Sunday, January 17, 2016

Snoopy Back to the Kennedy Space Center

This was a busy weekend.  It started with me riding down to Titusville to visit with my scooter friend Bob Arnold.  The mission was to return the astronaut Snoopy to the Kennedy Space Center.

One and a half years ago Bob sent Snoopy out into the Modern Vespa world.  Snoopy traveled to around the world, but this weekend was the time to return him.  He will be part of an astronaut dinner, then put on display for a while.

Rain was forecast for the ride down, but the clouds cleared before I left at 1:30.  I told John Colarusso, a prominent Modern Vespa member that I would be passing through his hometown of Palatka at 2:30, but traffic and a stop to see the Blue Angel's birthplace made it 2:45.  He was there and we got to talk for a few minutes.

NAS Jacksonville, home of the Blue Angels

John, Snoopy and Razzo in Palatka

Beautiful winter ride through the Ocala National Foresr

I was glad to see that the hotel was pet friendly


I then proceeded to Titusville where Bob and I had dinner and discussed plans for Saturday.

Bob had set us up for an escorted visit to the Saturn V and Atlantis exhibits,  Also a meeting with Rodolfo Neri Velo, the first astronaut from Mexico.

Bob and Atlantis

Bob letting Snoopy pilot Atlantis

Bob in the parking lot

Me at the Apollo capsule in the Saturn V exhibit

I liked this photo of Bob in the Saturn V exhibit

Atlantis appears like this after the movie ends

Bob and Rodolfo

The visitor's center and Saturn V areas were great.  I hadn't been to the center since grade school, so it was a treat for me.

The ride home was uneventful, making for a very fun weekend.


3 comments:

  1. Bill that was every bit as good as I imagined it would be.

    One day I'd love to meet John, MV's #3 man and Lord High Moderator.

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    1. John, and Bob, are good guys. Both met through MV only, as are you and many more of my friends. It is quite the forum. As for getting Snoopy home, Bob had it planned and the plans all went well. The highlight was the video of Rodolfo taking Snoopy back for the space center. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing the exhibits. I have been following the space program since I was a kid.

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  2. The Space Center. One part of Florida I haven't seen in 30 years. Clearly time to correct that.

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