After 2 pm check in we interrupted unpacking for a sundown beach walk, IPhones and Sony Alpha 700 camera in hand on the last evening of 2019. There is a business on A1A, the main road through town, advertising “beach weddings” and “elopements.” Here, using the 18 – 200 mm f3.5-6.2 lens, I spied this grouping of a mature couple holding hands, minister in attendance, for a wedding ceremony witnessed by young adult children on the right, parents (?) left. The groom’s shorts contrast with the bride’s white gown.
Sunlight, low in the western sky, was perfect for mirror-like reflections in the retreating surf.
A given of the Atlantic beach is the late afternoon light, best for capturing figures against the ocean.
Written below the high tide mark, a message inscribed, impermanent in spite of the deep cuts.
I have practice framing sunsets against beach development. Cannot complain as we enjoy our beach side condo.
A slide show of these images.
Mature Love / Beach VowsCruise Ships Depart Cape Canaveral Late AfternoonTo Each His Own PassionSurf CastingBlack Skimmer Going His Own WayGull ReflectionLast Sunset of 2019Messages in the Sand Washed Away Twice Daily at High Tide
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Here is the fourth in a series of photographs centered on the early history of space flight on Cape Canaveral mostly taken during a tour organized by the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation. Google the foundation for details of future tours. Here we explore the sites closests to the Lighthouse: Launch Complex 21 and 22.
“Vengance Weapons” re-purposed
Vergeltungswaffe 1 (Vengance Weapon 1 AKA V-1), produced at Peenemünde on the Baltic Sea was first used against Great Britan by Germany one week after the D-day landings. 8,025 of these flying bombs, the first cruise missles, caused the death of 22,892 people, mostly civilians. The first cruise missles for the USA were developed less than 1,000 feet away from the lighthouse. After touring the lighthouse we boarded the bus to visit these sites, Launch Complex 21 and 22.
Click Any Image for a larger viewe
Launch Complex 21 and 22 are marked with a labled “pin” on this image from Google Earth.
Nature abounds in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This ibis hunted near the lighthouse on our way to Launch Complexes 21,22.
We passed close to the blockhouse first viewed in my post, “Lighthouse and Rockets,” and I captured this detail of the long abandoned structure. The last test launch of a Mace missle was June, 1960.
This wreckage photograph was part of my,“Lighthouse and Rockets” post. It was taken from a lighthouse portal. It is a type of cruise missle, although I cannot identify the exact type, comparing the engine, on the right, with available photographs of the “Bull Goose” and “Mace” missles developed here.
Bull Goose and Mace
Rail launched, as was the German V-1, the missles developed here were called “Bull Goose” and “Mace.” Bull Goose was a delta winged craft intended as a decoy, to appear on radar as a strategic bomber during a nuclear attack. At that time, the rails were in the open. The building here was a revampment of the site for development of the Mace. The other side of this structure is open, the launch rail pointed up from the rear. There are two launch rails, numbered 1 and 2. The building placard is “05961,” the numeral “1” designates site 1. The use of numbers of designate a site is unusual. Letters are used elsewhere on Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center.
The powerful rocket exhause was directed though these pipes. Site 1 is on the right.
Guidance or “Cruise Control”
Navigation is a crucial requirement for cruise missles. The Bull Goose used a gyroscope with no reference to surroundings. The guidance system held the launch bearings, a successful flight was completed within 115 nautical miles of the target.
If deployed, the plan was for thousands of these missles to launch 1 hour before the attack craft set out and 1 hour after. The missles were not armed, but would descend in the thousands around the targets. Similar to what the Germans did to civilians in England.
After three years and 136.5 million dollars the Bull Goose was cancelled because it could not simulate either the B-47 Stratojet or B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomb delivery aircraft. Not a single decoy was fired in anger.
The building sign “05912” identifies this exhaust tube as being launch site 2.
