SHUTTLE LAUNCH AT NIGHT

Well it finally got off. I would have liked to see it from Manatee Hannock up at Titusville but even from 70 miles away it was still impressive.


It turned the low clouds into sunset pink then clmbed through the upper sky to orbit. It is the third launch I have seen and the wonder is still there.





It has been seriously wet here with a convergence line setting up over the area yesterday, big boomers and 2 inches of rain was the result. The lights went out for a while but one of the advantages of being a RV is you just start the genny and the lights come back on for you.

SHUTTLE LAUNCH BLUES

Well I am up in Titusville, opposite the shuttle launch site in Cape Canaveral, sitting in a pretty nice campground called Manatee Hammock, but singing the shuttle launch blues.

Stayed up to 1.30 in the morning and waited at the waters edge along with thousands of others, all hoping to see a night launch.



With only a few minutes to go they were counting down when BIG SPARKIES hit the Cape a few miles south of the launch site. The regulars looked at each other shrugged their shoulders and started packing up. A couple of minutes later came the official word from NASA saying "cancelled due to weather".

I booked in for another night on the strength of a positive forecast and an update from Nasa reschduling the launch for 1.05am. Wednesday morning. Tonight came the bad news, a main engine fuel supply valve has failed, and the launch is cancelled possibly to October.



Still I met some nice locals







including this one sipping fresh water from a leaky hose in the marina.

Florida Thunderstorms

It is hot and the thunderstorms roll in with the sea breezes and line up on the convergence lines. If one sets up camp where you are several inches of rain are possible. Well that is what happened. I disconnected all the electrics and sat there with the rain pounding down.




When it was all over the depression behind the Trek was now a little lake. It might be an anti flood catch pond I suppose but it still looks pretty as well as holding some of the loudest frogs in the world.

I am getting on with some little jobs that need doing before I advertise the Trek for sale.

Nothing major needed just a coat of varnish on the woodwork and some cleaning.