Space Shuttle Launch

STS-131 Space Shuttle was launched this morning and we had decided to stay here at the campsite and watch because they said so many people go to the beaches - it's a zoo to try to park. And, they said we can see it really clear from here. We saw it about 2 seconds after launch, thru rockets breaking away and the boostering up to go on through the outer layers of the atmosphere which took about 1 minute total. Pretty impressive - actually - another WOW! And to think there is only one more shuttle launch and then the shuttle program will end - bringing everyone back to earth that is on the space station. The International Space Station will go unmanned after October and experients will continue. So, we stood outside the rv, on a little rise, and saw the sky look like it caught fire - to seeing the shuttle's glare, to seeing the booster rockets break away (everyone holding their breath - this is the time that another shuttle blew up) to then watching it power up and go faster across the sky to out of our sight. Dave and I both took lots of photos - but here's one I took just as it was ascending above the trees. After the shuttle was gone from our view, we stayed there watching the trail of smoke/exhaust and then - Dave got some really great pictures of the cloud that was the remains of where the booster rockets broke away - did I tell you that we could see the rockets break away and fall? While watching that - and about 6 minutes after launch, we heard the loud noises from the launch. To think - 35 miles away as the crow flies was the launch and we still could hear it! Unbelievable.

We paid for 2 more days here - not leaving until Wednesday for Georgia. We have limited access to internet - our WiFi isn't working right and we are having a new one FedEx'd - they say - by tomorrow. I hope! I need to get my hair cut today and need to get some books - so will hop over to Barnes and Noble to see what I can find (I am a voracious reader.) Need to figure out where we head next - with limited internest - hard to surf for campsites and places of interest.