The Mace, for which this building was created, used a guidance ATRAN (Automatic Terrain Recognition And Navigation, a radar map-matching system). The map was produced on a 35 mm film strip carried on the missle, the live radar returns were “matched” against the film with course correction made for differences. The Mace was of limited usefulness due to the lack of radar maps for target areas within the Soviet Union. The Mace was deployed to Germany and South Korea until phase out in 1969.
Sources of information for this post: I used information from the Wikipedia site for the key words V-1, Launch Complex 21, Launch Complex 22, Mace, Bull Goose.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved.
Here is the third in a series of photographs centered on the early history of space flight on Cape Canaveral mostly taken during a tour organized by the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation. Google the foundation for details of future tours. Here we start with Roman Numerals and end with Rocket Research.
Inscribed Roman Numerals
We were lucky to be on this tour, for a period of time the Air Force closed off the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse Foundation obtained permission to start this tour in 2016 (this was January 2018) and I happened to discover it while poking around in preparation for the SpaceX “Falcon Heavy” launch in early February 2018.
As Pam and I climbed, each floor docent (volunteer guide) was so helpful with information and hospitality. At the last floor, the stairway to the upper floors was roped off. Top levels were closed, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is operational. Here is a photograph of the closed off staircase. There is a roman numeral “6” (VI) inscribed in the staircase column. This is the numbering system described in the first post, “Cape Canaveral Lighthouse,” by which the entire 151-foot lighthouse can be disassembled/reassembled as was done in the 19th century.
Stairway to Upper Floors
The fine finish of the handrail termination for the stairs to upper floors is an example of 19th century attention to detail.
Macro of numeral inscription on a lower floor stairway column.
Roman Numeral 43 on staircase column of lower floor
View of Space History from the Portals
The lower staircase support column was much wider with space for illustrations and displays. Here is a reproduction of a watercolor of the lighthouse from the earliest days of rocketry on the cape. The lighthouse keeper, assistant and their families lived alongside the tower. The housing was later razed. The Lighthouse Foundation is raising money to build reproductions of the housing.
I put my copyright on the photograph to control copying. The copyright does NOT refer to the artwork.
The painting is an accurate representation of the tower. The dark spots are the windows, or portals, captured in my last post, “Lighthouse Details.” Every portal offered a view of historical or current rocketry. In the following photograph, beyond the outbuilding, is a blockhouse, protection for the early rocket scientists, now abandoned. The structure services launch complex 21 and 22. More in a later post.
Wreckage with Recollections of Werner von Braun
Depending on your viewpoint, the landscape around the tower is either littered with or graced by relics such as the wreckage in the following photograph.
As we stood on the exterior staircase, looking toward the building in the following photograph, the docent told a story of Werner von Braun, how he loved to smoke cigarettes and watch rocket tests from the top of the lighthouse. After some spectacular failures, for reasons of personal safety he was excluded from the tower. His office during the development of the Minute Man and Persing missiles was in this building.
Building next to the lighthouse where Werner VonBraun had an office during the early days of USA rocket research.
This view overlooks the former sites of Minute Man and Persing rocket development. Beyond the launch towers is Port Cape Canaveral, visible to the right are large cruise ships.
Viewed from the Cape Canaveral lighthouse, the port i is in the distance with cruise ships.
Looking from portals facing northeast is this view across ICBM road and its many launch sites. We will visit these in a future post.
Viewed from the Cape Canaveral lighthouse, these are active launch sites.
Portrait of a Sea Turtle with fish, sea floor and a rocket launch. 541 Washington Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 Near Cheri Down Park, Brevard County, Florida
Portrait of a Sea Turtle with fish, sea floor and a rocket launch. 541 Washington Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 Near Cheri Down Park, Brevard County, Florida
Along the bottom margin is the artist’s signature, “David Roth 2022.”
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
The exposed mudflats on tidal wetlands attract a variety of shorebirds. Shorebirds are seasonal residents that make long migratory journeys between their breeding grounds in the Arctic and their wintering areas in South America. Merritt Island NWR provides an important resting and feeding area for this group of birds. Some stay for the winter, and others use the refuge as a fuel stop before continuing on their journey.
