Space Coast of Florida
Ya ready to RUMBLE?!! Constant trains carrying ground-rumbling freight made this a moving experience.
Across a divided highway was a nice dock where campers can sit and/or fish.
The sunrise from the dock was a pretty nice sight.  Thanks to Susan for getting up early!
We visited the beautiful Blue Spring State Park after installing a satellite system.
The waters near the spring were inhabited by some of the largest fish we have seen.
This area is also known for having many manatees in residence.  About 30 on the day we were here.
A study in patience.
We visited the little town of Stuart to see John White.  We've known his parents for a long time.
He owns and operates a neat little eatery and bar in the popular downtown area.
Here is John with one of his staff.
Ashlyn is teaching John and his wife Adrienne about the joys of parenthood.
Can you believe that Ashlyn slept through most of our visit?!  The nerve!
We finally got a chance to go kayaking while in Florida.
Looks like it will be a nice day for it.
Our guide took us through a number of very narrow channels through the mangroves.
Joining us were new friends (from Key West), Ralph and Jeanne.
Our guide explains how pollution is degrading the Indian River area.
Ah there we are.  Bill somehow managed to not tangle us up in the mangroves.
We visited a beach near Melbourne just north of where we were camped.
Ahhh, the exciting sport of surf fishing.  Wonder what would happen if we yelled "Fish On!!"
This is the ticket area to the Kennedy Space Center.
Security was much like that at airports.  Didn't have to take off our shoes at least.
Oh look a real spaceman!  Must be an RVer with time on their hands.
Inside the visitor area you are greeted by all things spacelike.
A memorial to the men and women who risked everything to go into space.
Captain Jon McBride was the pilot of the Challenger on its flight in Oct. 1984.
NASA has a nice facility and is developing a new area to help visitors "feel" the space flight experience.
A model of the shuttle.
This real size mockup of a shuttle gave us a glimpse into what it looks like on the inside.
Most of the shuttle is taken up by its cargo bay.
The crew 5-7 all live in this very small space.  Privacy is not an option...if you know what I mean.
We joined quite a few folks at Jetty Park to witness a satellite launch.
We were near a cruise ship terminal and enjoyed watching them pass by.  You go Goofy!
This is a picture of the Delta II rocket that we saw launched.
It was putting Themis into space.  Themis consists of 5 satellites, the most launched at one time.
We were excited about the launch so you get to see lots of pictures of it.
WE HAVE IGNITION!
There it is!
Up, Up and Away.
Neat picture.
Farther and farther it goes...
To space and BEYOND!! (credit to Buzz Lightyear of Toy Story fame).
The shuttle is raised to the vertical position in this rather large building.
A mockup of the control center in Houston.
A large, slow moving tractor moves the shuttle and boosters out to the pad over these tracks.

Kennedy Space Center
We were lucky to see the shuttle on the launchpad. It got hailed on a few days later delaying the launch.
Susan says this is her own personal Space Cadet. I don't understand what she means.
Roaming the grounds around the launchpad are wild pigs.  Hot bacon anyone?
At the Apollo/Saturn V Center we got to see a full size Saturn V. This is the business end.
They do a nice job of showing and describing all aspects of the Saturn V rocket.
Much of the rocket is devoted to boosting and not too much to the cargo.
An Apollo lander hangs from the roof.
Wanna test drive a lunar rover.  Top speed 10 MPH.