On the bank of the Banana River. There was a canal next to the campsite where I saw an actual submarine cruise up one morning. The day before the launch, with a cane pole and crystal-clear prawn as bait, I waded out into that canal a few feet, just to chest-deep. I baited up and laid the cane on the water. When it started to move away, I'd pull in a fish. I was in there for about 30 minutes, and when I climbed back out I had a stringer-full of fish. My parents and my five siblings had a good lunch that day.

About sharks...

#1. Do not wade out into canals.
#2. Do not hang a stringer of dead and dying fish from your belt.

Well, I was young and bulletproof.

The following morning, our picnic table was gone and there were about 2,000 more people than the night before. At time of launch, I headed back out to the canal and stood on one of the granite blocks that lined the bank. Apollo 11 was just visible above the distant trees. The base lit up and the plume was white and huge. The rocket moved and I felt the vibration shaking the granite. The ship rose and that was when I heard the ignition. The thunder, even at such a distance, drowned out all other sounds. Apollo rose, and my only thought was a repeat of the word "GO!" over and over in my head.

That ship was definitely built to go places.

It was a good vacation trip. When the Eagle landed, my Dad had it on the car radio as we cruised around Lion Country Safari.

Good times.