Despite the 70% chance of the shuttle NOT launching, we decided to continue the positive vein that our trip had taken so far and we got up at 7am to drive to Cape Canaveral! We felt most people would stay away due to the chance of it happening being so bad. A huge amount of people had travelled the night before also so we reckoned the roads would be fine!
The hotel staff laughed when we said we were hoping to see the launch. The porters said we hadn't a hope. So in true Prendergast style.....we disregarded ALL comments and headed off!
The traffic was non-existent until we reached the Coast. Titusville was a no-go and seriously backed up so we opted to go to Cape Canaveral itself as no one else was mad enough to drive into the eye of a storm! We literally pulled into a car space outside a fab restaurant on the port and took the 1st table offered to us at a window on the balcony. We ordered lunch and some Mimosas (Bucks Fizz!) which everyone was drinking and wondered if we'd actually see anything at all.
Dawn our waitress said to keep an eye out between the digger and the life buoy in front of our table. She promised it would launch somewhere between the 2 landmarks. Lunch arrived at 10.26am, exactly an hour before scheduled take-off. The kids had asked for Shrimp and got a HUGE basket of the most fantastic fish ($5 each, so no extortionate shuttle prices!!) which kept them busy for the next 55minutes! Then the staff opened back the doors to allow us an uninterrupted view of the launch.
The countdown started on TV and literally as we turned our heads from the TV to the window on 3, 2, 1...there it was!!! Lift off!!! A huge line of flames stretching through the dull grey sky!
The sound and vibrations didn't reach us for a few seconds, but when it did most of us thought it was a helicopter near the roof! Incredible! It was surreal to watch this flame shoot through the sky right in front of us. We felt very emotional for the kids as they were in complete awe but really won't appreciate it until they're older....will they even remember! Everyone clapped and cheered, hugged each other and cried! The staff who have seen many launches were thrilled for us seeing our 1st and final launch....enter more complimentary Mimosas and virgin Strawberry Daquiris for the kids!
Once we calmed down, we headed back on the road fearing major traffic jams. It was slow but we were back at the hotel within 90 minutes much to the shock and amusement of the hotel staff!
It was, without doubt, the most exhilarating moment in our lives. Not sure anything could ever top this!!!
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| No sign of traffic!!?? |
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| Uh oh! |
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| Heading across the bridge to Cape Canaveral |
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| Waitress promised the shuttle would launch between the orange digger and the life buoy. |
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| Mmmmm....shrimp for breakfast : ) |
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| Even more mmmmm.....Mimosas for breakfast! |
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| The countdown begins! |
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| Fancy movie maker according to Tom! |
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| Waitress spot on! |
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| Journey back : ( |
