Category Archives: Alabama

US Space & Rocket Center Tour; Old Co-Worker Reunion (Huntsville “Rocket City”, AL)

On Thursday morning we said our thanks and ‘see-ya-later’s’ to Tom & Johnna for letting us stay at their beautiful home on the lake and we headed north towards Huntsville, AL.

Screen Shot 2016-07-15 at 8.30.43 AM

After a scenic 90 mile drive we arrived in Huntsville, AL around mid-day.

IMG_0016
A couple of the rockets on display at the Space Center are visible from a long distance while driving on the interstate.

We found the US Space & Rocket Center Campground (←link) with one of our online search tools for RV parks and campgrounds.  It’s located right next to the Space Center and Space Camp buildings.  I called ahead to confirm availability while we were enroute.

IMG_0019

When we pulled in to the RV park we saw a ‘Campground Full’ sign in the office window, but luckily the host remembered my call and directed us to our spot after we paid $20 for the night.

IMG_8761

IMG_8764
Our nice shaded spot at the US Space and Rocket Center Campground in Huntsville, AL.

We quickly got set up in our 30 Amp full hook-up site and went directly over to the US Space & Rocket Center for a tour.  We wanted to make the most out of the rest of our day here.  This is a really cool place, check out the Wikipedia® link which tells us:

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a museum operated by the government of Alabama, showcasing rockets, achievements, and artifacts of the U.S. space program. Sometimes billed as “Earth’s largest space museum”, astronaut Owen Garriott described the place as, “a great way to learn about space in a town that has embraced the space program from the very beginning.”

Opened in 1970, just after the second manned mission to the lunar surface, the center not only showcases Apollo Program hardware but also houses interactive science exhibits, Space Shuttle and Army rocketry and aircraft. With more than 1,500 permanent rocketry and space exploration artifacts, as well as many rotating rocketry and space-related exhibits, the center occupies land carved out of Redstone Arsenal adjacent to Huntsville Botanical Garden at exit 15 on Interstate 565. The center also offers bus tours of nearby Marshall Space Flight Center.

The entrance fee to the Space & Rocket Center was $46 for the two of us.

IMG_8790

We spent around 4 hours walking around the Space Center checking out the myriad of interactive displays and exhibits:

IMG_0022

IMG_0023

IMG_0027

We toured the International Space Station as part of a guided tour.

IMG_8767

We watched divers in the Neutral Buoyancy Training Tank.

IMG_8768

IMG_0021

We watched a cool movie at the Spacedome IMAX® Theater (additional $10 fee) and afterwards continued our tour.

IMG_8783
Lunar Lander exhibit.
IMG_8785
Saturn V exhibit.
IMG_8787
The  Mobile Quarantine Facility built out of an Airstream® trailer.
IMG_8765
Pathfinder – the world’s only full-stack space shuttle display.
IMG_8769
Outside rocket exhibits.

IMG_8770

When we finished touring most of the interior exhibits we headed outside to find out it had rained as you can see in most of the following pictures of the outside exhibits:

IMG_8772

IMG_8773

IMG_8774

IMG_8775

IMG_8776

IMG_8777

IMG_8778

IMG_8779

IMG_0030

When we finished our cool tour of the Space Center we drove back to the adjacent campground just in time to meet up with a former co-worker and friend from my previous job with the Missile Defense Agency, in Colorado Springs.  Jeff drove over to see us after he got off work.

IMG_0036
Jeff Woods visiting the Urban Escape Vehicle in Huntsville, AL.

I was in contact with Jeff on Facebook® and we coordinated to meet up while we were in Huntsville.  Jeff and I were co-workers during the ~7 years I spent with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).  Some of you may recall that I resigned my position and retired from MDA in May 2014 which is when we started full-timing in the Urban Escape Vehicle.  He recently changed jobs and moved here to Huntsville where the MDA  is headquartered.  It was great catching up on old times.  Thanks for stopping by Jeff!  Hope to see you again soon.

