Mocking turtles. Shuttling.

Confession.

Been mocking turtles.

No, not rocking them with stones or minerals. That would be cruel.

It’s the bunnies’ fault.

Instead of appearing at dusk in the grassy spot, the bunny couple haven’t poked their heads out of their burrow.

It’s the illegal fishermen’s fault.

They climb the fence and sit on the edge of the island’s bunny feeding spot.

So it’s come to this: hanging out on the bridge watching turtles bob and submerge along the small channel that’s slowly filling up with dirt and weeds.

It’s the developer’s fault.

He wanted a picturesque bridge to his island development: a grand profitable vision. (Too bad he didn’t build a real bridge to maintain current and water flow. The small culverts intended for water flow have filled with silt).

All the deer have left the island: followed the red brick bridge road.

It’s the builders’ fault.

They had to clear all the brush, chop down most of the trees, and level the lots so buyers could see what they could buy. (But no one came.)

It’s the island’s fault.

Really just a mound created by dirt dredged to create the marina. An island in appearance, but shockingly unable provide a firm foundation for a fancy highrise complex as designed.

Too unstable: the dirt foundation – not the builder. (Although the news probably did cause distress.)

So the smug island plans for the next assault.

The decorative lighthouse, a willing conspirator. Mocking.

The lights are on, but nobody’s home!

Score one for nature.

An eddy back to the turtles.

The styrofoam cups, and plastic 6 pack rings – definitely not turtle friendly – are a hazard. (Must get a net to scoop that out.)

 I’m giving the turtles a heads-up: getting them ready.

Soon they will be craning their necks and bobbing around a new arrival on the water:

Quite a bird. A wing spread of 78 feet.

It will look sort of like this (except on a barge instead of a truck as it floats down Clear Lake.)

Mock shuttle leaving Kennedy Space Center, Florida
(Image: Robert Pearlman/www.collectspace.com)

Heading to Johnson Space Center is a full-scale replica of a space shuttle. With good weather and tail winds, the mock shuttle will arrive by June 1.

This tourist exhibit shuttle was called “Explorer” in Florida – great name choice as tourists got to explore the interior payload bay and crew cabin. But that was Florida.

It will be renamed. Something more appropriate.

There’s going to be a contest.

(Will that cause an identity crisis?)

Today, just warning the turtles to duck.

The turtles seem amused.

They mocked with an observation:

“It may look like a duck. It may float like a duck. But if it doesn’t fly, it’s not a duck.

A quacky thought to ponder.

Another wacky riddle: while NASA was scrambling for leftovers space artifacts, why didn’t they bid on Neil Armstrong’s 1967 blue  Chevrolet Corvette that was auctioned off on eBay?

As the news reports said, “it didn’t go to the moon, but it sure looks like it did.”

WOW. Now that would have drawn some tourists.

Cadillac Ranch. Amarillo, TX
(Image: Richie Diesterheft / WIKI)

Maybe they could do a Cadillac Ranch thing with other astronauts’ Corvettes on the JSC grounds. Art always draws a crowd.

The others Corvettes aren’t available? So? When has that been a deterrent? Just find some reasonable facsimiles. Obviously it doesn’t have to be the real thing. It’s just an exhibit after all.

That “boldly go where no one has gone” and “one giant step for mankind” era is over.

It’s our own fault.

I’ll leave you with something to do besides mocking turtles:

“Mock Space Shuttle Moved to Make Way for the Real Thing” – A Photo Gallery. Seriously amazing pictures of a flightless bird traveling by truck from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

 McDonald’s seems to be  embracing the theme with their MockAstronaut!

Time’s a wastin’

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Related post: “Gosh darn! Ya git ta name it!” (Name suggestions for the replica shuttle)

These titles are just so inspiring:

• “Mock shuttle ready to set sail, but…” (Article: plans to move the shuttle replica.)
• “Texas children will get to name mock shuttle” (Article about the contest.)
• “Space Center Houston getting KSC Space Shuttle Mockup Hand-Me-Down, Compartment Trainer, New Building” (Article and photos)

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