Fly me to the moon ...

'Colossal' wouldn't begin to describe the rocket ultimately designed and built to allow humans to escape earth's gravitational grip and propel them to the moon. The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at Cape Canaveral, Florida has one of two brand new, never-been-used Saturn V rockets on display. It is breath-taking to stand beneath this behemoth and imagine its power.

The first stage used 5 F-1 engines which produced 1,500,000 lbs of thrust each:

The second stage was powered by 5 J-2 engines which produced a total thrust of 1,250,000 lbs.

The third stage had one J-2 engine which produced 250,000 lbs of thrust.

The Saturn V is accompanied by displays of the manned Apollo mission insignias.

On top of the Saturn V are situated the service, lunar, and command modules, as well as the launch escape rocket at the very top which was designed to remove the astronauts from harm's way in the event of a launch mishap. Fortunately it never had to be used.

Also on display is the actual command module from the Apollo 14 mission.

The last image I'll leave you with is of the lunar rover training vehicle used to help moon-bound astronauts earn their lunar drivers license.

If you're interested, there's a wealth of information on the Saturn V, and NASA has done a stellar job of documenting the history of space flight.

Wish you were here ...

Maybe it is the memories
the change of pace that brings us there
the sense of vacation
maybe the smell of the place
the sights of the gulls, the dunes, the grasses
but oh it is the feel of it,
the crunch and slide of it
the feeling of beach sand
so different from dirt, soil, loam
no, not earthy, moist, rich,
but oh so granular and gritty
even when wet,
moveable paper spreading under toes
sliding beneath the soles
smoothing my skin
clearing my mind
unburdening me of the rest
drawing me to the tactile, the feel
of beach sand

Beach Sand by Raymond A. Foss

To those who've slipped the surly bonds of earth

My son and I were up at the crack of dawn to make the 4-hour drive to the Kennedy Space Center this past week. [I'm not a shill for paid attractions, but if you haven't been here, I'd add it to your bucket list]. KSC is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. One day is not sufficient for a space enthusiast to see it all, and I can only give you a glimpse of what we saw and experienced. A glorious sunset capped off the day as we left the center. (perhaps I'll share some more of our KSC visit in between guests, when I hope to resume visiting you too)

(click on photo for better view)

 

When the playing's done

Our son, daughter-in-law, and 2 year old grandson escaped winter's (rather loose) grip to come and visit us for a couple of weeks. Of course that entails visits to any place with slides and swings and things like that. Amidst the countless captures of family (naturally) there were also the occasional moments to capture a very brief moment of solitude:

(18-55mm  f5.6  1/50 sec  ISO200)

Now I couldn't let this opportunity pass without letting you have a peek at who's driving the daily agenda around here:

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/160 sec  ISO200)

A momentary pause

Hello faithful bloggers,

Our winter abode in the subtropics has become a magnet for friends and family. Our popularity has risen in direct proportion to the local temperature. I have surfaced briefly to let you know I'm still here. While I have still found opportunities to make photos, opportunities to visit and post have been limited. I do hope to visit you over the next few days before our next guests arrive and I fade from blogland like the sun at the end of the day.

Overheard

"Hey, looks like something interesting going on down there."

"Sam, what do you think ?"
 
"I don't know, Charlie; do you think we should go check it out ?"

"Well you two can sit here talking all day; I'm getting hungry !"

"Hmmm, the grasshoppers DO look greener on the other side !"

"Eenie, meenie, miney, mo ..." "Aw, forget it; last one down's a dirty rotten egg !"

"That figures - Art's always last; what a birdbrain !"

"Finally ! Now I've got this side all to myself !"

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear ...

... the idea to get out for a few night shots, that is.

With everyone already in bed, and the night still young, and fresh snow on the ground, there was no compelling reason not to take advantage of an opportunity to capture the serenity. Sasha didn't need a second invitation and we set off into the crisp night air. It seemed like we were the only ones on the planet.

It's a pity if you've never ventured out on a beautiful winter's night.

If you have a few moments to linger, listen to the music (click on play button below the last photo) as you step into the peaceful night.

