SEE TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS BELOW
*
If you have never seen a Space Shuttle launch this is the way to go.
If you have seen a launch, believe me, you have never seen one like this!
(we will be much closer than this)
TRIP REPORT ***
There were four members that participated in this event and what an event it was! For those of you that missed it, it really was something to see. This was not the trip to miss!
We met at the Sports Complex and followed one another to River Breeze park, where we launched out kayaks. We were met with a strong head wind and a strong current and as a result the paddle to the campsite was a little work. The temperatures were unseasonably warm and the moon was rising and full!
We made the 3 mile paddle and set up camp before sunset. We then immediately headed off once again into the wind and current to get as close as we could to the launch site. We found a secluded island with a small beach and landed there. We were not as close as we would have liked to have been, but with the head wind and current, it was close enough.
Shannon was celebrating his birthday, so we broke out the cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. As there was no way the candles would have ever stayed lit, we shone our headlights on the cake and when he "blew" out the light, we turned them off. It was a memorable birthday for him, we are sure!
After ingesting almost all of the cake (paddling against wind and current sure works up an appetite) we awaited the Shuttle Launch.
As scheduled, 19:55 the launch pad lit up with a yellow orange hypnotic glow. Then slowly, it rose toward the sky. Space Shuttle Endeavor was off. Each of us watched in amazement at it climbed toward space. Our beach was as bright as day! We then felt the rumble of the engines and then the sound arrived, a persistent roar. It was something to experience! The space travelers continued to rise. The main engine ignited, the boosters separated and begun to fall back towards Earth. We watched the "star like" glow of the engine as it rose father and father in space and then disappeared as the Crew begun their rotation of Earth.
We paddled back to the campsite. Had some drinks and snacks, visited with members of the Central Florida Sea Kayaking Club and then turned in for the night.
The next morning we broke camp, packed out kayaks and headed back to River Breeze Park for our drive home. The wind was light and it was another beautiful sunny Florida day.
What an experience! What a memory!
We met at the Sports Complex and followed one another to River Breeze park, where we launched out kayaks. We were met with a strong head wind and a strong current and as a result the paddle to the campsite was a little work. The temperatures were unseasonably warm and the moon was rising and full!
We made the 3 mile paddle and set up camp before sunset. We then immediately headed off once again into the wind and current to get as close as we could to the launch site. We found a secluded island with a small beach and landed there. We were not as close as we would have liked to have been, but with the head wind and current, it was close enough.
Shannon was celebrating his birthday, so we broke out the cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. As there was no way the candles would have ever stayed lit, we shone our headlights on the cake and when he "blew" out the light, we turned them off. It was a memorable birthday for him, we are sure!
After ingesting almost all of the cake (paddling against wind and current sure works up an appetite) we awaited the Shuttle Launch.
As scheduled, 19:55 the launch pad lit up with a yellow orange hypnotic glow. Then slowly, it rose toward the sky. Space Shuttle Endeavor was off. Each of us watched in amazement at it climbed toward space. Our beach was as bright as day! We then felt the rumble of the engines and then the sound arrived, a persistent roar. It was something to experience! The space travelers continued to rise. The main engine ignited, the boosters separated and begun to fall back towards Earth. We watched the "star like" glow of the engine as it rose father and father in space and then disappeared as the Crew begun their rotation of Earth.
We paddled back to the campsite. Had some drinks and snacks, visited with members of the Central Florida Sea Kayaking Club and then turned in for the night.
The next morning we broke camp, packed out kayaks and headed back to River Breeze Park for our drive home. The wind was light and it was another beautiful sunny Florida day.
What an experience! What a memory!
=============================================
Date: Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15, 2008
Level: Intermediate/Moderate
(I don't want to exclude anyone - if you are a beginner and want to go email me)
Location: Canaveral National Seashore
Length of Trip: 24+ hours
Leader: Lisa Beardsley
Cost: Depends on number of participants camping.
Gear: PDF, Flashlight, Whistle, Camping Gear, Food: Dinner Friday, Breakfast/Lunch Saturday.
Trip Information:
NASA has announced the next date for the space shuttle launch; November 14th at 7:55 pm. This will be a night launch, under the glow of a Full Moon, so it will be something to see. The sky will light up and we will be right at the base of the launch site - at close as they will let us get - so close you will see and possibly smell the smoke! Due launch taking place at night, participants will HAVE TO CAMPOUT overnight on one of the islands in Mosquito Lagoon. It is possible to paddle back to the put in site the same night, but it will be dangerous due to high boat traffic in the area. I would not recommend it. As kayaks we have access to get much closer than the powerboats so we will not have to worry about them the night of the launch.
