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Space Coast - Part 2
Written by: Donald Miserandino
The Florida Space coast is more than what's out there, it's what's right here. Discover a place where passion for the environment and space exploration thrive side by side.
This day began with a relaxing and calm breakfast at the Holiday Inn. There was no hint as to the adventure that would unfold later in the morning. Like spies on a secret mission, we huddled into the car and took off to meet Rick Shafer of "A Day Away", for a kayak tour of a small section of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Rick was right on time and we followed him to our take-off point. Our tour guide for the kayak trip was Laurilee Thompson, who proved to be both an able guide and environmental advocate for the island. First, Rick gave us a short safety talk on the area and on using a kayak. Then, after we obtained the life vests, we picked out a kayak. The Kayaking was easy to do, most relaxing, and felt quite safe even when a boat passed us a little too fast and made some waves. At no time did I feel out of balance or even afraid. As we headed along the Intracoastal Water Way we saw dolphins leaping out of the water about 100 yards away. Along the waterway we came to a section set aside to observe manatees. Now I am not familiar with too many manatees, but I can tell you they travel in a group and hang out, possibly here for the food and camaraderie, but I didn't talk to them, since they just popped out of the water, stared at us for a short moment and dropped down out of sight.
After kayaking for about two hours I was certainly ready for lunch. We gathered up our stuff, took a short car ride on the roads of the Florida coast, made a left, left, right, right, over the river and under the overpass, to a one story open air cabin smelling of fried food, ocean and beer. Don't blink or you might miss the turn off and I can tell you they're having too much fun at the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp and won't miss you.
Lunch and airboat ride next. Yeah, that's the way to settle your stomach. The Twister Airboat Rides cruise along the St. John River, past farmland and sleeping alligators. Of course they don't sleep very much when stared at by 15 people in a noisy airboat. And when this baby makes noise, she roars. Getting up to speeds of almost 30-40 miles per hour, the wind forced a smile on the faces of the people in the front seat and blew their sweat into the faces of the people in the second row. The people in the third row had the worst of all, since they got all the sweat from the first two rows, plus the water spray when the airboat bounced over each wave. In the back, in front of the engine, the operator sat on a high seat to look over all the people, see where we were going and avoid getting wisps of hair, drops of sweat, and the occasional blown hat in the face. After this ride, I was gong to need an afternoon nap or two. At the time we were leaving, a road rally came in for lunch. There must have been about 30-40 of the 350Z by Nissan. Nice cars!
Ron Jon Surf Shop, this is the temple of passion for the beach. Two floors, wall to wall, ceiling to floor, all filled with beach goods. Everything you could want, wear or use is here, except the actual waterfront. Although I am sure at some point they may have considered an indoor wave pool to test out the surfboards. Born on the Jersey coast, it flourishes in the southern sun.
Marlin's on Cocoa Beach Pier is almost 800 feet out into ocean. It has generally a family environment, with several bar areas for the adults. I wondered what it was like to be here in a storm. Well into high tide, we seemed so far out in the ocean. There were people surfing into the beach going past us. If we weren't high up they could have joined us for dinner.
Dinner tonight was at Rusty's. It has been here so long that it is a Cocoa Beach fixture. Each year the restaurant spearheads a fishing contest and this year the prize money was over $120,000!!! Talk about community payback. The food is a bit unique also. I've had baked clams in several states, in innumerable restaurants and never had spinach mixed in the stuffing. This was my first time and I hope not my last. Rusty's while providing the typical restaurant fare, is well worth a trip (get there early) for the house specials.
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Kayaking with Rick Schaffer and A Day Away tours | |
The last day there was a "Bike Across Florida" race, where almost 200 cyclists gathered at 5:30 in the morning for a 6:30 start, for a twelve hour, 167 mile race from Cocoa Beach to Crystal River. All the hotel managers were there, even though for some it was not their assigned event. They came out to lend a hand to the manager responsible. Impressive! Even a City Commissioner, Kevin S. Pruett, was there to send the riders off, on what is billed as "America's longest day race". And what a morning it was, with a bright orange glow and a cool breeze in the air. The cyclists were looking at the road and I was looking at the beach. Each of us had a challenge to meet, unfortunately mine was to leave this area and to head home.
Down here I've heard people say the first week they rush to do all the amusement parks, the second week it's Cocoa Beach to relax and appreciate what they have just been through. This area, Cocoa Beach, is a place of passions- people were passionate about the thrill of Space, workers and staff were passionate about their jobs, environmentalists and locals were passionate about the area itself. It's definitely a destination worth exploring and discovering some of that contagious passion.
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Last morning on the beach greeting the sun | |
Part 1
Part 2
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