Coffee may be good to get the morning going, but NASA has a better way. We have all watched the shuttle lift off event on TV at one time or another, but, I have to say that being close to the actual blast off is an awe inspiring thing to deal with @ 0630 in 
the am. Slam ,
bam, crackle, pop, & it is all over. At first, there is no noise, just lots of light, brilliant, glaring light. While the light moves upward there begins a faint rumble, or thunder. As the shuttle continues to rise, the noise grows to an almost painful blast. It is not a steady roar, but, instead, one filled with cracking and popping. Hey, if it were my airplane engine, I'd get it back on the ground ASAP. But it continues to blast upwards. Now the vibration hits; our 20,000# boat shook like a leaf!. After some moments of that, not really countable, 'cause time seems suspended at that point
, the craft seems to level and become a fast fading point of bright light arcing away to the East. All you are left with is a swirl of colored smoke against the early morning sky. Amazing; and yet we all take it so for granted; so many of us not even knowing it happens.
the am. Slam ,
bam, crackle, pop, & it is all over. At first, there is no noise, just lots of light, brilliant, glaring light. While the light moves upward there begins a faint rumble, or thunder. As the shuttle continues to rise, the noise grows to an almost painful blast. It is not a steady roar, but, instead, one filled with cracking and popping. Hey, if it were my airplane engine, I'd get it back on the ground ASAP. But it continues to blast upwards. Now the vibration hits; our 20,000# boat shook like a leaf!. After some moments of that, not really countable, 'cause time seems suspended at that point
, the craft seems to level and become a fast fading point of bright light arcing away to the East. All you are left with is a swirl of colored smoke against the early morning sky. Amazing; and yet we all take it so for granted; so many of us not even knowing it happens. The rest of the day fell into a 9 hour, 85 mile grind to the North, ending up in Palm Coast Marina, somewhere South of St. Augustine, FL. When there are no places to anchor, one does the marina thing. This part of the ICW does not lend itself to anchorages readily, being not much more than a ditch heavily populated with residential developments. Some very posh, some that used to be, some that wannabe. But all there nevertheless.
Tomorrow, we'll push some more; this time thru St. Augustine and into or close to Jacksonville, FL. Be safe; catch you later!
1 comment:
Neat pictures! Nice description of the event. Glad you were there to experience it.
Take Care and have a safe trip home.
Cally
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