives along the wetlands and did a couple of trails.  The Canaveral National Seashore is easily accessed and there are several parking lots.  At the end of the beach road there is Weather Station 45, which was featured in the HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon".  Also at the end of the road, we have heard there is a clothing optional beach, but we did not venture over the dunes to verify.

I love Pelicans

The Canaveral Seashore

weather station 45

An armadillo looks for yums

The view out our windshield at Willow Lakes RV resort

A flock of Pelicans

These are endangered Wood Storks

Five lazy alligators lounging in the sunshine

A Roseate Spoonbill

Eric's cousin John and his wife Kim came over for a Sunday afternoon and we went to Playalinda Brewing in old Titusville.  We tried their crafts brews and each had flights of six different brews.  They were all very good!  They don't serve food, but have a binder of take out menus from nearby restaurants that deliver.  What a great idea.  We had yummy pizza and beer and had a great time visiting.

Our time in Florida has come to a close and we are starting our westward trek to our summer spot in Oregon.  We have a long way to go and several stops along the way before we get there.  Our travels are not yet complete and I keep finding places to go on our next trip around this great country.  Some places I can't wait to visit again and some were just perfect the first time.  We are staying in the Gulf area until after Mardi Gras.  Eric is visiting with the officers he worked with during Katrina's aftermath.  As we drive down 90 and Beach Blvd, we are amazed at what has been razed and other buildings that have been rebuilt bigger.  It is good for me to compare his photos from 2005 and see what the area is like today.   I can't wait to see the area and hear about all the changes brought about by Katrina.



 

   

Tampa, Florida-Lazy Days in sunshine!

We settled into Seffner outside of Tampa for the next three weeks through the holidays.  I had a little traveling to do and we just wanted to let the holidays pass by.  Lazy Days was an ok place to hang out for awhile.  The campground offers daily free breakfast and lunches at the dealership's cafe.  We wandered through every coach they had.  We never talked to a salesperson so that was nice.  The time flew by quickly for us as we seemed to find something to do every day.  We took every class they had regarding Class A's.  I even took the driving course and decided that driving the Beast isn't as terrifying as I thought.  They have you drive around in the campground which is nuts with kids, dog walkers and other coaches.  I went last and was glad when it was over.
  

Love the Florida birds

I came back from Ashley's and the Beast was all decorated

Apollo Beach is home to Big Bend power plant with a really nice manatee viewing area.  It is free and there are hundreds of manatee enjoying the warm water that comes out from the power plant.  We spent a few days there just enjoying the manatee resting.  Occasionally you'll see a ray fly out of the water and we even saw a couple of little sharks in the water.  On our next trip, I think we'll return to Crystal River.  We went there 17 years ago to snorkel with these mermaids and I would love to do it again.

This guy had a monitor on him that tracks his movements

The monitor that floats along 

Part of our trip was to visit with Eric's family in the area.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner with Eric's Aunt Jackie and Uncle Jimmy at their home and the next day we took a little drive into Mt. Dora, a cute little town.  We had a nice lunch at the Chef's Pantry and I splurged on some wonderful Olive Oils and Vinegars Mt. Dora Olive Oil Company.  Now I need to find some recipes for all I bought!

Eric and his Uncle Jimmy on the Husbands Bench

We experienced a "porch party" at John's and I got to meet Bob and Beth, and John and Kim and their  daughters.  The oldest is getting married soon so the family is excited for that.  We had a great time and what a wonderful afternoon we had.  Eric's cousins all around have been a lot of fun to be around.

One of Eric's high school buddies lives in the Tampa area and we had fun with him and his family.  Eric went to a Tampa Bay Buccaneer's game with them.  I stayed at the coach and caught up on reading & cleaning.  He said it was a nice stadium with a nice crowd.  We went to dinner with them a couple times and even visited another brewery in Dunedin.  It was a great meal with great beer and good company!

  

We spent a few days at our Newport neighbors place and learned a new card game called Five Crowns.  We were terrible at it and Pat really got us one night.  We vowed revenge and we aim to practice playing so we can be the card sharks Pat and Dick are by the time we meet again in the summer.  We had so much good food while there!  For the Oregon/Ohio game we had a low-country dinner-I made shrimp and grits, Pat made greens and peas.  Both turned out yummy!  We went Ybor City for lunch one afternoon and shared a pitcher of white sangria at Columbia.  Oh my, that was delicious!  I bought their little cookbook just for that recipe.  The Columbia has been in that location for 110 years.  It is huge and can seat 1,700 in fifteen rooms and takes up an entire city block.  Another great place we ate at was Brocato's.  We had deviled crabs, piccadillo empanada's and cuban sandwiches.  I must get the recipe for the Cuban piccadillo.  I have been craving it since Dawn made it down in Blue Water Key!  Dawn, if your out there-email me your recipe.  It was wonderful!

We did a field trip to Fort Desoto and stopped at Billy's for margarita's

Eric and Dick at Billy's

If you see this sign, stop in for the white sangria

Sandhill Cranes at Pat & Dick's place

The Beast all tucked in amongst the trees

We enjoyed the Tampa RV super show with my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Steve.  We wandered through the Prevost busses, the new Foretravels, and the Newell.  I liked bits and parts of all of them, but I like ours the best!  Good thing too as I don't have $1Million to spend right now, haha!  

It sure was fun seeing Nancy & Steve.  Hopefully it won't be twenty years till we see them again!

A raspberry from Bandit!  He is one of the cutest little guys!

After the RV show it was off the Space Coast for a couple launches, wildlife sanctuaries, and hanging out in Florida in the winter.  We are in an over 55 park and close to Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island.  Beautiful spot for some R&R!  

Canaveral Seashore

Taken from our windshield.  Gidget and Mowgli love watching the birds!

A New Year and time to reflect

2014 has been tucked away into the history books.  It was a good year for us with so many different thought processes going that even I got confused at times with our agenda.

We started off the year thinking we wanted a bigger, newer coach.  We searched the various manufacturers and settled on a Tiffin 45 LP Allegro Bus.  We made several trips to Eugene and Portland to do the actually looking.  Further research into various blogs, forums and following our gut instincts the decision was made: No new coach for us!  I love our Beast and it seems to be a good ole girl.  Do I wish we had the new waazoo coaches with all the fancy stuff?  Of course, but as it turns out, that was the best decision we have made in a long time.  

That brought about a different agenda for us.  Since we have a great coach with a good extended warranty, why not take some of the money that we would have used for a new coach and hit the road like we intended to do in the beginning?  Duh!  We fixed up the Beast with comfortable functional new furniture, installed a residential fridge, installed the Bus Kote on the roof and began to map out the rest of the year.

We have had so much fun on this journey.  There were some down times, some funny things and of course the usual Gremlins knocking about.  We have done most things on a whim and those are the best!  Eric's favorite so far is Parris Island where he went to boot camp.  Mine so far has been visiting with my family that I haven't seen in forever.  Spending time with them made the years disappear, like it hadn't been over twenty years since I had seen them.

This country is indeed beautiful with so many wonderful things to see.  We are on the back end of the trip even though we are traveling in Florida for another month.  Our plans going back to Oregon are fairly open with the only time sensitive events being Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  After Fat Tuesday we will continue westward and I hope to spend time with my daughter.  We will be back at our little piece of paradise in April and spend the rest of the year there.  We are making plans already for 2016 and will see if they come to be.

Have a safe and happy 2015!