Fort Lauderdale and Cape Canaveral, Florida

This one is for you Nick;

Hey all, it's me; you might be thinking; that sounds familiar but from where? It's been a while... My apologies.

Where do I start? I don't mean to be ratchet but I do like my solitude.... I have crossed my heart and hope this meets your expectations.

Fort Lauderdale was very similar to Miami, big muscles, big b**bs and big money being spent on absolutely everything!


After a "rocky" 30 something hour sail back from Nassau, Bahamas we arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

The wind was favorable and we were pushed by a consistant 20knot tail wind the whole way across the Florida straights.

The weather man was officially on the piss when he forecast the weather for this week (starting May 1st) as ever since we have arrived in Florida there has been nothing but sunshine and intense heat! Not the expected thunder and lightening! No complaints!

Our slip in Fort Lauderdale

Las Olas marina is our home for the next week...nice.

Sadly, this brings Dave and Fionas trip to an end. Back to Nz on the 5th is their next chapter. How quickly did the last month go! We can't believe it and nether can they.

Bus driver  = fail

For me, I was glad to arrive but equally as glad to leave, I didn't take many pictures because I felt they were some what typical and boring!


We all had a fantastic time in the Bahamas and made many memories that will never be forgotten. I better not mention how Dave casually drunk a bottle of baileys all to himself or how the girls came home legless and Sandra didn't remember the delicious dinner I made her the next day! or how Rob ate 3 + donuts in a few hours or how.... Hahaha (better stop, I still have a few months on board).

Now though, it's time for a detox.

From here we head north, ICW (Inter Coastal Waterway) here we come to Cape Canaveral!! 

Cape Canaveral

"oh mate, we can chat over tea and ill tell you about how I had to swerve and avoid a prang" - this is a sentence only a kiwi would understand... We hadn't been tied up to Cape Canaveral marina docks for longer than 5 minutes before born and bred kiwi "Steve" came over and introduces himself.
I tell you those flags are gold! (another little story; On the ICW kiwis were waving there NZ flags out the window of there apartment and now this!) it was good to speak to someone who didn't include y'all into every sentence (not that I have anything against southerners).

First view of Cape Canaveral

Fuel dock, Cape Canaveral Marina

Cape canaveral; home of the JFK space centre. Nasa, the place mankind sends its own into space. The Aussies, more kiwis, the ICW, Canaveral locks, rocket launches, speed boat racing, sun burn, wind, thunder, fuel fill up friday, space cadet ash and space captain rob, three ring circus acts; Gosh. It was all happening here!

Guess what? ... Did you guess Manatee?

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=manatee&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1366&bih=667&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=RZ-_T9qBO4Gg8QSrm7myCw

JFK Space Center, Cape Canaveral

What a lot to see! I'll let you know we tried. Tried to see from side to side, over 1000acres of space centre, a very busy place and a lot of equally lovely southern people!

Walking around the entey to JFK trying to see what I can see.  "Hello, welcome to the JFK space centre" the attended said;I took a moment; I was feeling slightly disturbed at the price... I looked around; many different walks of life. A lot of people with females, it hurt my brain, trying to pick out the different ethnicities was really insane. It was like a lucky dip, a multicultural centre, a mother ship of the races.

A snaggle toothed sea hag selling Bottled water approached me; but how could I give the lady money for something I get for free?! I took the change out of my pocket and stopped her from going bankrupt. good deed for the day; tick.

Dodgy chick...

While at the JFKSC we had the opportunity to meet a fellow named Scott Parazynski, now this guy; how can I describe him; He had rocket boosters attached to his shoes and  could probably walk over land mines. "An over achiever from h*ll" as Rob said. With a golden smile and platinum frown not only had he been to the International space station five times, he also recently climbed MT. Everest! What a guy, I bet he had put a few blind old grannies into diabetic shock....Hahaha.

If only we all took a leaf out of bis ool, imagine the road to the top, all the hard knocks, through cross guards and city stops. I have an all new appreciation for Astronauts!

Real astronaut in the flesh!

Funny to think he was actually in the rocket pictured

Space Cadet

Now will you look at this; trying to write a blog about C.Canaveral and I am going back and forward just like a camio song. My hands, my pen, my pad;

It was getting late, I looked at my watch; 1800hrs, that's a sign of all the things we were chasing. I spot Rob, time to go; Steve the very generous kiwi bloke had come to pick us up. Good on ya Stevo!

Walking damage

Space rocket engine

The JFK space center is over 1000 acres

On the 22nd after the pain and struggle of 19th failure, the first ever commercial rocket "Space X" was successfully launched into orbit; and we were up at 0355 to see it! It was loud, bright, not like anything you would see at the liquor store or the laundry matt! It sounded like 1000 jets taking of in front of you, and the flames from the rocket were as bright as the sun.

The orignal control room from the time when America sent there first astronauts into space!!

The real deal

Moon rock

Different types of space suits from over the years
(Oldest at the top)

Old rockets now on display

I tried to take some pictures but they came out blurred. It was very cool I will tell you that.

The next morning we set up the ICW and 48 hours later we pulled into Savannah, Georgia. Our days in Florida have come to an end; time for the next chapter. Boom
I feel like cutting loose, i'm not trying to be rude, Ash just cooked; "I'm about to go and grub on some food".

The End.