I was on Vandenberg AFB for a business trip this week. While I hoped there would be a launch, the odds were against it. They don't do that many launches there in any given year. However, yesterday, they launched a Delta II. I had a great vantage point a few miles from the launch pad and very clear skies. With the naked eye, I couldn't see the solid strap-ons separate but I could tell when they lit 3 of them in flight.

Before that, the closest I'd come to a space launch was watching a Saturn V first stage being static tested at Marshall Space Flight Center when I was 8 or 9 years old. I got to see that from 3 miles away. Needless to say, I was very impressed.

nice report !