Good Use of the Time While Waiting for Shuttle Launch

Today, the 4th of February and we are out to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Its just on the north end of the Kennedy Space Center property. In fact a lot of the area was closed in preparation for Sundays Launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. We were able to take a couple of trips around the general area, but the one of most interest was a 6 mile circle loop through varying types of swamp country. Some of it is salt water, while other areas are fresh.

The road acts as a low dyke to maintain exact water levels to produce and protect the varying ecosystems. Habitat and wildlife and waterfowl are varied in these divers areas to. We saw quite a few different beasts. Lots of armadillos.

Here in Florida they are called (I can't recall what it is), in Texas they are "Speed Bumps" Also lots of gators. When first in Florida it was a big deal to see a real wild gator, but now, its not even worth stopping. Just a comment, "over there on the bank is a couple more of them".

Even some Dolphins rolicking around in Handover Canal.

But water birds in the Refuge: Great Egrets, White Ibis, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Tri-colored Herons, Glossy Ibis, Wood Storks, Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, and of course ducks unlimited of all colors and types, as well as thousands of coots.

Denice was in her glory!!! I think she took at least a dozen pictures (tongue in cheek reference) This was actually the first time that we saw the Roseate Spoonbill in the wild in Florida. There weren't many, but the photos are the documented proof, John Brown, that we really did see them. Now the search is on to see a Reddish Egret!! We may have already seen them, as they are rather hard to identify. End of another successful day and to end in proper style, a Florida sunset.

Today, the 5th of February, and on the road again, in the jeep 45 miles to the south along Highway 95 to the city of Melbourne, to meet some friends that between us we decided we had met way back in 2004. At that time we had our motorhome "Homer" a 29 foot class C, and Bill and Laverne Tom, had an identical Class C, but with Diesel power. We met them in Utah at Monument Valley, where we repaired computers, or at least tried. Then they left a day ahead of us and moved on to Moab. They waited there a day for us to catch up, and since we did not, at that time have a tow vehicle, and they did, we toured Arches National Park with them in their little 4 X 4. We had a great day with them. This was our introduction to the Suzuki Side Kick concept for a tow vehicle, although theirs was a GM Tracker. So that is how we came to purchasing one for ourselves, and the rest is history. The next day we parted company. They went east toward Denver and eventually to Thunder Bay, Ontario, their home, and us to the north west through Salt Lake City and on home to Calgary, Alberta. The friendship has continued, although sporadic at best, from then until today, when we found that they were at their daughters in South Florida, at Palm City, and made arrangements to meet with them again. As we were about 120 miles apart we decided to meet half way. Well not quite as we drove 45 miles, they 75. We met at the "Olive Garden Cafe" in Melbourne, and had a great meal and a lot of tongue wagging.

A lot to catch up on after 6 years! Almost overstayed our welcome at the restaurant after a couple of hours so drove down the the seashore for some more tongue wagging, but a cool wind sort of cut that short, so we parted once again. We returned to the north along A1A highway, right on the Atlantic Beaches to Cape Canaveral. Stopped at a couple of the famous Atlantic Beaches, Cocoa for one, and let Phiedeaux, our faithful old friend, get his feet wet in the Atlantic.

Then traveled #1 highway to Titusville, and 95 the rest of the way home. Had to pull over in front of a 7-11 store for 15 minutes while a severe rain storm swept past. Wipers wouldn't even start to keep up. Noticing already, many, many motorhomes parked at every open lot along the beach in preparation to watch the Shuttle Launch Sunday Morning at 4:39AM. Sure hope we are successful at finding a spot where we can see.
And on the Feb 6th, rested all day in preparation for the Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch tomorrow Morning at 4:39AM
During the day our KOA park filled to capacity. We had had an open spot next to us, but when we returned from downtown it was filled with a 5th wheel. Met our new neighbors who had driven up from Fort Lauderdale just to see the STS 130 Launch tonight. They are Larry and Sally Utz. Larry is an air conditioner contractor, owning his own business. They have asked if we would like to join them in their vehicle going down to the beach to watch Lift Off. We have accepted.