In tidal areas, shorebird feeding schedules are influenced by the cycle of the tides. Changes in tidal cycles expose foraging areas in mudflats for a period during the day. At other points during the cycle, the water in these same areas becomes too deep or the ground too dry for shorebirds to feed effectively.
Shorebirds of different species can and do forage together. Because bill length and shape varies from species to species, birds can pursue different prey in the same area at the same time without competing with each other. Because of varying bill lengths, the different bird species find their food at different depths in the substrate. Mixed species of shorebirds are a common sight.
Reference: the text of this blog was transcribed from signage along the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Brevard County, Florida
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved.
In the crisp solitude of Cocoa Beach at dawn, witness a world untouched: golden light dances on waves, the chill air whispers, and a singular peace reigns over the empty shore.
Upon Cocoa’s shore at dawn’s first light, Where waves dance and shimmer with cold delight, A lone watcher, I stand in solitude’s embrace, Feeling the north wind’s brisk and biting trace.
The sand, a canvas of untouched grains, Bears witness to the sun’s golden reins, As it climbs, a fiery charioteer, Breaking the grip of night’s lingering fear.
Windy February Sunrise
The sea froths in a wild, wind-driven churn, As the day ignites and the horizons burn. Forty degrees, a chill to the bone, Yet in this brisk morn, I find myself alone.
No footprints mar the beach’s pristine face, Save mine, etched briefly in time’s fleeting grace. The gulls have fled the gusts’ relentless push, Leaving the skies to the clouds’ rosy blush.
In this brisk February gale, I watch the sun’s rays like warriors pale, Brandishing light against the cold, dark sea, A spectacle of warmth, just for me.
The beach, expansive, a desolate stage, A world apart from the human age. The waves, the wind, the chill, the light, Compose a symphony of nature’s might.
I breathe in deep the saline air, Each gust a verse in the morning’s prayer. The sea’s rhythm against the shore, A melody I’ve come to adore.
Here in this chill, this wind, this hue, I find a peace profound and true. Cocoa Beach at sunrise, a sight to behold, A memory in my heart, forever enfolded.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Beneath the brooding storm clouds moving with silent intent, I stood, the air electric with the storm’s approach. Yet, turning east, the Sun’s Eye winked at the horizon, igniting the sky in defiance—a fleeting warmth against the impending tempest’s chill.
Amidst the sprawling canvas of Cocoa Beach, a beachcomber such as I stands witness to the theater of the skies, a stage upon which the sun and storm perform their eternal dance. The dawn of this particular February morning brought with it a spectacle of dual realms, a chiaroscuro of the celestial drama that unfolds in minutes and lingers in the heart.
To the east, ‘the Sun’s Eye’—a fierce, glowing orb—peered over the horizon, its gaze cutting through the cool morning mist. The sea, a mirror of the skies, blushed with the hues of a blooming peach, its waves whispering secrets as they lapped the shore. Each frothy crest reflected the sun’s burgeoning fire, a symphony of light that sang of the world’s awakening. It was a moment of birth and beginning, the kindling of a day where the potential hung ripe as the citrus in the Floridian groves.
This radiance, however, was but a half of the morning’s tale. As I turned, facing west, the sky told a different story. Here, the heavens grew heavy with brooding storm clouds, a tumultuous sea of gray above the green. These undulating specters crept forward, a procession of ashen waves threatening to swallow the day’s young light. The air, charged with the tension of an impending tempest, hummed with the promise of nature’s fury.
Twenty-one minutes—a mere breath in the lifespan of the cosmos—was all it took for the scenery to shift, the mood to transform. To the east, the promise of warmth and the whisper of daylight’s caress; to the west, the cold omen of a storm’s embrace. This juxtaposition, this confrontation of fire and shadow, was a testament to the Earth’s ephemeral beauty.
In the presence of such a display, I—a mere beachcomber—was a sentinel between two worlds. The sunrise spoke to me of hope, of the unyielding rhythm of time that brings renewal each day. Its golden fingers painted the world in a palette of possibility, a reminder that each dawn brings its own story, its own song to be sung.
