♪ I'm riding, riding, riding ♪
♪ Riding in my RV, my RV ♪
♪ Wherever I want to be ♪
♪ Because I'm free in my RV, yeah ♪
(salsa music)
Leaving Miami it's never fun.
And it's not even rush hour yet.
But it is almost impossible to time it right.
Today we are driving about 200 miles north
towards the Space Coast and Cocoa Beach.
Well on the road again.
Today we're going to see a rocket launch
at the Kennedy Space Center of course.
This is the first rocket launch that is gonna carry humans,
well not this one, but it's the spaceship
that is gonna carry humans eventually back to space.
So that's pretty cool.
By the way, getting out of South Florida metropolitan area
never fun, lots of traffic,
you know it's usually crazy.
But we are past Palm Beach now so it should be
easy sailing from here on.
By the way 14.5 miles per gallon,
so we're making good mileage.
Usually better mileage going north than going south,
for some reason.
Today it is actually a special treat
because we've been invited to stay
at the Kennedy Space Center campground, on Merritt Island.
And then we're going to see a night launch.
I've never seen one at night so it should be really cool.
There's Bob and Sheryl's Super C.
And Omar and Jenni's teardrop.
Well this is our campsite here at the cars camp
at the Kennedy Space Center campground.
Which is quite nice.
We've got a ocean view.
Well not quite the ocean.
That's the Indian River Lagoon, but it's very nice.
The rocket launch is at 2:45 a.m.,
so we probably gonna take a nap at some point
and then go to the Kennedy Space Center which is that way.
We've got water and electric here.
There's Port Canaveral right over there.
Today we are going to experience the launch
from the Turn Basin,
really, really close to the vehicle assembly building
and probably the closest you can get as a civilian.
Very festive atmosphere here at the site.
They have food trucks
and there's the rocket behind the Port A Potties.
And the VAB is right there.
What a great location.
We can even look inside.
And there's the countdown.
We've still got a little over an hour to go.
Here's the competition.
- Center. - Um hmm.
That's where it is, right?
There's the official media.
All of them looking busy inside their remote trucks.
Let's get in position
because this place is filling up quickly.
- [Announcer] Space Active Launch Control Center.
Including the power lines.
- [Announcer] Tom, we'll take it back to you
to take us through the final moment.
- [Robert] Yeah, I betcha they're real busy in there.
Oh the anticipation.
- [Announcer] Waiting for traffic window.
- [Computer] 10, nine, eight
seven, six, five,
four, three, two, one.
Begin, ignition, liftoff.
(crowd exclaiming)
- Wow. - Nice.
- Whoo! (cheering)
(rocket roaring)
- [Announcer] It is now throttling those engines back off.
- [Woman] It's a lot quieter than the shuttle launch.
- [Announcer] Shortly after that the Merlin vacuum engine
on the bottom of the second stage
of the Falcon 9 will ignite.
And what we call second engine start, or SES,
that'll be at two minutes and 46 seconds.
(crowd cheering)
- Well yeah, that was really cool.
There it is, Port Canaveral.
(jazzy music)
While we're here, let's go explore the area a little bit.
There is a lot to see around here.
They have this relatively new structure
called the exploration tower.
Which looks really cool at least from the outside.
And the views from the top are fabulous.
(horn blares)
Well there comes the boat.
(engine revving)
Off in the distance.
We were there last night.
That's the VAB.
There, spoiler alert.
That's where we're going next.
(jazzy music)
Don't worry, they're fake.
Fly pelican, fly.
My voice is gone.
There's the ocean.
Going there after.
And the channel that goes into Port Canaveral.
Some distant structures,
probably part of the Air Force station.
They have all kinds of exhibits
about the history of the area.
A history so closely linked to the American space program.
Right there in plain sight.
And I was there for that one actually.
They have this cruise ship simulator here
which is probably really cool.
But it is out of order.
Surf art.
Well Ron Jon being such an iconic place
in nearby Cocoa Beach.
