The Space Coast Meetup: All The Right Stuff (Except Stad)

Here we go!

Thursday

On Thursday, February 5th, an intrepid group of Ricochetti descended on the Space Coast for much food, drink, and camaraderie. Oh, and for an educational experience, too. Party Central was a pair of rental condos with a connecting doorway. One condo included Randy & Sarah Weivoda, Painter Jean and her friend Katie (Katy? I'll call her Kate), plus Lidens and her friend Matt. The other unit contained Red Herring and her husband Bob, Nohaaj, with neutral observer and her handsome husband, yours truly. Other Ricochetti who stayed in hotels were Terry Smith and his wife Michelle, Melissa Praemonitus and her husband Rick, GLDIII and his wife Linda, and Richard Easton. Richard O’Shea and his wife, Margie, met us for lunch one day. We even had Susan Quinn and her husband Jerry join us for dinner one night! Did I forget anybody or get a name wrong? Help me out!

Anyway, once we got a dinner group together, we walked over to the conveniently located Dolphins Waterfront Bar & Grill in the condo complex. It's a restaurant with a great tiki bar. After a great meal and a couple of Space Coast Sunrises, I was ready to crawl back. I didn't take any pictures here, but if someone else did, please post in the comments!

We spent the rest of the evening getting caught up on life events, touched briefly on politics, and of course, imbibing in more adult beverages and munchies (thank you, Buc-ee's!).

Friday

Our breakfast chef Nohaaj whipped up some eggs and bacon for everyone, and soon we were off for the first official event of the meetup: the Space History and Canaveral Lighthouse Tour. We all met at the Sands Space History Center to pick up our tour shuttle:

The first stop was firing pad LC-9 for early rocket testing.

We learned that about 30-40% of the Space Shuttle Challenger is entombed in this nearby building (if someone has a better pic, please post):

The next stop was LC-26, where the first US satellite was launched.

The next stop was the launch pad where Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom became the first 2 US astronauts to go into space. It's a shame that the gantry got blown away in a hurricane and was deemed too expensive to repair for display (Help, Elon!):

On the last stop, we visited the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, which is still active:

Next to the lighthouse was the Rocket Museum, which contained many of the early test rockets. I spent too much time at the lighthouse, so I only got a few pictures here. If any fellow Meetup Ricochetti have some pictures, please post:

Once done with the tour, we headed to the Rikki Tiki Tavern in Cocoa Beach for lunch. Unfortunately, they were closed because of the weather (cold and windy). Instead, we headed a couple of blocks away to the Cocoa Beach Fish Camp Grill:

The Olympics opening ceremony was on TV, so we watched as we chatted and ate. One interesting thing happened. When the American athletes marched out, the camera cut away to show J.D. Vance and Usha applauding our athletes. The restaurant erupted into wild applause and cheering. USA! USA! USA!

We returned to the condos for a quick group chat, but it wasn't long before we headed out to dinner at the Chaparral Mexican and Cuban Restaurant. I forgot to take pictures here too, so if anyone has some, please post!

After dinner, we once again headed back to the condos for more great conversation as we watched the Olympics.

Saturday

Saturday was a free day with no scheduled events. I mostly watched porn goofed off on the computer, but others went to an orchid shop and an ice cream shop (I'll let those folks post their stories in the comments). However, the gang got together for dinner at Brasas Grill Brazilian Steak House:

After dinner, it was the usual conversation and more drinks back at the condos.

Sunday

The Kennedy Space Center was the bomb when it came to exhibits and things to do. The Gateway had some cool modern capsule exhibits, as well as some ride simulations:

There was also a Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit:

There were many static displays outside:

I should point out the Apollo 11 crew sculpture was sponsored by Rocket Mortgage . . .

A shuttle bus took us to 2 other exhibits—LC-39 and the Apollo Saturn V Center:

LC-39 is where Apollo 11 was launched, hence the eagle sculpture:

The next bus stop was the Apollo Saturn V Center:

Even the gift shop at the center had a clever name:

A lot of information was passed down about the upcoming Artemis II Mission, where 4 astronauts will circle the moon (including one NC State graduate—like yours truly, only smarter and better looking). We actually got a look at Artemis II sitting on the launch pad:

The gang had one final dinner at the Dixie Crossroads restaurant:

One Ricochetti (who shall remain nameless) singlehandedly reduced the shellfish population around Florida by 10%, as evidenced by this plate:

Back at the condo, we packed, discussed the meetup, but also said goodbyes as some folks had early flights out.

My overall impression was that the history tour runs on a tight budget, but the Kennedy Space Center has funding out the wazoo. Nonetheless, I want to go back because there were several things I didn't get around to seeing, and there was plenty to see and do!

I would encourage folks to go to Ricochet Meetups, even if it's just for one meal or event. You'll get to meet some of your fellow Ricochet members, as well as see and do interesting things. And if you stay for the entire Meetup, you just might get some great blackmail pics!

And do swing by Buc-ee's if you get the chance! We stopped at all 3 on our way home. Probably spent more money there than at KSC . . .