It's thanks to the very cool community at ROL Chat that I have met several very friendly people, and I would say made good friends with some of them.

One of these fine folks mentioned to me that they were going to be in California for a launch, and at the end of the conversation, I was psyching myself up to have the talk with the wife about letting me go to a rocket launch 195 miles away to meet strange people.

As is standard procedure when I'm going somewhere cool, I borrowed my Brother's camera, and video camera, and headed out of town with ice, water, and food for the day.

I arrived just before the morning 'Wake Up Call' which seems to be the tradition of most of the 'overnight stay' launches I've been to, and I met up with the guy I was supposed to meet, and he (again with the nice community thing) hooked me up with some Chorizo & Egg Burritos. I chilled for the day, and watched things happen. This was one of my first launches, and it was really cool to see how things are done without having to worry about prepping or recovering anything, and not missing a beat because of it. It was a great time, and while I couldn't stay the night (though I wanted to) it was fantastic fun, and well worth the drive to see how things work, and to meet the people I met. Turns out, the next year, I met them all again, and more. Next year, I will probably meet even more.

.... And so, the World Turns...