The approaching storm, in contrast, murmured of respect for the forces beyond our grasp, the humbling power that nature wields with indifferent grace. Its darkening clouds, layered like the furrowed brows of ancient gods, were a canvas of the world’s raw strength, its capacity for change, for washing the old away with a torrent.
Here, on this stretch of sand, the universe seemed to converge—a meeting point of opposing forces, a confluence of light and darkness, creation and destruction. In the face of such majesty, I found a profound tranquility, a sense of my place in the grand tapestry. For what are we but observers, participants in the grand design, bearing witness to the moments when the world reveals its contrasting character?
This morning’s display was a parable of life itself, written in the language of the skies. The Sun’s Eye, ever-watchful, ever-prescient, promised the comfort of the familiar, the steady passage of time marked by the constancy of its rise and fall. The storm, brooding and unpredictable, was a reminder of life’s uncertainty, the inevitability of change and the beauty found within it.
As the light grew and the darkness encroached, I stood at the crossroads of day and night, life and experience. With the sand beneath my feet and the salt air filling my lungs, I embraced the duality of existence, knowing well that each sunrise heralds not just the day, but the inescapable storm that follows. In Cocoa Beach, on the Space Coast, the universe had unfolded its dual nature before me, an eternal beachcomber, in the span of a single, breathtaking morning.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Discover the captivating world of Laughing Gulls, the jesters of Cocoa Beach’s shores. Dive into their lives, exploring the dance of courtship, the adaptability in their diet, and their vital role in the coastal symphony.
On the shores of Cocoa Beach, where the Atlantic’s waves gently knead the sands of Brevard County, Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) enact their daily ballet of survival and adaptation. In the span of mere minutes, the shifting light of Florida’s coastal theater presents two scenes, each with the same protagonist yet donned in starkly different costumes.
The Many Faces of Adaptation
The first gull, captured against the frothy lace of the incoming tide, is the epitome of the breeding plumage: a sleek, black hood that starkly contrasts its pearl-grey wings. This attire is not merely for allure but speaks of its readiness to engage in the rituals of courtship and the responsibilities of rearing the next generation. This black hood, a seasonal crown, fades as the duties of breeding wane, revealing the less conspicuous garb of the non-breeding season—a mottled grey head atop the same sturdy body, ready to blend into the off-season’s landscape.
Laughing Gull with breeding plumageLaughing Gull, nonbreeding plumage
Minutes Of Separation
The mere minutes that separate the two photographs are but a whisper in the grand dialogue of evolutionary time. Yet, they offer a glimpse into the ever-present duality of the Laughing Gull’s life. In one, the gull stands resolute, black-headed and bold against the soft chaos of the sea’s edge. In the other, its head appears dusted with the wisdom of age, a visual softening that speaks to the less confrontational time of year.
Here are some observations to make sense of this disparity:
Overlap of Molting Periods: Laughing Gulls do not all breed at the same time; some individuals may start molting into or out of breeding plumage earlier or later than others. This can result in birds with different plumage being seen together.
Varied Maturity: Younger gulls or those not yet of breeding age may not have developed the breeding plumage, while adults in the same flock may display full breeding colors.
Breeding Colonies: Gulls often nest in colonies where birds in different stages of the breeding cycle can be observed together, including those that may have lost mates or failed to breed and therefore did not develop breeding plumage.
Health or Nutritional Status: Sometimes a bird’s plumage can be affected by its health or nutritional status. A gull in poor health might not molt into breeding plumage as expected.
Geographic and Climatic Factors: Local environmental conditions can influence the timing of molting. Birds in the same location can experience different environmental cues that might affect their molt.
Non-breeding Visitors: During the breeding season, some non-breeding birds may still be present and intermingle with breeding birds, either because they are passing through the area or they are non-breeding residents.
Extended Breeding Season: In areas with a long breeding season, such as in subtropical and tropical regions, the breeding and non-breeding plumages can be seen at the same time due to the extended period over which breeding can occur.