After we said our ‘see-ya-laters’ to Jeff; Stilla and I relaxed under the awning to enjoy the cooler evening weather.  It was actually pleasant outside after the brief rain showers in the afternoon.  Then we heard model rockets being shot off next to the campground.

IMG_0043

The Space Center here has several programs for kids here; Space Camp, Space Academy, Aviation Challenge, and Robotics Camp.  The Space Camp kids were coming over by the bus load to shoot off their model rocket kits and we had a front row seat 🙂

IMG_0038

Innumerable model rockets seem to find their final resting place in the trees surrounding the launch field and campground.

IMG_0045

Space Camp counselors assisted each kid in placing their rockets on the permanently installed launch stands.

IMG_0048

And then they were remotely launched.

IMG_0052

IMG_0053

While we were watching the rockets being launched, one of them had a mis-fire and landed directly behind the blast windows in the middle of the kids.  No one was hurt, but it sure created some excitement.

IMG_0057

I hope you enjoyed the Space & Rocket Center pictures… it’s another “must-see” attraction if you’re ever in the area.

This morning (Friday) we will continue our trek towards Bowling Green, KY to visit our youngest daughter.  She’s expecting us to get there before evening.  It’s also our 33rd wedding anniversary.  Happy Anniversary Stilla!

IMG_0061
Evening view of our spot at the Space Center RV park in Huntsville, AL.

Next post will be from Bowling Green, KY…

 

 

Moochdocking at Weiss Lake (Centre, AL)

As I mentioned in my last post, we’re still hanging out at Tom & Johnna’s house near Centre, AL for a couple days.  It’s been great catching up with them.

Tom & Johnna hooked us up to 50 Amp power from their super-nice RV garage.  Tom’s Alpine Coach is safely tucked away inside the large door next to us.

IMG_8729
The Urban Escape Vehicle parked at Tom & Johnna’s.

Here’s the beautiful Phillips homestead (below).  What a nice place to moochdock, eh?

IMG_8726

View of the lake and boat house from the back deck.

IMG_0002

View from the dock back toward the house.

IMG_8724

And here’s another backyard shot (below) looking towards the back of the house.  Glad I don’t have to mow the lawn 🙂

IMG_9993

Tom grilled us some burgers on the back deck on our first evening.

IMG_9990

On Wednesday, we all jumped into their car for a guided tour of the area.  You just can’t beat having local tour-guides 🙂  Check out Tom’s car (below); he had accent stripes applied that match the Alpine Coach.  It looks pretty good being towed down the road behind the Alpine with matching colors.

IMG_8752

Our first stop was Noccalula Falls Park (←link) in Gadsden, AL.  Per the official website (←link) the park consists of 250 acres and the falls are located on land once owned by R.A. Mitchell, who gave the site to the city of Gadsden, so that the area could be improved, and everyone could enjoy the majestic falls. Across the street from the falls you will find R.A. Mitchell Elementary School, named in his honor. The main feature of the park is a notable 90-foot (27-m) waterfall with a gorge trail winding through its basin and past caves, an aboriginal fort, an abandoned dam, pioneer homestead, and Civil War carvings. The park also features a petting zoo, mini-golf course, the Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge (built 1899) and a replica 1863 C. P. Huntington train ride. It was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on May 12, 1976.  Located next to the park is a nice campground that we toured for future reference.  Pretty nice!

IMG_8730

IMG_8731

IMG_8735
Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, AL.
IMG_0006
Me semi-wading above the falls.

We also took a short miniature train ride around the park.  It was fun but I don’t know if we got our money’s worth.

IMG_8747

IMG_8746

IMG_8745

IMG_8742

And then we visited the Veterans Memorial area of the park:

IMG_8750

IMG_8751

After our little park tour, we checked out another local campground (River Country Campground) that Tom & Johnna stayed at before while they were waiting to close on their house.  Check out the link, it’s pretty nice.  We’ll have to keep this campground in mind the next time we’re in the area.  But then again, who’d want to pay fees at the campground when you can moochdock on the lake, eh? 🙂

Then we stopped at a nice restaurant named Super Hibachi Buffet & Grill for a late lunch/early dinner.  Great food with great friends.

