Kennedy Space Center

We visited Kennedy Space Center with some friends of Cheryl’s.

Jeff and Bennett tested out the Mercury vehicle. Jeff decided he would not make it as an astronaut because he could not fit in the capsule.

These were located in the“Rocket Garden” as you enter the grounds.

Tre, Cheryl;s friend’s friend, insisted that our first stop should be the Atlantis display.  This is where retired the shuttle is placed.  As you enter the building, you are greeted by the external fuel tank and solid fuel boosters. 

Next was a movie recalling the ten years that it took to build the shuttle then you pass through to see the shuttle itself.  It is BIG.

Displays let you fly the shuttle yourself and view other space hardware. 

 One of the most interesting was a copy of the Hubble telescope and pictures taken by the actual Hubble.

 Jeff and Bennett both had to try out the slide which was set at the glide angle of the shuttle when it came in for a landing.  About twice what a 747 lands at.

We then took the bus ride around the complex including a stop near pad 39 where they took off to the moon and the Falcon Heavy rockets that are now planned for a trip to Mars. 

The next stop was the actual Saturn V rocket.  It is also very BIG.

It is amazing that it would actually fly much less take men to the moon.  A guide in the building gave guests a behind the scenes tour of the rocket.   We also got to touch an actual moon rock.

We finished our tour with a view of the next generation of spacecraft and Bennett trying to spin a map of the world.

The Magic Kingdom

Cheryl chose to celebrate her belated birthday in a place similar to where she and her brother went when they were young.  They went to Disneyland in California and, since she lives on the East Coast, Disney World is her destination.

There are rides (tram, boat) before you even get into the park.  Then the really good rides begin.  One could ride the monorail to the park but we chose to cross the water on a ferryboat.

The Haunted Mansion is filled with frightful ghosts who refused to allow their pictures taken.

Repeated during the day is parade of characters.

This ibis shares a break with guests.  He has been caught sharing more than a break; he rudely “shared” a turkey leg with one family.

 Bennett’s tongue turned blue after he had a slushie.

The whole family rode the Goofy Barnstormer.

While his parents and uncle went on the scary Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Bennett wandered Tom Sawyer Island and played a nice game of checkers with his Bubbie.

After he won, Bennett insisted Bubbie follow him across a floating bridge.

 Cheryl and Bennett flew up high on the Magic Carpet.

The guys swung around at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.  Jeff flew one thousand miles to this ride to find a student of his exiting a nearby teacup.

The pirates of the Caribbean threatened to take our cameras if we photographed them or their booty.  Those who remember riding this several decades ago will be glad to learn there is no longer a mention selling or chasing wenches.  One criticism, too many Johnny Depps.

We had a delicious dinner at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant (most other eating places in the parks are poor to okay).

The grand finale, Happily Ever After, was truly grand.  There has always been a great fireworks show but this is exceptional.   Disney characters fly around the castle (which acts as a flat screen).  The show includes lights, lasers, projections and fireworks.  The audience is transfix with this great celebration at the end of a very full day.

Orlando, Florida

We are off on a new adventure combining family, friends and floating (a cruise).

Our family started off in Orlando, FL with a four-day celebration of Cheryl’s birthday.  Cheryl, Dave, Bennett and Jeff flew from New York and our plane arrived just minutes before theirs did.  We are staying in a suite with three bedrooms, two baths, a full kitchen and livingroom.  This gives everyone the space they need while we are still altogether.

Our first stop was Universal Studios where we had numerous Harry Potter adventures. 

The five adults have read and reread the books but the experience was new to Bennett.   Sans Anna Lee, everyone went on the Hogwarts ride which combined flying on a broomstick with a trip around the towers of the school.  We followed Harry and his friends as they flew.  Everyone agreed that this ride was very impressive.  The graphics were amazing. .

Entering the theme parks of Orlando requires going past many, many shops plus some interesting scenes in order to find the fun adventures. 

All but Anna Lee swooped and soared on the Flight of the Hippogriff, a “family-friendly” roller coaster.

The female students of Hogwarts put on a dance show.

Another section of Universal specializes in Marvel Comic Super Heroes.  The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman was a particular favorite of Bennett’s, so much so we went on it twice.  The three dimensional animation is quite impressive.  Spiderman also put in an appearance.

For a Thursday of an ordinary week, the park was quite crowded.  The only other ride we had time for was Skull Island with face-to-face encounters with King Kong.

Bennett went shopping at Ollivanders and found his right wand.  He tested it out after the light show.  The wands are set up so that its owner can perform “magic tricks” by standing on a certain spot and waving the wand.

At dusk, the Hogwarts castle was lit up with a light show. 

Oh It’s Cold Outside

After the great Thanksgiving weekend, we followed Cheryl up north to the Adirondacks where she began her new job.  For those who do not know, she has left the Smithsonian and taken a position as Director of Interpretation at the Museum of the Adirondacks. The museum provides her and the family with an A-frame cabin until she finds a home.  Dave and Bennett will join her up here at the end of the year.

This is mountainous country with lots of snow.  The museum campus, where we are staying, is in far upstate New York and close to Canada.  It is snowing as I write, snowed yesterday and the day before.  Fortunately, the roads are well plowed.  Jerry proved his metal by driving for more than an hour in the snow and keeping his California cool.

We went into Saranac Lake, the largest “city” around to check out the town.  Our lunch at Blue Moon Café was delicious.  Jerry took photos of Saranac Lake and the lakefront houses.

Lots of hiking, fishing and outdoor activities in this area which Cheryl, Dave & Bennett will love.

Growing up in Colorado did nothing to prepare Anna Lee for the beauty of the heavy snow.  We are surrounded by trees that are adorned with white covering and the sides of the road shows the beauty of cold weather.

 The snow on the deck outside the cabin is over a foot deep.  That little bump is a small BBQ,

Ever so often, snow drops off the roof or the trees, causing a slight thud.

The boulders on the side of the road bare cascading frozen waterfalls.

Thanksgiving

This holiday is traditionally all about family and food and we observed the traditions in an orthodox manner.

Daughter Cheryl and cousins Leora and Ed created a wonderful feast including some healthy foods.

 Ed and Leora set a goal of a dessert per person but fell short about three desserts.  What we had was so yummy.  Jeff was a major contributor to the sweet buffet.

When we weren’t eating, we played games, took naps and looked at devices.

At the end, we took a family photo.

It was another wonderful family Thanksgiving.

Kvel (Brag) Time

We are back in DC enjoying time with family.  Our first adventure of this trip was to go to Natural History to see the exhibit Cheryl created on elephants and their plight today

The exhibit goes back in history to show human’s interaction with these magnificent creatures.  Included are Theodore Roosevelt’s photos of his hunting trips to Africa as well as his later leadership regarding the environment.

For too many decades people were indifferent to the consequences of poaching elephants.  This exhibit calls the public’s attention to what is currently happening.

The exhibit contains a collection of books and articles show the gradual awareness of the importance of these magnificent beasts.  This one is covered in elephant hide.

Included on display are two books from Bennett’s collection

 one from Dave’s family’s  collection

Cheryl, Dave and Bennett are leaving DC and moving to upstate NY.  We have been helping with the packing.  Bennett jumped right in to help.