Bon voyage, Lisa

The Cocoa Beach surf community sending Lisa Artz's spirit on it's way this morning in a traditional paddleout for a deceased surfer. A sad day but uplifting to see so many out to pay their respects for one of our own. Lisa was loved by many and will be missed. Aloha Oe, Lisa.

From above

Halfway between the Pier and downtown Cocoa Beach.

Thanks for the memories

Atlantis cooling down on the ground this morning at 6 AM shortly after touchdown at Kennedy Space Center. Was quite a sad moment hearing that signature double sonic boom of a returning spacecraft knowing it was likely the last time I'll ever hear one. Thanks to the astronauts and all the men and women behind the scenes who have made manned space flight a normal part of our lives in Cocoa Beach and the area. Job well done. We're proud of you.

SUP

Stand-up paddleboarder just after sunrise this morning hoping for a few leftover waves from Tropical Storm Bret. Yesterday's surf was clean and fun with occasional glassy, head-high sets..

July morning after the rain

Fishing boats netting bait early this morning in south Cocoa Beach.

Got a good soaking rain yesterday afternoon and woke up to an earthquake at 2:41 AM this morning. Actually it was a Delta IV rocket taking a new generation GPS satellite into orbit 11,000 miles above the Earth. The shuttle may be gone but the rockets are still flying.

July morning

Graduation

The last shuttle launch as seen from south Cocoa Beach above
and from Coconuts, below, July 7, 2011.


Didn't think I'd get emotional when the last shuttle, Atlantis, launched but it felt like one of those moments in life when you know things have changed, that you can't go back; the neighbors you loved moved away, the new friends you met on a trip get on the ferry leaving you on the dock, graduation day, the moment the Army barber puts the clippers to your skull and says put a finger on any moles, that kind of "everything from this moment will be different". That's what it felt like seeing Atlantis slip into the clouds. Things will be different now. We've graduated.