We will plan on meeting late morning on Friday at the Sports Complex. We will then carpool to the launch site and arrive at the campsite to set up camp. We will have a leisurely early dinner and then get ready for our paddle to the launch site viewing area. If you wish you may view the launch from the campsite itself, but you will not "smell the smoke". After the launch we will paddle back to the campsite and call it a night. The next morning we will have breakfast, break camp and return to our put in location.
Trip Details:
We will launch from River Breeze Park and have approximately a 2.5 mile paddle to the campsite. We will set up camp, hang out, swim, relax. Around 5 pm, we will head out and begin our paddle toward the Launch Site. After the launch we will return to camp, hang out and sleep. We will awake whenever, break down camp and paddle back to the put in site at River Breeze.
Wildlife: This place is a great place to see manatees!
About Camping:
If you are new to camping or have never gone camping and you have some concerns; email me.
For those of you that do not know me well - I actually Glamp; or Glamourous Camp, however this is a primitive area, so we will be Modified Glamping for the backcountry. If you have any questions or concerns, email me.
There is a cost for camping, but it will vary depending on how many campers there are. We may be camping with members of the Central Florida Sea Kayaking Club, so again it depends on how many people go. Last time we camped for a launch we paid around $8.00 per person.
Want to go but don't have any camping gear? You have priority access to camping gear rentals from GITTO for this date.
Mission Description:
Space shuttle Atlantis will fly seven astronauts into space for the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope for an 11 day mission. The crew will be repairing and making improvements to the observatory's capabilities.
NASA webpage
Now as we all know - launches are sometime canceled. This trip will follow the re-schedule date should that occur.
Some views of the island Campsite.
Level: Intermediate/Moderate
(I don't want to exclude anyone - if you are a beginner and want to go email me)
Location: Canaveral National Seashore
Length of Trip: 24+ hours
Leader: Lisa Beardsley
Cost: Depends on number of participants camping.
Gear: PDF, Flashlight, Whistle, Camping Gear, Food: Dinner Friday, Breakfast/Lunch Saturday.
Trip Information:
NASA has announced the next date for the space shuttle launch; November 14th at 7:55 pm. This will be a night launch, under the glow of a Full Moon, so it will be something to see. The sky will light up and we will be right at the base of the launch site - at close as they will let us get - so close you will see and possibly smell the smoke! Due launch taking place at night, participants will HAVE TO CAMPOUT overnight on one of the islands in Mosquito Lagoon. It is possible to paddle back to the put in site the same night, but it will be dangerous due to high boat traffic in the area. I would not recommend it. As kayaks we have access to get much closer than the powerboats so we will not have to worry about them the night of the launch.
We will plan on meeting late morning on Friday at the Sports Complex. We will then carpool to the launch site and arrive at the campsite to set up camp. We will have a leisurely early dinner and then get ready for our paddle to the launch site viewing area. If you wish you may view the launch from the campsite itself, but you will not "smell the smoke". After the launch we will paddle back to the campsite and call it a night. The next morning we will have breakfast, break camp and return to our put in location.
Trip Details:
We will launch from River Breeze Park and have approximately a 2.5 mile paddle to the campsite. We will set up camp, hang out, swim, relax. Around 5 pm, we will head out and begin our paddle toward the Launch Site. After the launch we will return to camp, hang out and sleep. We will awake whenever, break down camp and paddle back to the put in site at River Breeze.
Wildlife: This place is a great place to see manatees!
About Camping:
If you are new to camping or have never gone camping and you have some concerns; email me.
For those of you that do not know me well - I actually Glamp; or Glamourous Camp, however this is a primitive area, so we will be Modified Glamping for the backcountry. If you have any questions or concerns, email me.
There is a cost for camping, but it will vary depending on how many campers there are. We may be camping with members of the Central Florida Sea Kayaking Club, so again it depends on how many people go. Last time we camped for a launch we paid around $8.00 per person.
Want to go but don't have any camping gear? You have priority access to camping gear rentals from GITTO for this date.
Mission Description:
Space shuttle Atlantis will fly seven astronauts into space for the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope for an 11 day mission. The crew will be repairing and making improvements to the observatory's capabilities.
NASA webpage
Now as we all know - launches are sometime canceled. This trip will follow the re-schedule date should that occur.
Some views of the island Campsite.
Sign up by posting a comment or e-mail the club at BackcountryKayakAdventures@yahoo.com
See you on the water, and in the light of the Space Shuttle thrusters!
See you on the water, and in the light of the Space Shuttle thrusters!
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