(all photos shot with a 10-22mm lens at f7.1, ISO200, with shutter speeds from 6 to 30 sec)

Forever Young ...

(click on the play button below the photo)

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
...
(from Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Royal Canadian Army - 3 May 1915)

"As for man, his days are like grass, As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. But truly the wind passes over it and it is gone, And its place knows it no more." (Psalm 103:15, 16)

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38)

Just a Closer Walk With Thee

Press the 'play' key below the last photo, then come back up here and take a walk to ease your mind and enjoy His creation ...

Curses! Foiled again!

We returned to Fisherman's Village a few days ago to walk around a little, visit the shops, and check out the eateries. Seems like one of the 'locals' had similar ideas.

Normally these fine feathered fellows are wading around in the shallows seeing what's on the lunch menu. Instead, this one was checking out the back of a shop for something to eat. When he was shooed away off the loading dock, he looked entreatingly up to the shopkeeper for a handout - to no avail. A little later I spotted him on a pole by the water checking to see if there might be a morsel for him there. The last I saw of him he was winging out over the water, presumably to a more favourable eatery.

(70-200mm  f9.0  1/400 sec  ISO200)

Winter Wonderland III

I've seen from news reports that winter has arrived across much of the North American continent. I mean really arrived, which those of you driving in it daily don't need to be reminded of. While we were back home in the north over the Christmas season we were fortunate not to have to drive in any adverse weather. In addition, I was able to go out several times to capture the beauty of the creation enhanced by a dusting of snow, before real winter had arrived.

Join me as I traipse through a secluded wonderland not far from home.

This is the creek that flows below the waterfalls I posted recently and which you might have visited with me last spring

A small creek which tumbles from the hill on the other side yields these ice formations

A few hundred yards downstream we come across another waterfall - don't get too near the edge - it's a bit slippery

The snow-covered ice that's formed across the rocks reminds me of cauliflower

At this point it hasn't been cold enough long enough for the ice to completely conceal the stream

The stream disappears around a bend below this waterfall. We have to scramble through the forest, away from the waterfall, and find our way down a side gully to find the stream again. The sides of the gully are coated with ice built up by dripping water - winter must have surprised these plants

Another few yards through the underbrush and we see the stream as it tumbles around the corner. From here it disappears to our left but the steep gully side means we'll have to bid it adieu, and we'll make our way back

 And throughout our trek Sasha has been patiently accompanying us - whenever the camera bag is unzipped she knows it's time for a rest in the snow. But she doesn't mind - she's in her element

Sunset at the harbour

"Inspirational Blog Award"

I very recently received this award from Amelia at Amelia's De-ssert and there are a few ‘rules’ attached, which include answering some questions about myself. Now if you like dessert (ok, put up your hand all those who can honestly say they don’t !) then you need to check out her blog. Not only will you see photos of mouth-watering treats but she’ll also give you the recipes. And she posts some great photos to go along with her witty anecdotes. Thank you, Amelia !

Here goes:

1. What makes you laugh, smile or giggle?

A humorous situation in real life, a funny story about our human foibles, a great cartoon (I’m partial to Dilbert), and of course Foghorn Leghorn TV cartoons !

2. What are your dreams for your future?

See (and hopefully photograph) more of this beautiful creation and meet people in far off places – it reinforces my view that we all have the same desires and needs.
Enjoy watching my grandchildren grow up.

3. If you are going on a cruise, where would it be and why?

Unfortunately the idea of a cruise doesn’t appeal to me. I’d feel too regimented – I want to be free to explore a place on my own for as long as I want (or can) without being part of a crowd and being compelled to return to ship.

4. Where would you spend your vacation and with whom?

My wife and I have discussed a possible vacation with Ireland as a potential destination. Wales, England and Scotland also beckon. Given unlimited funds I’d like to take my whole family somewhere exotic (and warm, of course). There’s a lot to be said about sharing an experience like that.

5. If given another life, what life would you choose ? Your life now or your past?

Of course there are very good experiences in the past that would be good to relive, but I’m happy with the circumstances I find myself in.