Masters of the Coastal Realm
The Laughing Gulls are more than just residents of the coast; they are its caretakers and witnesses. Their laughing calls are synonymous with the ocean’s breath, a soundscape that harmonizes with the rhythmic crashing of waves. These birds thrive in the intertidal zone, a challenging environment where land and sea engage in a perpetual tussle. Here, they must be opportunistic, agile, and resourceful, for the beach offers both a cornucopia of food and the threat of unpredictability.
The Ebb and Flow of Existence
The life of a Laughing Gull is intimately tied to the ebb and flow of the tides. Their diet is a testament to their adaptability, comprising anything the sea yields—fish, crustaceans, and even the unfortunate insects that stray too close to the brine. They are pirates of the shore, unafraid to snatch a meal from another bird or scavenge the remains of human activity.
Reflections on Change and Constancy
Laughing Gulls are the embodiment of the sea’s narrative around us—a story of change and constancy. Their lives are a testament to the tumultuous history of the ocean, and their presence is a thread that connects us to the vast, blue mystery. They remind us that, while the sea’s moods are many and its faces ever-changing, it remains a central force in the narrative of life on Earth.
In the Face of Tomorrow
In the space between these two images, we find a profound lesson on the nature of time and the resilience of life. The Laughing Gulls of Cocoa Beach, with their shifting plumage and timeless cries, are messengers of the past, envoys of the present, and harbingers of the future. As we contemplate their existence, we are reminded of our own place within the natural world—a world that requires our understanding and protection, lest the laughter of these gulls fades into the silent archives of history.
The Laughing Gulls of Cocoa Beach continue their dance, unfazed by the human gaze, their lives a fluid adaptation to the sea’s caprices. And as the sun marches across the sky, casting the story of these gulls into relief against the shifting sands, we are privileged to observe, to learn, and to cherish the Atlantic Ocean’s enduring tale.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Discover a heartfelt story woven from the sands of Cocoa Beach on New Year’s Eve, where shells and stars intertwine, inviting you to ponder the delicate dance of near and far.
On the last day of 2023, as the sun began its descent on Cocoa Beach, I found myself tracing the contours of a heart laid out in Ark Clam shells. Each shell, with its ridges and grooves, felt like a chronicle of the ocean’s whispers. This artful mosaic, set against the granular canvas of the beach, was a testament to the playful hands of time and tide. I marveled at the intention behind it, the human desire to create and connect, to leave a mark, however fleeting, on the vastness of nature.
I found this beach heart while walking on Cocoa Beach on the last day of 2023. It is composed of the various shade of Ark Shells. Ark clam is the common name for a family of small to large-sized saltwater clams or marine bivalve molluscs in the family Arcidae. These are the most common shells found there.
The shells were cool and firm under my fingertips, each one a unique piece of the year’s mosaic. Some were a pristine white, while others bore the earthy tones of the sea’s floor. I pondered the journeys they had taken, tumbling in the ocean’s embrace before resting here, on the threshold of a new year. The act of arranging them into a symbol of love felt like an ode to the past year’s collective joys and sorrows, an offering to the unknown adventures of the year to come.
As the day waned, my gaze shifted from the shells to where the water met the sky. There, a sailboat floated serenely, a silent sentinel between two worlds. It was a picture of solitude, a single vessel on the brink of the infinite sea, beneath the expanding dome of the heavens. On the horizon, the silhouette of a cargo ship whispered stories of distant lands and the ceaseless pulse of commerce and exploration that defined our modern era.
On New Years Eve 2023 this sailboad moored off North 1st Street, Cocoa Beach, Brevard County, Space Coast, Florida.
The beach was quiet, the sounds of the day giving way to the evening’s peaceful lull. The sailboat’s stillness was a stark contrast to the perpetual motion of the cargo ship, each representing different paths on the water’s vast canvas. One was an emblem of leisure and simplicity, the other of industry and complexity. Both near and far, they were the day’s quiet companions, their stories part of the fabric of the Space Coast.
