Castillo de San Marcos

St. Augustine

Fort Matanzas!

We didn't ride the free ferry out to the fort...we climbed the live oaks instead! We could see the fort from the visitors museum. Another stamp in Soso's national park passport!

Tiny Footprints

Good Morning!

Space Shuttle Discovery

Up Thursday morning about 5am...

Packed...

Got on the road around 8am...

Drove like the wind to Titusville to see the space shuttle launch.

We met Van and Karen with 10 minutes to spare.

There was also a 4 minute delay.

PLENTY OF TIME!

The crowds were record in number.

Since we were late to the party,

we weren't standing in the park where we watched it before.

Sophia had a better view from Steve's shoulders.

Poppy held SJ while I took pictures

There were cars with the mission control playing on their radio.

It was a cool murmur all around us.

The cloud of smoke started to billow

out of the sides of the tower.

We have lift-off!
The crowd cheered!

Sophia looking at me because I was cheering.

Logan, standing on the rail, and Grandma watched.

It seemed like forever and five seconds

all in the same moment.

The by far coolest thing about watching a launch...
the sound wave finally hitting you!
It's amazing. The thunderous sound and ground vibrates...

because of the distance there is a several second delay.

Logan videos with his phone.
People cheering and clapping.

Everyone watches until it's just a tiny speck in the sky.

Too cool.

Our family.

The group minus me!

Sophia looking through the binoculars.
I really think she could see!

There was a huge traffic jam following the lift off.
The crowd estimate that I read was 40,000

to watch the final mission of Discovery.

Seven hours of driving,

with a two year old and almost six month old...

so worth it!

Then again, our kids were born to roll somewhere!

We drove up the coast and spent the night

on the beach in Daytona.

The beach always makes for a beautiful sunrise...

Waiting for liftoff