6. Is there something that you wished before when you were young but you didn't get?

At a young age I wished to become a pilot. At a later time I got as far as completing ground school but life events took over and I pursued a completely different career.

7. Have you been in a situation where you might have given up but you still chose to move on?

I took a number of assignments in my career that I wasn’t too sure I could successfully handle going in, including a couple of relocations. Being somewhat of an obstinate sort I couldn’t let failure prevail. I know that I had a lot of help, especially from above – any success was definitely not attributable to me alone.

8. Is there someone in your life who has been your source of strength and inspiration?

Yes, my wife has stood beside me all these years.

Now for the hard part: I also have lots of favourite bloggers but the ‘rules’ say I can only choose eight for this award. I realize that not all of you do the blogging award thing – I will not be offended in any way if that’s your preference. Hopefully anyone visiting here will come and visit you:

1) Marty at Marty

2) Darlene at My Life For A Year

3) Leslie at Let A Joy Keep You

4) Cloudia at Comfort Spiral

5) Lisa at Lisa Gordon Photography

6) Betty at Cut and Dry

7) Elizabeth at Magical Moments

8) Dawn at Just~One~Life

Of course, in keeping with with Scott's Sunset Sunday theme, I also wanted to show you what the sunset at the harbour looked like last evening.

(10-22mm  f14  several different exposures  ISO100)

Change of mind

I was going to continue posting a few more photos of my recent winter wanderings, but I changed my mind (I've rescheduled them). After we walked around the harbour this afternoon, I decided to return later to add to my stock of sunset shots. I did get a few but I changed my mind about posting any tonight (I've rescheduled those too). Although dusk was rapidly approaching, there was still enough light to capture some of the colour around the harbour. My son had sent some photos of the freezing rain and snow they've had over the last 2 days - I thought he could use a little more colour in his life right now.

Our internet connection here is something I could only dream about a week ago. I'm slowly catching up on responding to your comments and coming round to visit you.

(18-55mm  f11  3 different exposures each 2 stops apart  ISO100)

WWW II

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I would share a bit of my experience of walking in a winter wonderland while we were 'back home', over the next few weeks. Now that we're ensconced in the warmth of a southern winter once again (and I have an internet connection speed that most people take for granted), I thought it time to follow up on that promise.

A few days before Christmas I revisited a place not far from home to see it in a winter setting. At that time it looked like we were in for a green Christmas. Jack Frost had certainly left his mark on the area, but then on Christmas eve, possibly as a result of all the "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" jingles that had been raised heavenward in the weeks before, the landscape received a nice white blanket of the stuff. Talk about dreams fulfilled just in time.

So I re-revisited this place the day after Christmas and marvelled at the transformation that had taken place. And I marvelled at the Creator of this beauty “for in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

(10-22mm  f8.0  1/15 sec  ISO200)

before

(10-22mm  f11  1/50 sec  ISO200)

after

Osmosis

I was awakened prematurely this morning by my wife who told me that I had to get up and see a beautiful sunrise (thank goodness we're in the middle of the winter when the sun rises at what I consider to be a more 'normal' hour). As I jumped into my clothes she reminded me that I had requested her to wake me the next time there was a gorgeous sunrise. She had even brought the camera up with her.

I made some shots out of an upstairs window and then went down and stepped out onto the front porch, sans winter coat, into the -21C / -6F early morning. Within a few minutes I realized further shots would suffer from severe camera shake brought on by hypothermia. So inside I dashed for a coat and toque. I stayed out to get more shots until my fingers were so numb I couldn't operate the camera any longer.

I've never impressed on my wife any of the unwritten rules of photography e.g. carpe diem (see #2 here) but I think the 'learning by osmosis' concept has been at work in our home. She had already made a number of shots of the sunrise in its early stages whilst I was still lost somewhere in dreamland.

Here's a bit of the sequence we were privileged to witness and capture this morning. I hope your new year is off to a similarly auspicious start.

(if patience is truly a virtue then I'm in line to be a saint - this 'only' took 4 hours to post. Starting next week, I hope to be blogging at the speed of light, relatively speaking)

click on photos for a better view