I was afforded the opportunity this weekend to attend an annual, exclusive event: The Great American Picnic.
Now this just isn’t any picnic, this picnic is exclusively for employees of USA (United Space Alliance) They give massive support to NASA in the way of manufacturing parts for the Space Shuttles. This annual event is by invitation only. USA employees get camping passes, one of which they can pass along to friends or family. And pass along ole Bob did. Thanks, Bob, for an awesome time!
The campground of Kars Park on the Banana River is government property, just down the road from Kennedy Space Center, and you have to work for the government (or one of it’s supplier subsidy contractors) to even get a yearly pass at Kars.
You don’t have to camp, you can just attend the picnic on Saturday (about $7 a person for Sonny’s BBQ catered food) However, the picnic offered all the free sodas, beer and roasted corn you could consume. Port-a-Potties be damned, it was a good time! I’m always up for free beer!
Let’s get to some photos, eh!
The view from our campsite
View from my tent
Great American Picnic complete with kiddy attractions
and music, of all kinds!
Ummm, that roasted corn was GOOD! Yummy!
My friend, Mary, and I’s dirty camper feet (yes, it was also yesterday’s WW)
Ok, ok, so I’m obsessed with Spanish Moss (and as I’ve learned, Florida’s Live Oak trees)
Totum pole marking the way back to my freakin’ campsite!
I love yard art! So to see this piece next to a travel trailer campsite, I was thrilled. This is a zoom shot so you can see the cruise ship at Port Canaveral (that’s the Disney cruise liner.)
Since the campsite is situated on the west bank of the Banana River, we could see the Delta II Rocket launch pad on the east side of the Banana River. Yep, that’s right folks, I got to see a rocket lift off from its pad! It may have been a river’s width away but it was still awesome!
Hopefully I’ll be able to bring you some still shots of that soon. Also, I not only video taped the lift off, but also scenes from the classic car show and best of all….the picnic’s chili cook-off.
Lot’s more to come!
by betchai, on March 12 2009 @ 2:37 pm
ahhhh, i love that corn!!!! looks so sweet and juicy!! and what great lively pictures, yes, love the Spanish moss picture too.
betchai’s last blog post..Spring is Here!
by grottogirl, on March 12 2009 @ 4:13 pm
That looks like a great time. It reminds me of the giant family reunions we used to attend when I was little. I kind of miss those.
Love the pictures, too.
grottogirl’s last blog post..ABC’s Castle — Derivative or Delightful?
by lala, on March 12 2009 @ 6:53 pm
Hi Betchai! Yes, that corn was awfully tasty! It was! And after cooking, they dipped it in butter! Oh my goodness!
GrottoGirl, it was like a family reunion. We used to have them also, but always at my aunt’s house and never in a park. But this was basically a family of workers. With the space program on the chopping block, they were saying that this is probably the last year for this picnic.
by Martyn, on March 13 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Sunshine, free food, beer and music plus the chance to see a shuttle blast off, all for $7, or in your case free. Fun in the sun for you hun, love the bird in the bottom photo. Sweet dreams.
Martyn’s last blog post..Pig Pork Moo
by lala, on March 14 2009 @ 12:14 am
LOL…no shuttle, rocket, Delta II rocket. I think there is one more shuttle launch that was supposed to happen last year but was moved to this year sometime (I think the launch is coming up pretty soon.) The Delta II rockets are huge. I remember the first one I saw a month ago. It rattled the windows of my apartment and made much more noise than the shuttle, which is kind of surprising.
yeah, free beer is always a good thing, to be sure.
by carey @ happysteps, on March 17 2009 @ 1:52 am
LOL. I am fond of taking photos of my shoes/feet too when on a tour!
Looking at my feet photos always make me smile and reminds me of the trivial things that happened on that particular trip. BTW, those trees are lovely and graceful. What a great camping site! Lucky you for being part of an exclusive camping event, it surely was a fun way to meet other people.
carey @ happysteps’s last blog post..Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at Vysehrad Castle, Prague