SpaceX Rocket Launch

It took a little convincing to get me to agree to a trip up the Cape Canaveral Canal and into the Banana River to stage for the launch of a SpaceX rocket. I'm still acclimating to being aboard Mystic. Moving each day leads to visits to new places that we haven't been before. It can be a lot of work, but this ride turned out to be well worth the cruise. The canal is very sheltered and filled with wildlife. It's all a 'no-wake' zone so it's very calm. We waited for the Rte. 3 bridge to open with another sailboat. Turned out it was our new friends Dave and Lusevery aboard their Watkins 27 My Space. We met them in Vero Beach. Once we got under the bridge and through the Canal, we stopped just before the lock to find a good anchorage. My Space went through the lock and we waved goodbye.

Interesting live aboard boat on the Cape Canal

Several boats line the canal
local boats tied to trees

Sunset on anchor

We are anchored right off of the Port Canaveral lock on the Banana River. We are hoping for a perfect view of the 3:00 am launch from here, only 10 miles from where the launch pad sits. We are beyond excited!!!

Cape Canaveral Lock

Kennedy Space Center framed by trees

Our view of the launch pad from the Banana River

We picked a great spot to be on the hook. A huge ketch is right behind us. It is sitting hard aground on the bottom. We are surrounded by several derelict boats and one anchored trawler, a Looper boat. Unfortunately the launch was scratched due to electrical issues on the space station long before we went to bed. We were only a little disappointed because we were really enjoying everything else about this experience. SpaceX rescheduled the launch for May 3rd. We'll be able to catch it in Titusville.

Huge Ketch aground on the Banana River

SpaceX countdown clock

In the morning, we pulled our anchor and aimed west for the ICW. We arrived at the Rte. 3 bridge in time for the 9:00 am opening but the bridge tender informed us that the DOT was on the bridge with a bucket lift, changing lightbulbs. He could not tell us when the bridge would open. We decided to make circles up and down the canal while we waited. Another sailboat joined us and hollered over asking what the delay was. I had to resist making 'government workers changing light bulbs' jokes when we told them we'd be delayed indefinitely. The bridge finally opened at 11:00. We arrived in Titusville around 2:00 and tucked into our slip #137 between two big trawlers. We'll be here for the month of May and can't wait to begin exploring.

Rte. 3 Bridge with mast-less trimaran passing under

Mystic at Titusville Municipal Marina

On Friday, May 3rd, we set our alarm for 2:00 am to watch the rescheduled rocket launch. We were on the Titusville pier by 2:50, waiting with a small group of bystanders. The 3:00 am launch may have time kept a few folks away. We could hear the groan flow through the crowd like a wave when SpaceX scratched the launch at 2:55. The next attempt would be 24 hours later. We spent Friday catching up with friends in the area then set our alarm for 2:00 once again. It was a little harder to get up, with our motivation flawed by the possibility of another scratch; yet we are standing on the pier by 2:30 with our eyes fixed eastward, straining for any sign of light. At precisely 2:48 am we saw an incredibly bright glow at the Cape Canaveral launch pad. The sky lit up like we were under a full moon. The rocket rose quickly, which surprised us. We watched as the boosters separated. It looked like swirling, boiling water in the sky. It took a while, but when the sonic boom finally arrived, it filled our chests with a deep rumbling vibration, literally rocking our world. We made our way back to the marina in awe! How lucky are we to experience this on our America's Great Loop adventure!

The next scheduled launch is 10:30 pm on May 15th. You can bet we'll be out there with our eyes fixed on the launch pad!