For the first (and maybe only time) on this adventure, Jan and I chose something different. I wanted to see the Kennedy Space Center. Jan had no interest in rockets.

So off I went in a huge Kennedy Space Center tour bus (of which >100!!) for a tour. KSC is a bit like Disneyland, with rockets, but if you just focus on the science and history and ignore the razz, it was fun.

This is the rocket garden! The left hand specimen is Mercury used by Alan Shepherd for the first American manned “space” flight (12 minutes I think) in 1961. The capsule on top is about the size of a small spa bath.

Meanwhile jan is boarding a different kind of transport. She’s going ‘gator hunting …

Off they go …

Hair pinned back … ear protection mandatory!

Then I was on to another (inside the Center) bus, past the rocket assembly building (well over 100 metres high) …

Past the main launch pad …

… and on to the Apollo 11 building … “Mercury isn’t a rocket, THIS is a rocket!”

This is the front of stage 1, and the engine exhausts of stage 2.

Meanwhile Jan’s slowing down … there might be ‘gators here …

Sure enough, there’s two!

The Apollo building is massive. Here’s the control room used for Apollo 1 …

… and here’s the actual capsule from Apollo 14 (I think?)

Back on the bus, I was off to see Atlantis, one of the space shuttles. This one went up 33 times to the International Space Station.

Lots of fun for the kids here. Looks like Ben Lillywhite at the controls! Yikes!

Time for Jan to go into the bayou to hunt for more ‘gators …

Isn’t it beautiful in here?

No ‘gators in there …

… but another little guy here on the way back to base …

So we both had a great time … with photos with the “locals” to prove it!

So as we sail out of this totally artificial harbour we can see some Space Center builings on the flat horizon … we’re off to Norfolk, VA