Kennedy Space Centre, Cape Canaveral

What a fantastic place to visit on a rainy day here in Florida.

Our Beach and pier in front of the sites

One of the many birds that are around

Was nice to pull in here to Manatee Hammock RV Resort on Monday, set up and go to the warm clean pool. Of course we met some people from Florida here, and some from Vancouver Island. Was funny talking with people here that lived on the Island before, even if it was a long time ago. We stayed in the pool till the warden came and gave us the heave ho, said there was a lightning warning, so all out. He was kinda panicked, but we all got out slowly, and made our way to our trailers, and then the rains came. Nice this rain where you get out after, and it is all dried up in minutes. Took Bosco for a walk later, and checked out our new digs, was right on the water! Just so lucky to get a spot looking at the water again. Bosco likes to go after the geckos, and would love to chase some of these too many squirrels, but I keep him on leash, and close. Will stay here 3 nights. Tonight the Voice on TV.

On

Bosco making the long walk

Looking at our RV park from the pier

Bridge opens on the way to the Cape

Geckos everywhere here

From the RV Park you see the shuttle rockets on display at the Kennedy Space Centre

Rocket assembly building from our RV park

This one you see the full length

Our RV Park is right across the water from the base, so before we even went we could see it. We saw the huge building where the assemble the rockets, as well as a rocket that would attach to the Space Shuttle. We had some recent advice from others that had been the day before, and we knew to be there early and take the bus first, as will see so much more early. We saw the Base, and the machines as we went, but the driver was so good about stopping to look at Alligators, many birds and there names. We found out that the whole cape is a protected area, so animals that live there are not being hunted, and destroyed. We even saw one big turtle, digging his home in the sand. As we rode around on the base we saw where they assemble the rockets, and how they transport them to the launch pad where they will take off. The Crawler that they use for moving the rocket is huge, and as we went by they were moving one, without a rocket on it. The driver gave us a gallon per minute figure for one of these to move, can't remember exactly but was a huge amount of fuel to get the rocket to the launch pad.

Big Gator in the ditch at the Space Centre

Once we had driven around we stopped and got out at a building that housed the Saturn-V 363 feet tall, we walked into the building and stood to watch a presentation that brought us back to when the space program started, and how it was a race to get a man in space, and the cold war was on, so Russia wasn't sharing info with others, it was a competition, and the USA wasn't doing too good. Then before they got to even getting a rocket into space, JFK announced they would put a man on the moon in the next decade. Well that meant money was going to be put toward this, and changed how many people then went to work on making this happen. 400,000 people were working on this. Wow, can't imagine the cost, didn't hear about that. The achievements and losses were presented, and history unfolded as we learned what it took to get to the time when the Apollo program had men in space, and the first man walk on the moon.

Rockets present past space programs

Rain started as we were waiting for the bus

Where they assemble the rockets

A rocket holding platform

Rocket transporter

Tracks of a transporter

Launch Pad

Launch pad and fuel cell

Antennas around the launch pad for lightning

Assembly building

Command  centre

Next room we were led to a room with many benches that were in levels like a theatre, and down below us we saw the actual instruments that were used by launch control to make this happen. Above them were 3 screens that displayed the presentation, and told the story of the launch. As we watched the astronauts get on the ship, and the countdown start, then as it got to 2 minutes the floor shook, and our seats vibrated, and we all though we were there for a moment as the rocket blasted off closer than anybody would have been, right in-front of us. All the time the control panels lit up, and the people voices were heard making checks, and times were being counted, was exactly like what it was is what we all thought. What a great way to show us how it was then. The men are shown on the moon, and the problems they had were shown, and how difficult it was, we all had a very good idea this was a huge achievement.

As we walk into the huge room

WOW!

Size matters here!

Satellite

Like a Canadian in space
 I play my Guitar 

Touch the Moon rock

Moon rover vehicle with Metal mesh tires

Next room was amazing, as we walked through this hall, and you advanced into a huge room, there was the rocket engines of the Saturn V right in front of you. WOW! This close, with something to compare the size to we all were like Wow, I was taking pictures, and Polly was looking up, saying "Brent come over here, Look at the engines, Look at all the pipes, look at how big!" We both were blown away at just how Gigantic this machine was. When we were on the bus we were told how big it was, and how big the building was, but now we were right at it, and yep Huge.
We slowly walked around, and Polly got used to it a little faster than me, I was just amazed, and read all the placards about how it was in sections and at one point I realize that as they approached the moon, that the front had to split, and turn around and join again to get the part that would go to the moon attached, and the men that would go into it. I asked a guy that seemed to have the know how to help me with this, and did I ask the right guy, he knew it all, and explained it to me, and said "Remember in the show?" I said will have to watch the show again. Was another learning for me, and for Paulette too. I can imagine what I must have looked like as my mouth hung open, and I was so astonished at the complexity, and size of the rocket.
Then as we had been walking around the rocket, we realized that on the outside of the room was all the other stuff, like the suits they wore, and the moon rocks they collected, and the vehicles they used on the moon. What a great show of what it took to get a man on the moon, and bring him back.


Polly and I stopped and went to a restaurant and had chicken strips and chips, with a drink, and during this break we met one of the tour bus drivers, a young guy who was a self proclaimed Nerd. He told us much about the place, and other facts we could only remember so much though, was nice to talk with him, and we learned about Disney from him as he had worked there for a couple years too. We watched as people thinned out as we ate our lunch, and we then finished our look around in the space suit room, and then we made our way to the shop with all the mementos. A book was bought, and we got on the bus.
Back to the beginning place where the Atlantis Space Shuttle is and we knew we had the best show already, we did spend some time here, but was not as impressive as the last.

