Space Shuttle Endeavour – Final Flight – May 16, 2011
When we got to Florida, we found out that the Space Shuttle Endeavour would be launching for the last time on May 10th, while Lyss and Seth were with us. We all agreed that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and we would ditch Disney for a day in favor of NASA. Well, due to circumstances beyond our control, the launch was cancelled. The kids were disappointed, but took it well.
We found out later in the week that launch was rescheduled for the 16th at 8:54 am. Normie and I were still scheduled to be in the area. So, we planned a stay at an RV park near the launch area in Titusville, FL. Great Outdoors Resorts is a private RV park where everyone owns their own RV site. Talk about nice!! So many greatly decorated and well-appointed sites, many with homes attached, and a parking garage for the RV. Some are for rent. That’s where we stayed. Very nice environment for a visit to the launch site, and quite large. In fact, it took longer to get to the front gate than it did to get to the area where we sat and watched the launch!
We rose at 4am in order to prep our food we were taking with us. We were told that we had to be there between 5am and 6 in order to get a decent spot. They were expecting 500-750 thousand spectators! Anyway, we made it in plenty of time, with our chorizo and egg burritos, bagels with cream cheese, cantaloupe, pineapple, cookies, water, Fresca and coffee. Did I mention we would only be gone 4-5 hours? We were ready to stay a week! We loaded the bikes up not knowing how far away we would be parking, and also packed our backpack/beach chairs and off we went.
We found a great parking spot just a block away from the water. It was still dark, so fraidy-cat, didn’t want to ride bikes, so we walked them. Yes, walked our bikes! Found a spot on the waterfront next to some very nice people. Two men from Boca Raton and two ladies and their daughter from Ireland. As many of you know, we love making new friends, so we chatted and came away with email addresses and FB info. We now look forward to visiting Ireland, so we can have a beer with Mary Kate and Johanna!! Cheers!! (no beer for little Carmen, she’s only 4!)
Four hours passed quite quickly as we awaited the lift-off. I had camera ready. Being 11 .8 miles from the launch pad seems far, but when you see it across the water, it looks like two miles. Then you see the smoke. . . and something in you just turns to jelly, you get that sense that you are experiencing something that not only cannot be described but makes you giddy and tearful at the same time. From the middle of the smoke, the lift-off begins and you see the shuttle rising, but no flame! Where is the flame? Still in the giant puff of smoke! Then. . . there it is, a brilliant, magnificent flame like you have never seen!! And you realize that you are watching history in the making. That Gabrielle Gifford’s husband is leading this final expedition in the Endeavour, and that she is watching him from the ground, just a giddy as I am, and alive!! Today, the view only lasted about 5 seconds before the ship disappeared into the low cloud cover, but the sensation of the rumble didn’t hit us for about 20 seconds. When it did hit, the cheering stopped, instantly, and we all stood in silence, feeling, sensing and absorbing the tremendous power that was pushing its way through the air, water and earth to completely overwhelm our senses and render us speechless! It was a feeling like no other. Sitting there listening to the thunderous rumble slowly dissipate and feeling that we had just been given an unexpected gift, we basked in the afterglow of the whole experience. Neither of us was in a hurry to leave this moment in time. But alas, we did. Why? Because there was too much traffic, so we had to WALK our bikes back to the truck!! (three guesses who’s idea that was!)
Thanks to all the well-wishers who shared in our joy of experiencing this incredible opportunity that was given to us. SERENDIPITY. . . (cue music, “I’m Proud To Be An American. . .) well, I am, but Normie can’t say that. (British, you know, and still no passport) Oh, it’s in the process, two years now.
VIEW PHOTOS HERE
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