Crew Dragon Docking

Hi All,

More screen captures from NASA TV.

Crew Dragon at four miles (Carl wants one of those lenses!).

ISS as seen from Dragon. The docking port is the tiny black spot in the middle.

Almost there.

Finally docked.

ISS crew commander Chris Cassidy getting ready for visitors.

Bob Behnken glides through the hatch.

Followed by Doug Hurley

Cosmonauts Anatoly and Ivan join in the welcoming ceremony.

A very exciting 24 hours. If Ivan and Anatoly look a little glum, it may be because the US will no longer be paying Russia $83,000,000 per seat to take astronauts to the ISS.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Launch America

Hi All,

In case you missed it, today we launched US astronauts from US soil for the first time since 2011.

Here Doug Hurley (L) and Bob Behnken depart the suit up room for Pad 39A

Just before they drove off, the Hurley family, wife Karen Nyberg(also an astronaut) and son Jack have a private moment, not including the NASA photographer!

Doug and Bob were strapped in and hooked up by the SpaceX suit technicians. Just before they closed the hatch, Doug reached over to peel off the name tag from his suit tech. You can see it in the upper left corner of this photo. That's going to be a great souvenir when he gets it back.

When they start pumping liquid oxygen, the super cold pipes cause huge condensation clouds.

Finally at 3:22:45 the Falcon 9 roared to life and the flight was on.

On the way to the International Space Station (ISS).

The rocket engine plumes spread out as the atmospheric pressure reduces at altitude.

This shot shows what the crew sees on their triple touch screen.

Here the second stage engine glows orange as the earth recedes. ISS here we come!

Meanwhile the Falcon 9 first stage has deorbited and landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic to fly another day.

Tune in tomorrow at 10:27 AM as the Crew Dragon capsule docks with the space station .

Sandy & Carl (mostly Carl😀)

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

DETECT Study

Hi All,

Carl joined the DETECT study to help researchers figure out whether data from smartwatches and fitness trackers can spot viral outbreaks like COVID-19.  

If you have an Apple Watch, Fitbit, or other wearable, please check out https://detectstudy.org

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Geek Pandemic Plan

Hi All,

Many people have asked us what we are going to do about our volunteering in Grand Teton this summer. Our answer has been, "if things settle down by mid July, we will go out to volunteer for August and September".

 But what does "settle down" really mean?

 Carl consulted the graphs of projected US daily deaths and we decided that if the Daily Death rate in the US declines along the projected curve, we would go, otherwise we stay.

 Here's the graph:

So, here are our criteria:

 June 15   if US Daily Deaths are below 800 (currently at 1403) we will make reservations for St Augustine and Coach service in Red Bay, AL

 July 7   if US Daily Deaths are below 400 we will take the coach to St Augustine for Wyatt's Graduation Party. Above 400 we will drive the car to Wyatt's party in the car and return to Sanibel after.

 July 23   If we get passed July 7 we will go to Red Bay, AL  for service. When service is completed, on July 23 if the US Daily Death rate is below 250, we drive to Grand Teton. If not we will return to Sanibel.

 We are not optimistic but this is the plan.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Getting Out a Little More

Hi All,

We moved onto one of the covered RV sites a couple of weeks ago. The shade of the canopy saves some wear& tear on the air conditioners.

Last weekend we drove to a new park in Ft Myers. Billy Creek Preserve is an artificial habitat used to filter storm water run off. They have some impressive trees 

and lots of birds including these roseate spoonbills.

Back in Grand Teton, our famous 24 year old bear #399 came out of hibernation with QUADRUPLETS! 

We think these are her 17th to 20th cubs.

In the indoor wildlife category, Ginger has been taking advantage of our being home more. She is continually begging for treats.

Sandy is still keeping us well fed during lockdown.

Every time we send a food picture we think of Jim Campbell who was famous for his food photos. We miss him a lot.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Staying Safe

Hi All,

Still staying close to home and wearing masks when out.

Though restaurants had reopened in FL, we were not ready for that much public exposure so on Mother's Day we got a take-out dinner and Sandy got king crab legs (this is 1/4 of the order!).

Big surprise on the Wildlife Drive entrance road-the lower hole has an eastern screech owl in it.

Even better, two days later we saw a small, light gray baby owlette in the same hole.

Further along the drive we found this great blue heron and snowy egret sharing a fishing spot.

Last week Sandy asked Carl to buy a bottle of Marsala wine. This delicious chicken marsala was the result.

Enough for two fabulous dinners. And yes, the wine made it into the cooking!

This morning, Carl had company in the laundry room. This Cuban anole stopped to show off his gular pouch.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

More Life in Lockdown

Hi All,

Though we are staying close to home, we do get out for a walk nearly every day.

Here is a little blue heron. The juveniles are white then they molt to dark blue. This one is part way

This curious plant is called painted leaf. The actual flower is tiny and green so the plant has evolved orange leave parts around the flower to attract pollinators.

This is a killdeer. We think she is feigning injury to lead predators away from the nest.

Most of the year, the tri-color heron has a gray bill. Look what happens in breeding season!

Sea turtles begin nesting on Sanibel beaches in April. Volunteer turtle watchers have reported over 40 nests already. 

Osprey brought his lunch to this pole to eat.

If you ever wondered about the risks of reopening the country too soon, here it is. If we continue current control measures, we get the dotted red line. If we don't, the current 2,000 deaths per day could continue well into June.

We are doing OK, although Sandy's 86 year old uncle Erwin died this week from Covid19. 

Please stay safe and stay home.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502