As twilight deepened into night, the stars began to emerge, one by one, until the sky was a tapestry of celestial wonder. With my iPhone 14 Pro Max, I captured this cosmic dance, the constellation of stars that had been the silent witnesses to Earth’s revolutions. The constellations, those mythic shapes that have long sparked human imagination, seemed to hold the secrets of what had been and what was to come. They were distant suns, their light traveling unfathomable distances to reach me, to reach us, as we stood on the brink of a new beginning.
Orion
I couldn’t help but feel a connection to the stars, a kinship with their ancient light. They reminded me that we, too, are part of this grand cosmic design, our lives stitched into the universe’s expansive quilt. On the beach, with the shells at my feet and the stars overhead, I was caught in the delicate balance of near and far—the tangible reality of the shells I could touch and the distant glow of starlight from ages past.
Orion, the belt and sword in center.
As the year ticked closer to its end, I stood between the intimate artistry of the shell heart and the boundless majesty of the star-filled sky, a lone observer of time’s relentless march. The Space Coast, with its unique blend of earthly beauty and human aspiration, was the perfect stage for this reflection. Here, on Cocoa Beach, I embraced the last moments of 2023, ready to welcome the new year, with its promise of continuance and change, its constant dance of near and far.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Discover the charm of Cocoa Beach’s enchanted sunset where Olaf, the endearing snowman from “Frozen,” joins athletes in a celebration of imagination and sport on Florida’s magical Space Coast.
Olaf, with his carrot nose and coal-button smile, is the epitome of the whimsy and innocence that fills the hearts of those who dare to dream. He’s the spark of childlike wonder that persists even as the day gives way to night. As the sun dips below the horizon at Cocoa Beach, the playful contrast of a snowman who loves warm hugs stands out against the backdrop of Florida’s Space Coast—a place known for its rocket launches as much as its sun-soaked shores. It’s here, on this stretch of sand, that imagination and reality dance in the twilight, blurring the lines between a tale from the silver screen and the tangible joy of a beach evening.
The presence of Olaf in this coastal setting is an unexpected delight, akin to the wonder of snowflakes in summer. He is more than a snowman; he is the manifestation of Elsa’s magic, a symbol of enduring friendship and the embodiment of the happiness that comes from simply being alive. His creation, a whimsical result of Elsa’s ice powers, speaks to the capacity we all have for creation and transformation. The Olaf suit, worn by a young athlete, represents not just a beloved character, but a beacon of joy and the power of sportsmanship that enlivens the USSSA National All State Championship.
Don DeDonatis, CEO of USSSA, speaks of the excitement of hosting a tournament that is a “celebration of talented softball players from around the country.” Indeed, it’s a parallel to the celebration of life that Olaf represents—where each athlete, like each snow crystal, is unique and contributes to the beauty of the whole. The tournament at the Space Coast Complex in Viera, Florida, is a tribute to the hard work and dreams of young athletes, much like the dream that brought Olaf to life.
The sunset photograph of Cocoa Beach, snapped in December 2023, is not just a capture of a moment in time, but a timeless reminder of the enchantments that life offers. The beach becomes a stage where each footprint tells a story, and each wave sings a song. It’s a place where memories are made, where the spirit of characters like Olaf can leap out of their fictional realms and into our world, if only for an evening.
Brevard County’s Space Coast is a junction where the vastness of space meets the intimacy of earth, where shuttles launch into the cosmos while children build sandcastles, and where a snowman can stand on a beach without melting, embraced by the warmth of the setting sun rather than the chill of winter. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s boundless creativity and our ability to find joy in the juxtaposition of opposites.
This enchanted evening is a tapestry woven from the threads of fantasy and reality, sport and art, the cosmos and the coastline. It’s where the horizon kisses the sea, where the sky becomes a canvas for the sun’s parting masterpiece, and where Olaf, our friend from “Frozen,” reminds us that magic is not just in the realm of fairytales but all around us, in every grain of sand, in every sunset, and in every heart that believes in the wonder of one enchanted evening.
Copyright 2024 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 