IMG_8755
(L to R) Johnna, Tom, and Stilla.

One last stop on the way back to their house was the Lake Weiss dam.  I would have loved to join those guys fishing off the raised walkway (below).  Maybe next time.

IMG_8756

And here’s a picture of the beautiful sunset from the back of the house.

IMG_9999

Thanks for letting us visit your beautiful home Tom & Johnna!  It was great seeing you guys again.  Hopefully, we can go on a local tour together in the Alpine Coaches next time 🙂

Our next stop will be Huntsville, AL for an overnight stay.  Stilla wants to be at our daughter’s house in Bowling Green, KY by Friday in time for our 33rd wedding anniversary.  So stay tuned for an update…

Another Overnight Elks Lodge & Alpine Coach Friends (Tuscaloosa, AL)

We continued our eastward trek along I-20 on Monday and ended up driving 227 miles from Vicksburg, MS to Tuscaloosa, AL.  We stopped at a Pilot/Flying J in Meridian and topped off the fuel tank with 84 gallons of diesel for $187.  I like the Pilot/Flying J’s because they’re always easy-in and easy-out.  Plus we have their discount card (Pilot RV Plus) that we can pay online when the bill is due.  Calculations after refueling confirmed our Scangauge D™ is accurate and we’re getting a little over 8 miles to the gallon.  Not too bad 🙂

Screen Shot 2016-07-12 at 10.21.18 PM

IMG_8710

Once again our ~$100 annual Elks Lodge membership pays for itself…  our iPhone app routed us to the Tuscaloosa Elks Lodge #393 where we went into the lodge and paid a reasonable $20 for the night.

IMG_8712

After checking in, we disconnected the Silverado and pulled into a 50 Amp full hook-up site next to the only other Coach at the lodge.

IMG_8713

Nice spots backed up to a short grassy area and thick woods.  Next to us was a nice covered picnic area with BBQ pits.

IMG_8714

After getting set up we went back into the lodge for some tasty margaritas and conversation with friendly folks.  The bartender cooked us up a really good pizza and a BBQ beef sandwich for our dinner.

IMG_8715

In the morning, I got our ladder out and spent some time washing the bugs off the front of the Urban Escape Vehicle.  With a little help from Stilla, I even got most of the coach washed and wiped dry again.

Around noon on Tuesday we hit the road again and plugged the route to a Walmart in Centre, AL into our RVND™ GPS.  We’ve been in contact with some old friends from Colorado Springs who invited us to park for a couple days at their new (to them) house near Lake Weiss.  Tom & Johnna Phillips coordinated to meet us at the Walmart parking lot so they could lead us out to their beautiful home on the lake.

Screen Shot 2016-07-12 at 7.31.16 AM

Tom & Johnna were already waiting for us when we rolled into the Walmart parking lot after our ~145 mile drive from the Elks Lodge in Tuscaloosa.  They guided us to their house where we’re now moochdocking on their 50 Amp power hookup 🙂

Tom & Johnna have been here a year now but used to be in the Family Campers & RV’ers (FCRV), Rolling Springs Chapter out of Colorado Springs.  We were also members of FCRV at that time and went on several camping trips together.  We’ve stayed in touch with them along with several other current and past members.  My Dad and stepmom Elaine are still active members and as a matter of fact – about this time last year we were with them in Gillette WY at the FCRV Campvention.  And BTW – did I mention Tom & Johnna also have an Alpine Coach!?

Tom grilled us up some burgers on the back deck while we watched the sun set over the lake in the back yard and got caught up.  Thanks Tom & Johnna for the hospitality!

Check back tomorrow for more pics… Tom & Johnna plan on showing us around the area…