Ok we're home from the Launch, what a cool afternoon and I don't mean tempature wise cause it was HOT!
We spent the better part of the day cleaning the house as John's parents will be coming here Monday or Tuesday and I'm a freak that way that everything must be "eat off the floor", "see yourself in the dishes" clean!
Around 4pm we think about possible places to go watch the Shuttle launch, we can see it from our Condo fine but not till it's about 1 or 2 minutes into the launch since there are some big hotels between us and KSC. We pick one of our favorite hang out places Grills at the Port and call to see how long the wait is....... 1 hour 45 minutes OR LONGER the guy replies....well there goes that idea.
So we figure we'll drive over near the Port and see what we can see. We pick State Road 401 and head on down the road checking to see if there is a place to park, it looks like a no go, cops blocking the road, people everywhere, just as we are about to give up I tell John to drive a bit longer. We drive onto the AF Base but not far enough to have to show an I.D. We find a parking lot and pull in, score the LAST spot and across the street on the river is a clearing, with get this.... three sets of bleacher seating and loads of open grass. We pull out our Mickey blanket and head for the river.
Finding a nice spot, front row right on the water and directly across from the river we settle in about 5:30pm. Launch is at 7:38pm. Of course neither of us thought to bring drinks/food or entertainment so it was a long two hours! Especially since our lawn mates were chomping down on KFC and slurping down cold Cokes...lol. Our butts soaked from the wet swampy grass and our legs covered with ants we waited, and waited and waited....
But all that aside you couldn't have picked a better spot, the view was perfect! And then it was go time! Here are some photos...
As soon as we heard the boom of the Shuttle heading into outerspace we high tailed it like two old ladies who spotted a sweet yardsale. Trying our hardest to beat the forcoming traffic. 401 looked like a scene from Frogger. We jumped in the car panting and headed out. Our plan was to try Grills again to kill some time to avoid the mess we knew awaited on A1A.
Ring, ring...."two hours or more"....nevermind McD's it is. MISTAKE! Although it was easy to get there and we scored a spot to park the inside was like a freaking frenzy.
We stood in line for 20+ minutes with some guy who had no idea how to control his kids, our backs bruised and dirty with kiddie foot prints we ordered and waited to be called. As we waited I saw this little girl's sandals land on our tray over and over again. Mom offers to take the 5 of them outside and Dad says no way, they have to eat first....ugh!!
I tell John to run and find us a table as far away as he can. I get the food and wrestle my way through the crowd. We enjoy a nice cold coke and fries and then we think we're up for the battle to drive the 100 yards to the house.
We pull out to this.... bumper to bumper traffic going both ways. We make it home a bit later and as we pull off the road we think of all those poor people who have much longer to go...=o( Bummer!
So now we're here, and traffic from the window still looks as bad, like a parade of red tail lights going on for miles.
Tonight it's more packing, a sleep and then
5 more days!!!!! We leave to pick John's parents up in the morning and spend the weekend snorkeling in the caves and shopping for more things we need...or don't need, but want anyway.
)
I'm jealous of all the Tiki shirts, that is great, can't wait to see every one of them in the pics. I'm looking forward to your cruise pics, we want to cruise so bad. Well, have fun with Mt. Stinky and packing
Back to the Doritos and grape juice for me