Space Shuttle Atlantis 

Where the payload goes

Rocket engines

Payload that would be packed by the shuttle

Fuel cell and rockets that propel the Shuttle

Flags of country's that participated in the
International Space Station

Was a nice way to end the day!

Mmmmm...

Imagine flying through space in something this small!

Next we watched one of the movies they had in 3D, was about what is next for the space program, and what they are planing to achieve in the future, this gave me the idea we have to come back again and watch a launch here. 2018 the most powerful rocket made so far will take off, would love to see that. The Nerd guy told us there are free tickets you can get to a launch, you just have to talk to the right office, and they will give them to you, now I will work on that.
Here is a link to info 2018 Rocket Launch
After the show, and before we leave, Polly and I have an ice cream and sit outside and talk about how good this was. We were ready to go even if we knew we hadn't seen all of it, we saw what we thought was the best.

Was a fun, and informative day. More questions I have. Isn't life grand!

So much to see and do,

Loving it here our last few days in Florida...

These Keys are Beautiful, Wonderful, Sandy, Sunny, Colourful, & Different.

Different than anywhere we have been before. We were lucky to get a spot on the water, and close to all we would need, washrooms, and garbage are daily use, and a good place to walk around, close to the marina, and nature centre, and the old bridge to walk up and take a look around. I am still amazed at the beauty of the different colours of the water, with reefs being dark, and the lighter areas a blue like no other. Best part we just have to look out the window and there it is. We can wander around here and see more, and different beaches, but the colour is similar, the most beautiful light blues I have ever seen.

Shower's happen quick, and gone quick

Going into the water is even better, as you feel the warm water, then put on the mask, and wow, there are fish everywhere, and many different kinds. Yellow, Blue, White, Striped, Spotted, Big, Small, Flat. They are all here, and every time I go out I see another I have not seen before. This is a snorkelers dream place to look around. The pace is slow, as you don't want to miss something. Polly takes her mask for another snorkel with an air mattress as her float. Worked great again, she did have a little water get in, but sent it out the purge valve, and she enjoyed the beauty of this ocean. Saw a Barracuda with her, and many small fishes, including a Parrot fish, which there are many here.
I saw a Sting Ray, as well as many Parrot fish, and all sorts of smaller fish of all colours, but my best find, at least what interested me most was a Lobster right below our beach entry, about 10 feet out and 3 feet deep. Wow he was a big one from what I saw, as I thought should I grab him for dinner? That thought went through my mind a few times before I thought, no leave him for others to see. So the Lobster is safe for now, at least from me. Polly and I will have some lobster when we are in Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland. Sure to eat my way across these places...

Palms had coconuts here on many trees

On the old Bridge

Seven Mile Bridge

Wedding on the beach

Our camp spot

One of many beauty sunsets

Key West was fun as we went on a tour of the house that Ernest Hemingway owned and lived in with his second wife. Was very interesting, and would recommend this to anyone going to Key West. Our tour rep was so good at hitting just enough to keep you interested, and kept saying we could come back later and look more after the tour, but with the heat we chose to make our way to Happy hour, and a drink and some different food. 

Polly and Marilyn getting cooled off!

Jimmy Buffet, on the wall
in one of his restaurants

Just one of many bars on 

Loved this sign

My Motto on a bus...

Many of the homes look like this

Roosters Hens, and chicks everywhere 

Many of this kind of tree blossoming

Happy hour at the Boat House was good, but was so humid and hot that took an hour to get cooled down. We went to the dock to watch the sunset, but waited for an hour, had a coconut drink, and as it would be another hour before sunset, we opted for the beat the traffic and made our way home early. We did see the sun go down in the rear view mirror, and was a beauty.  

Driving the road here was an interesting experience, as you are not going to pass, just have to be patient. I had another taste of that last night on the way back from Key West. I am not a patient man when driving behind a slower driver, I did not pass till was safe, but low and behold another slow driver appears just as you think you have it made. This place is teaching me some patience. Key West was great, and will return sometime. 

It has taken me many days to complete this, not sure why, energy was low, and heat is high. Learning that I have to adapt to the heat and humidity. 

Our Neighbours Rod and Bev on one side, and Mitch Rod's brother on the other side of us have been wonderful, and getting to know them has been fun. They had many stories to share, and were a wealth of information about the keys, and many other places we have yet to see. They come here every year and spend a few weeks, and invite all there friends to join them. We met one couple the day before we left, Colleen and ? and they we good fun, We had a day where the paddle board was the bar in the water, and we met the other neighbours on the other side of Bev and Rod. Was a pool day. 

What to say about the Florida Keys, You have to go there, and we will be back, so much to see.

Homestead next, do some laundry, and shop a little, stay a couple nights, didn't do much, I had low energy, not sure why, just not at my best.

We made our way close to Cape Canaveral. Missed the last launch, but will have a look at what this place has done, and will continue to do. The launch we missed yesterday was a private company working for the government launching a reconnaissance satellite. I learned that it was 2 part, and the first stage launched and then landed again, to be reused in the future. This is new when launching to space. More today, as will go there and take the tour.

The pool was nice when we pulled in here at Manatee Hammock RV resort, was nice to spend an hour soaking and meeting more fun people from Florida. People are so friendly here, and we learn that many don't travel far, they like there state, and spend time here. Was nice in the pool till the camp manager says lightning predicted here, got to ask you to leave till the treat is past. NP we all say, better than being hit with it. 

Couldn't stand it, made a sign for our Island

Loving life here in Florida...