CaptMurph: Allison & Tom Visit

Irish Rover's track to/from the launch observation point.

Allison, Karen's oldest child, and her boyfriend, Tom, arrived on time at Orlando's airport Wednesday night. Tom and Allison are both architects working in Berlin, Germany. Allison is a US citizen, Tom is Austrian, but they have been working and living in Berlin for the past few years.

Karen and I enjoyed a wonderful week with Allison and Tom, pursuing a number of activities.

Falcon Heavy on the pad by Allison

Thursday was mostly a quiet day as Allison and Tom recovered from their long trip from Berlin via Amsterdam and Detroit. But a rocket launch was scheduled for Thursday evening, so we all climbed aboard Irish Rover to observe the launch from the Indian River, several miles closer than if we watched from land. Click Here and scroll down for perspectives of our position relative to launch pad 39B (northernmost pad at Canaveral).

Launch by Allison

It was a terrific launch as SpaceX used their Falcon Heavy boosters to place a communications satellite into orbit. Some cool things about the Falcon Heavy include that it is the most powerful launch vehicle currently in use and that SpaceX lands all three boosters to be reused. The most efficient booster operation currently functioning.

The noise and sound waves were powerful when they reached us aboard our small vessel and the landing of two of the three boosters was very dramatic as they were easily visible returning to the earth at Cape Canaveral.

Falcon Heavy launch by Allison

After pickleball at TGO, the four of us enjoyed a typical central Florida tourist day by visiting and touring the exhibits at Disney's Epcot Center. Since Epcot was hosting their International Flower & Garden Festival, there were more than the usual green and colorful displays.

Boosters returning to Cape Canaveral

Saturday was a lazy day, just resting, but Sunday's main activity was a 13 mile bicycle ride from Cocoa, FL south through Rockledge, FL and back. We enjoyed a late lunch in downtown Cocoa at a new-to-us bakery and restaurant.

Boosters landing safely by Allison

Tom has been an avid and active rock climber for many years and a few years ago enticed Allison to join him. Monday Karen and I were instructed by the younger couple on how to: avoid "T-rex-ing", point our toes into the wall, and if falling, avoid putting our hands and arms out to break our fall (unless we wanted to risk a sprained or broken limb). We gave the highly cushioned floor significant and frequent tests which, thankfully, the floor passed with flying colors. And with the unflagging help of our fine coaches, Karen and I each made several successful ascents!

Karen, Tom, Allison at Epcot

Karen organized a kayaking adventure for Tuesday where Allison and Tom used the hard, molded kayaks while Karen and I paddled tandem aboard the inflatable kayak. We started at the last possible moment for a leisurely transit to the take out point, but decided we were up for a more vigorous adventure and added a 2 mile upstream trek at the beginning.

Bike ride through Rockledge, FL

Karen's math skills identified that we were risking a late arrival, which meant we'd miss the bus . . . literally! We signed up for a bus and trailer to collect our kayaks and us for the return to our parked car and kayak trailer. The youth (Allison and Tom) forged ahead at their much faster pace to be certain the bus would wait for the slower old folks (Karen and I).

Allison had no trouble on the green climb
(animation per Google)

As it turned out, we needn't have worried, as even Karen and I were able to paddle with some gusto (and the current kicked in to add some helpful speed). Kayaking on Rock Springs Run (just north of our kayak adventure in 2017) has us enjoying crystal clear headwaters, strong (3 knots) current, lots of fish, birds, alligators, and more turtles than could be counted!

Karen nears the top

Karen coached by Allison and Tom

Tom achieves the top of the green climb easily

Murph still negotiating the green trek

Wednesday was a bit lazier as we all played miniature golf at Cocoa Beach and enjoyed a fine meal at "Sage" afterwards. The youngsters' flight out of Orlando was Thursday, so we made our goodbyes and wished them safe travels.