Space Coast, Days 6-7

 We started our time on the Atlantic coast of Florida in the Melbourne Beach / Cape Canaveral area. The waves were so much bigger coming from the Atlantic. I tried getting out to a sand bar several yards out from the beach area, but kept getting towed down the beach or washed back up to the beach. I finally made it after three attempts and lots of hard work. I was never able to stand up - just too violent. But, so so exciting! There were beautiful shells all around us.

Chase enjoyed playing in the sand and building sand castles. He wasn't too happy about the waves - too scary. We finally got him to sit with one or the other of us down on the sand near the waves. I showed him how the waves would "erase" whatever we drew or wrote in the sand. I remember the magic of learning this as a child.

We got up on day 7 and went to NASA. I wasn't sure what to expect since the shuttle program has come to an end, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the Kennedy Space Center is still going strong, and is even updating and remodeling! There are private aeronautical companies like Boeing and Lockheed using the facility for their launch programs and we are continuing to send satellites and supplies / personnel to the International Space Station. It brought back memories of my childhood to see all the Apollo and Kennedy space race stuff.

The size and power of the rockets and shuttles are unfathomable and impressive. Standing next to any of it will make you realize the great things we accomplished as a nation for science, research and the betterment of life here on Earth through this program. The next time someone has something negative to say about NASA or our involvement in space, I'll just suggest a trip here.