We might actually go there later too.
There's also cruise memorabilia
and all kinds of stuff.
But really we only came for the view.
Remember that surface table Microsoft was going to make
at some point?
This feels like it.
Let's go grab some lunch since we skipped breakfast.
I came here with Bob and Sheryl, RV Cruzn, last fall
on my way north, remember?
Very nice with the view of the port and pelicans.
And our food is here.
Fish with black beans and this view of the boats sailing by.
And the pelicans fly.
(upbeat music)
Let's head down to Cocoa Beach.
It is a pretty busy area, Cocoa Beach.
Especially down here by the pier.
And I wanted to stop and see it,
but it is going to be nearly impossible right now.
I mean look at all the traffic coming in.
Instead we are going to stop by Ron Jon,
the iconic surf shop, founded in 1959
by one Ron DiMenna in Ship Bottom, New Jersey.
This particular location
is considered the largest surfing shop in the world.
Open 24 hours and 365 days a year.
$5000, $6,000 for a surf board, huh?
Like a finely crafted instrument.
Custom surf boards.
$449.
Pretty cool store.
They have skateboards too.
Well yeah, the place is huge.
Now we are here by the front.
They have several sculptures of famous surfers.
I mean the whole store is a destination unto itself.
Even if you don't care about surfing,
or ever intend on buying any of this stuff.
It is cool to visit just to see.
Let's continue.
Here's one more look at the whole thing
as we pass by the front of the store.
Let's try our luck at the pier one more time.
Seems to be less busy now.
We'll keep a positive attitude.
And lo and behold, someone's leaving.
It is definitely our lucky day.
(bright music)
Here we are, the Cocoa Beach Pier.
Let's walk all the way to the end.
I see a tiki bar at the end and they even have live music.
It's the Rikki Tiki Tavern.
We're gonna enjoy a cold one here,
taking in the scenery and the live entertainment.
(rock music)
(audience applauds)
(bright music)
That was really cool, the Rikki Tiki Bar with live music
here at the end of the Cocoa Beach Pier.
There's a bunch of people surfing down there.
Let me show ya.
And but our parking is running out.
We only paid for one hour.
But yeah, very cool.
There's people fishing.
I like it.
Let's get back to the car.
(upbeat music)
There is one more area we want to explore.
And that is historic Cocoa Village.
Which was originally settled in the mid 1800s.
And nowadays it is a shopping district.
And they have an arts and crafts show this weekend.
So let's go back to the mainland.
Parking, hmm, a little bit of a challenge.
But there's always something available
if you're willing to walk a couple of clocks.
Let's walk around.
♪ Oh Danny boy ♪
♪ The pipes, the pipes ♪
Thank you.
♪ Are calling ♪
♪ From glen to glen ♪
♪ All the roses wither ♪
♪ Tis you, tis you ♪
(upbeat electronic music)
- [Robert] More live music.
(rock music)
(upbeat electronic music)
Actually pretty large event going on here,
spanning several city blocks.
I think almost the whole village.
Wow, records.
And 45s.
Definitely a big event here,
although not necessarily my thing,
except for the live music perhaps.
♪ Captured a feeling ♪
♪ Between Earth and sky ♪
- Let's go into Taylor Park.
Very nice, pleasant park.
Actually it is almost more the fact
that it is kind of nice to get away
from the hustle and bustle of the fair for a little bit.
(easy going electronic music)
Oh no, shipwreck!
All right, let's go!
Oh, it looks like we slept the rest of the afternoon.
Sunset is upon us.
(easy going jazzy music)
Time to go.
I hope you have enjoyed our short weekend
here on the Space Coast.
On the next one we're going back to Homestead, Florida,
the gateway to the Florida Keys
and maybe we'll see a little bit of the Everglades
in the process eat some alligator.
And remember, if you want to stay current
with my whereabouts, you can always follow me on Instagram
@travelingrobert.
Until next time, thank you so much for watching
and see you on the road.
(jazzy music)