The Manatee's...

When we were in Orlando Florida for the STS-132 Launch so many things happened that we just know we are going to forget if we do not write them all down, so this is just a tiny part of the story. This is the story of the Manatee's in the Marina.


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So we are leaving KAR's park, which is a really nice camp ground owned by Kennedy Space Center on the Banana River. From the pier there you can see Pad A. It is an amazing area, green and lush. Well taken care of. And it sits right on the edge of the river with rolling green fields of soft grass. The whole place makes you want to run around barefoot all day long, which makes for the most peaceful, serene and romantic settings around. A few great trees gave the place character, and provided welcomed shade to hide under. The park is huge. It has baseball fields, a country store, showers, laundry facilities, tennis courts, and so much more. It also has a very small private Marina for KSC employees near the entrance gate.

One mid morning Carl and I are about to leave Kar's park for the days events, and we are heading slowly towards the entrance gate. Carl and I are driving the little Ford Escape we rented for the trip just leaving the park.And just off the grassy park that runs along side the marina in the water Carl sees out of the corner of his eye a big splash in the water. "What was that?" Carl asked quickly to me. His first thought with all the families running around, was that a kid fell in the water. The splash was a big one. "I don't know", I quickly retorted. Carl was already stopping the vehicle, and taking off his seat belt."I think a kid fell in the water." he stammers out. We both quickly without thinking jumped out of the car and ran to the water. As we got closer and closer it seemed as if it could have been a tire, but we just kept running in case it was a child after all. As we ran, we noticed no one was around, there were no kids, no adults, no signs of anyone around.

Then it hits us, there is a Manatee in the water. And then we see another, and another, and another. I climb on top of a park bench and perch myself against the railing to get a better shot with my camera. I keep hollering back qt Carl, "Do you see that? Do you see that?" Carl is farther behind me. Camera in hand now. There was a whole pod of them. Four, maybe 6 adult looking Manatees right there in the tiny Marina playing in the water. The pod was in the center of the marina, with maybe one or two further out in the safety of the over grown bushes and shrubs on the far side that no one could get to without a boat.

Carl walked to the end of one of the wooden wharfs of the Marina that was suppose to serve as a sidewalk to a docked boat, yacht, or other water recreational vehicle. No boats were on either side. In fact, there were no boats parked at any of the three spots where he was standing. All of a sudden he saw bubbles beside him. And then out of nowhere this full grown adult Manatee, in all of his gray elephant like skin pokes his nose through the water to get a better glimpse of this odd mammal on the dock. Carl is quick to run off several photographic shots right in succession of his close encounter.

It was amazing and great and a bit scary all at the same time. The Manatee was about 1000 lbs and about 10 feet long. Carl looked like an mere child in comparison. I ran to Carl's side, but the Manatee had already made his way back out to the pod. It was awesome. I asked him what he thought of his experience, and of course he was jazzed. And his first instinct was to rattle off a bunch of fast paced photos of his new sea cow friend. But he did admit to me, as much as he loves his camera, he was worried that if the Manatee had bumped the walkway, he could have easily fallen in, with his $3000.00 camera with him.

Well, we are so grateful that did not happen, and we are also grateful for the wonderful photos we got to get of them, especially our friend. What a treat to get to view these migratory animals in their natural habitats, doing what they are born to do. Eat, play, and travel! It was unreal, and remarkable!

This is one of my favorite things that happened on this trip. The right place at the right time. :) This does not do justice to how it felt, but on this you will have to trust me! It was remarkable!! I Loved It!!!!