March 12-15, 2014 – Savanna’s Recreation Area with Linda!

We picked Linda up at her hotel in Orlando just after 9 am.  Our first stop was Kennedy Space Center for a stormy day spent learning about our space program.

We started at the Visitors Center

We took the bus out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, passing the Vehicle Assembly Building.  At 129,428,000 cubic feet it is one of the largest buildings in the world by volume and is the largest single story building in the world.

The VAB

The crawler-transporters are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport spacecraft from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawler way to Launch Complex 39. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the Mobile Launcher Platform, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.  The crawler weighs 6,000 lbs and has eight tracks, two on each corner.  They gave us a bunch of statistics about the engines and such, but the one I actually remember?  23 feet per gallon of diesel.  Guess we shouldn’t complain…

 Here is the crawler way.  It would take about 5 hours to get from the VAB to the launch pad.

This is launch pad 39-A.  The crawler and mobile launch platform, along with the fixed structure are still in place.  The tower on the right holds the sound suppression system, 300,000 gallons of water which was released just before engine ignition to muffle the intense sound waves.

 

While at the Apollo/Saturn V Center we went through all the exhibits, experienced a launch simulation and saw a lot of cool stuff.

Control center circa Saturn V launch 

 

Seattle area companies were very involved with the space program

 

A true off-world, off-road vehicle

We could have spent all day and maybe another at the Kennedy Space Center. Unfortunately for us, we had to be at our next campsite before the gate closed for the night and it was 90 miles away.  We spent 4 nights at the St. Lucie County Park in the Savanna’s Recreation Area.

 

We put Linda to work washing the coach.

 

Linda rode motorcycles over the years, but it still seemed like her first ride.

 

Had to stop to see the Atlantic Ocean

This was one of my favorite camps so far this trip.  We had a great site; the camp had baby alligators in the waterways, sand hill cranes walking around in camp and kayaks we could rent.

 

Wayne headed out in front

There goes Linda!

 

This pelican was on shore at the boat launch.  We didn’t seem to bother him much

 

Linda and Wayne hunting for the canoe trail out to the lake

 

Linda comes out of the trail

Wayne out in the lake

 

Where is he going now?

Sand Hill Cranes in camp

We tried to stay extra days, but the campground was full and we couldn’t stay.  Instead we headed to the Gulf Coast side near Fort Myers.  Next stop:  Pine Island KOA.