#79 Mar 2015 Kennedy Space Center

We planned a break from Disney with a trip to Kennedy Space Center hoping to see a rocket launch.

The Delta IV rocket launch went off beautifully. What a thrill!

We watched from bleachers near the Apollo/Saturn V Rocket Center about seven miles from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.

The rocket was carrying the ninth of twelve GPS satellites for the US Air Force. This series of GPS IIF satellites is essential to US national security. It improves military signal and navigation, assists with search and rescue operations and commercial aviation.

NASA has re-invented itself since the end of the space shuttle program. The launch pads are leased to various private agencies and are being redesigned for numerous space related projects.

Included with admission, the Apollo/Saturn V Center contains a Saturn V rocket with detailed information about its construction and utilization. There is so much to learn and marvel about man's creativity and ingenuity.

So many people surrounded the Saturn V rocket after the launch that I couldn't get a clear shot with the camera. These photos of the Saturn V are from the Houston Space Center which we visited in February.

A thrilling highlight is an actual piece of the moon that we can touch. It seems impossible that here on earth we can touch a piece of that beautiful beacon in the night sky.

A new exhibit shows a movie about the challenges of creating a re-usable spacecraft. It is very well presented then a curtain opens and there is the actual space shuttle Atlantis.

There was a collective gasp of awe!

You can see that she has been well used in her 33 missions covering more than 125 million miles in space.

The robotic Canadarm is deployed and makes Canadians proud to be part of such an inspiring machine.

In retirement she is now honored in her own display building.

At the front of the building is a full-scale, upright, replica space shuttle stack, including external tank and two solid rocket boosters. The 184-foot-tall assembly gives a true sense of the awesome power used to thrust the shuttle into orbit.

Ralph and I grew up in the space age and have a special connection to Atlantis.

1/ in the 1990's, one frigid minus 30*C morning in Calgary, we heard on the radio that Atlantis was about to reenter the atmosphere over the city. We jumped out of bed, put on boots and winter coats over pajamas and went outside. We watched in awe as a fiery trail sped from horizon to horizon in a few seconds. Minutes later Atlantis landed in Florida.

2/ 2007 was our first visit to Kennedy Space Center. During the course of the day we saw Atlantis moving very slowly towards the launch pad.

3/ In 2013 an opening party for a conference in Orlando took place at Kennedy Space Center. The coup de grace was a peek at Atlantis during the construction of its building. Atlantis was completely covered in protective bubble wrap!

4/ Now in 2015 we were able to see Atlantis up close and marvel at this vehicle that launched like a rocket, flew in orbit like a spacecraft and landed on a runway like a glider.

The International Space Station is the next step in space exploration and cooperation among nations. To date, is appears that international cooperation can be achieved when astronauts rely on one another for survival in a very hostile environment with no immediate outside resources.

#78 Mar 2015 Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom

In DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS we were greeted with a replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Who remembers Mickey Mouse’s “Gosh, this is swell”?

Ralph tried out Hulk Hogan’s handprint.

Then Dave tried it.

Father and son share many traits but hand size is not one of them.

David Copperfield said it very well.

The older we were the more names we recognized.

A trip on "The Great Movie Ride" brought back memories of Mary Poppins

"The Duke" John Wayne

The Yellow Brick Road from the Wizard of Oz.

Danica found Cinderella’s slipper.

Then Danica and Lindsay found her carriage – the original from the movie, which was just released.

We watched a behind the scenes re-enactment of the filming of “Indiana Jones” with some extras who volunteered from the audience.

The “action” looks real BUT!

There is more than meets the eye. Among other things they are standing on shock absorbing mats.

In the exhibit “Walt Disney - One Man’s Dream” we were reminded how far reaching his vision took the world of imagination.

We were too tired to take in the evening show and fireworks but ended the day with a lovely sunset.

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM “Kilimanjaro Safaris” took us on a safari ride through Africa where we found many animals co-existing in the jungle and savannah.

These animals roam freely in a natural habitat while Disney staff continues their research in order to protect and preserve them in their native habitat.

On the “Pangani Forest Exploration Trail” we saw silverback gorillas.

Look closely at this mother and you will see her baby clinging to the inside of her left front leg.

The “Festival of the Lion King” was bright and entertaining.

Lindsay and Danica joined in the celebration dance.

The finale was thunderous.

I was willing to try another roller coaster but not “Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain”. Lindsay, Dave and Danica flew past so fast I missed their train car as it careened out of the mountain.

Animal Kingdom is the only park without an evening show but once again nature put on it’s own show as we headed towards supper and bed.

#77 Mar 2015 Magic Kingdom and Fun Spot USA

We left Surrey January 18th and almost three months later arrived in Key West Florida, which was the most southern point in our journey. To that time we had driven

7,000 km (4,200 miles) in the RV
3,600 km (2,150 miles) in the Suzuki
10,600 km (6,350 miles) Total

Now it was time to start heading north.

March 20th we put the RV into storage and drove to Orlando for 8 days in our timeshare near Walt Disney World. That evening our son Dave, his daughter Danica (8) from Calgary, AB and our other granddaughter Lindsay (19) from Surrey, BC arrived at the Orlando airport. We had all looked forward to this week for many months.

That was a Friday and there is a very long-standing tradition in the Brewster family that Friday night is nachos. That Friday was also Dave’s birthday. We celebrated on the balcony of our suite in the warm balmy air. Of course, after the nachos came an ice cream birthday cake.

There are four theme parks in Disney World but the first experience must be the Magic Kingdom. That is where Walt Disney's dream started in 1955 in California.

We arrived just in time for the “Festival of Fantasy” Parade.

It was a trip showcasing Disney characters from then until now.

And everything in between.

This trip was to be an adventure for all of us. Ralph and I have never been interested in rides, however times have changed. In retirement we are more relaxed and like many grandparents we try to keep up with the grandchildren. “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad” is a roller coaster ride through a gold-mining town on a runaway train.

Ralph closed his eyes at the beginning of the ride and stayed that way throughout the trip. He doesn’t know if he enjoyed it or not because he didn’t see it. However, I enjoyed it and was ready to go again – you never know until you try it.

Danica was upset at the end of the ride (she kept her eyes open) but later was willing to experience scary rides again.

Dave was prepared to try lots of rides to encourage Danica’s adventurous spirit.

Lindsay loves fast, nerve racking, scary, hair-raising rides so that ride was good but just a teaser.

“It’s a Small World” is a must to experience one of the original rides that expresses Walt Disney’s vision for “The Happiest Place on Earth”.

While waiting for “Peter Pan’s Flight” Danica rang the bell as Ralph, Lindsay and Dave watched.

Then they were sprinkled with Pixie Dust.

The Magic Kingdom experience ends with fireworks over Cinderella’s castle.

Disney is very expensive and doesn’t have the thrilling rides Lindsay tries to find. Fun Spot USA has free admission and is close to Disney World.

There is an adjacent classic car show some evenings. Danica tried to understand why the little boy leaning against the old car was so sad.

Lindsay got her scary ride fix as she was harnessed into a sling where she rode backwards to the top of a 300-foot tower.

When she released the ripcord she ricocheted across the water like a slingshot at 58 miles per hour (93 km per hour).

She screamed and had fun! The rest of us held our breath.

There was more excitement and Danica was ready with waves as they sped around corners.