Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Today was a travel day as we moved from our campsite at Fort McAllister, GA, to a new campground in Mims, FL. We enjoyed another laid-back morning, but just as we were getting ready to hit the road, the campground’s water system was shut off for leak repairs. That meant no water at the dump station—so we skipped it, since we wouldn’t be able to rinse out the sewage hose and fittings properly.
Not long after leaving the park, we stopped at a Publix to grab a few groceries, including the coffee we forgot to pack. For lunch, we picked up a foot-long sub from a Subway in the same shopping center and split it. Our RV was parked along the edge of the lot, so we ate right there—taking in the scenic view of asphalt and being serenaded by the hum of lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and traffic.
Jane offered to drive the first leg of the trip. We missed a turn getting onto I-95 and had to do a bit of backtracking. About an hour into the drive, though, her back started acting up pretty badly, so we pulled over and I took over at the wheel.
Traffic on the interstate was a mixed bag—stop-and-go at times and especially heavy around Jacksonville—but we made it safely to the campground by around 4:30 p.m.
—— On the Road ——
We were a little hesitant about checking in at Cape Kennedy RV Resort. The place had racked up a handful of poor online reviews and recently lost its KOA affiliation—not exactly a glowing impression. But to our surprise, the check-in experience turned out to be quite nice. Our hostess was warm, welcoming, and full of helpful info.
Jane had heard there was a NASA launch scheduled for tonight, so she asked about the best spots to view it. Our hostess told us we’d likely be able to see it right from the campground, but she also offered up a few other options—including a specific restaurant in Titusville that supposedly had great viewing.
After check-in, we followed Carlos (our personal golf cart escort) to our assigned pull-through site—#19. It came with full hookups, but since we were only planning to stay for about an hour, we kept it simple and just hooked up the electricity. We then spent awhile relaxing and unwinding after the drive.
As 6:00 p.m. rolled around, we unplugged the RV and headed out toward Titusville. With the launch window set between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., we wanted to be sure we got a good spot for viewing.
—— Checking-in at the Campground ——
For our NASA launch viewing point, we took our hostess’s recommentation and headed to Shiloh’s Restaurant in Titusville. After, a 25-minute drive from the campground, we pulled into the far end of the large parking lot where there were still enough empty parking spaces to easily back the RV into one without being obtrusive or occupying two spaces.
Shiloh’s is perfectly perched along the Indian River, offering an unobstructed view across the water to the Kennedy Space Center—an ideal vantage point for rocket launches. We arrived without a reservation and were told we could seat ourselves upstairs. After a little searching, we managed to snag a cozy corner table by the window, which gave us a great view of the horizon.
The atmosphere was casual but buzzing with anticipation. Families, fellow travelers, and a few locals filled the tables, all enjoying seafood and drinks while keeping one eye on the eastern sky. Sensing that our little binoculars wouldn’t do the job, I dashed back to the RV to grab our larger pair. Unfortunately, the horizon was quite hazy. While we could make out the massive Vehicle Assembly Building in the distance, the surrounding launch pads and other structures were mostly hidden—occasionally appearing through the shifting mist as conditions changed.
To keep tabs on the launch, we followed the countdown on our phones using a rocket launch tracking app. Tonight’s scheduled launch was an Atlas V rocket, carrying a payload for Project Kuiper—Amazon’s ambitious plan to build a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit aimed at delivering global broadband internet.
Dinner arrived just before the scheduled 7:22 p.m. launch: a cod and scallop dish for me, and shrimp à la vodka for Jane—both paired with cold beers. Thinking liftoff was imminent, I dove into my meal a little too quickly, trying to sneak in a few bites before the show began. But the launch was delayed, due to less-than-ideal weather conditions.
With more time than expected, we slowed down, relaxed into the moment, and enjoyed our delicious meals properly. Between bites, we chatted with the couple at the next table while we all kept one eye on the hazy horizon. When the launch was delayed again, we wrapped up dinner, paid the bill, and headed back to the RV. The temperature had dropped, and the warm, familiar space of the RV sounded a lot more inviting than waiting it out in the chilly air.
—— Dinner at Shiloh’s ——
As darkness fell, the launch was pushed back once more—this time to 8:59 p.m., just within the designated 7:00 to 9:00 launch window. Our hopes were starting to dim, but we decided to stick it out a little longer, still hopeful. Finally, we got the update we’d been expecting but dreading: the launch was scrubbed.
—— Continuation of the Launch Watch ——
We drove back to the campground a little disappointed that we hadn’t gotten to witness the rocket launch, but still content. The evening at Shiloh’s had more than made up for it—with great food, good conversation, a scenic view, and the shared excitement that only a launch night can bring.
Back at our campsite, we noticed a bright streetlight positioned right next to our site. Oddly enough, it didn’t help much with hooking up the utilities—the RV cast just the right shadow to block out most of the light where we needed it. Still, we managed to get everything connected, and once inside, we didn’t waste any time. We climbed into bed, ready for some much-needed rest after a full and memorable day.