Kennedy Space Center
We booked a tour of the Kennedy Space Center which is somewhat close to the theme-park crazed area where we are staying. After rising at ungodly hour (6am) we sleep-walked our way to the pickup point for a bus ride to our first stop on the tour – an airboat ride along the everglades!
We climbed aboard the airboat which comes equipped with ear muffs due to the deafening sound. Our captain took us for a 40min ride, where we spotted many alligators and even a bald-headed eagle. I have to admit though, the first time the boat headed straight for some green weeds I felt like turning around to the captain to make sure he was paying attention.
Lining up for our ride
Gator!!!
Good hair day
After that we continued on to Kennedy Space Center where we spent the rest of the day. First up was a bus tour where we got to see some smart people building modules for the International Space Center and also one of the launch pads – with a shuttle ready to go for next months launch. Everything is just on a massive scale – its quite incredible really.
Astronaut Rob reporting for duty
Launch Pad
Our day also included a “Shuttle Launch Experience” ride which is NASA’s answer to Walt Disney World’s rides. The build up to the ride was a bit concerning with the constant video tour guide asking “Are you sure you want to do this?? If you don’t think your body can handle it please put up you hand now so a staff member can lead you to the exit”. Thankfully the ride itself was bearable (especially after the insane rollercoasters and Universal Studios). It basically involves a lot of extreme shaking to the point that your cheeks ache from flapping about everywhere.
We also seen some pretty cool 3D IMAX films about the International Space Centre and Walking on the Moon – definitely very cool indeed.
Houston.. we have a problem
An orbiter/shuttle
ridiculously large solid rocket boosters and fuel tank
The next day we visited the local mini-golf place which has 36 elaborate holes to play. It was good fun.. and… *cough* I won.
The technique is ALLLLL wrong!
Winning by so much I stopped for a break by the picturesque falls
In an update to Rob’s attack on me the other day about complaining to Universal Studios and being a “typical Scot”, I am happy to report that I scored two free tickets to return to the parks and hopefully go on all the rides which were closed on our first visit. It pays to complain I guess.
So we still have Walt Disney World to do here in Orlando – we will be doing that in a couple days as we want to avoid going there on a weekend.
Our plans are to leave Orlando on the 25th and head back to….. Texas! Yes we decided to skip New Orleans and head straight for the low-beer prices of the cowboy state. Uncle Bob, Duffy and Clyde thankfully said they would put up with us again and we will hopefully catch up with Matt and Lauren again too. So we will be spending a bit of time there before heading back to San Francisco (and an Average White Band gig – very exciting) before our flight to Japan.
Leeane