We started our vacation at Kennedy Space Center.
On the tour bus heading out to the vehicle assembly building (VAB) and the launch pads were the Space Shuttles and Saturn 5 rocket launches took place.
The family under an actual Saturn 5 rocket. 365ft of it.
This is pad 39a where Pop Pop worked assisting the launch of the huge Saturn 5 rockets for the Apollo series including Apollo 13. The Space Shuttle launch that Tara and I witnessed in 2009 was also launched from this pad in it's current state.
Here's the massive VAB. This is where the Apollo rockets and shuttles were loaded onto the crawler for the slow drive out to the launch pads.
The blue field in the flag is the size of a pro basketball court and each one of the stripes the width of a 1 lane road.
Here's the back end of the Space Shuttle Discovery.
We were told we would be the second to last group of people to ever see the space shuttle in the VAB due to the following day it would be loaded onto a 747 and two days later, flown to D.C. to be put into the Smithsonian where we'll see it again in July with the Valenzuela family.
We were 50 feet away from the Discovey. It was unbelievable.
I was so proud that my kids got to see a part of history in a place their grandfather also was a part of history.
Out looking at wildlife.
We got out to a couple of state parks and took some pics of the local willife.
Cassie decided she made a friend. and figured since she didn't have any food, the squirrel would like her cotton candy perfume.
I did.
About 4 feet away.
Right below the boardwalk we were on.
Maybe a 5 footer.
This big guy was far away. I was lucky to get this picture.
Approximately 10 ft.
The highlight of the trip.
Swimming with the Manatees!
All of us....well..... most of us feeling a bit uncomfortable in our ever revealing wetsuits!
VERY forgiving picture....
Whew!
(Unfortunately they had to skin a manatee for my suit)!
A couple of manatees.
One coming up for air.
Dave swimming with a couple of manatees.
This baby manatee (400lbs) was very happy to see us. Here he swims right under Cassie and Tara.
Tara and her little buddy.
This was the baby....
This is right before he kissed me....on the lips!
Dave and I in Crystal springs.
Tara chased this little turtle....didn't want his picture taken I guess.
