Titusville and The Space Coast
Well, when I left you at the last post we had been travelling through the most torrential downpour we’d encountered for many years (and that includes cyclones). When we got to our site at “Seasons in the Sun RV Park” it was still pouring. Thankfully our next site neighbour worked at the park and was keen to help us onto our site and when I offered to get out of the car to survey the plot he told me not to get out as he was already soaked and there was no reason for us both to get wet. So I got Shane to get out instead. The site looked pretty and so John helped me back up until I was right at the rear of the site. This would have been fine…..in the dry….. but whenever we got in and out of the van we stepped into ankle deep water so as soon as the rain eased I hopped in the car and dragged the van 2 metres forward out of the puddles. (To have a peek at part of our RV Park see the video on youtube at https://youtu.be/xFlyPMHW1KI . You’ll see why our 23’ van is considered ‘cute’.)
Next morning we got a good look at the setting where we were to live for the next few days (turned out to be over a week) and it was wonderful. We had plans for the short stay so we packed the car and headed for “Historic Melbourne”. Ha! Hysteric Melbourne would be more apt. There were a few old buildings but that was it. We stopped at a nice looking café for a coffee (which had a sparrow nest on the wall) and we were dismissed because all we wanted was a coffee break. They expect all patrons to have a full meal. There were two good stops here though and that was a jewellery shop/museum named “Two Feathers” and an Olive Oil/Balsamic Vinegar store similar to the one at Tin City, Tampa. I regret that Two Feathers wouldn’t allow photos instore. They had some marvellous ‘cowboys and indians’ antiques that were magnificent. Old pistols and rifles, bows and arrows, stories and artefacts on Wild Bill Hickcok, Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, Geronimo, Sitting Bull, The Original Texas Rangers and many others. Did you know that “Calamity Jane” was actually a drunk and a part-time hooker? Doris Day would be mortified. They also had a fine range of geological specimens and hand crafted (by local tribal Indians) jewellery and tribal goods. It was a great store. At the Oil and Vinegar shop we bought a sample range of flavoured oils and then set off for home.
You might notice the picture of the water tower at Cocoa Beach. Now we all know why Cocoa Beach was famous. That’s where Tony and Genie lived. I still dream of genie. From there we diverted to Cape Canaveral and the beach there. It’s a lovely beach and from there you can see the rocket launching pads of the Space station. Apparently it is also a famous turtle nesting beach and we saw several nests with warning signs to keep clear.
Next Day was American Independence Day, the Fourth of July. Shane and I headed to Sandy Point Beach to join in the celebration but not before more detours and sightseeing. We crossed the bridge at Sandy Pt and found a gazillion people across the river having a ball in the water and preparing for their own fireworks party. There wasn’t much to photograph over that side so we came back and got some KFC for tea. Check out the size of a standard KFC piece! It’s just on half a chook just without the drummie. Anyway, the rain threatened but hung off. The crowds grew to much larger than pictured and the fireworks were pretty good. What I really liked was that July 4th celebrations are very similar to our Australia Day except the families here arrange their own entertainment (apart from the band and the fireworks) whereas we seem to depend on council etc to put on all types of entertainment until it gets dark (eg toad races, tug-o-wars, 3 legged races, raffles, etc). It was good to see families throwing frisbees, playing catch, kicking footies, Bar-B-Queing as a family group. Well done yanks.
Well, its late, we’ve been all day at the Kennedy Space Centre and tomorrow its Daytona for a NASCAR race so I have to wrap this up. Watch the blog as the KSC was fantastic and you’ll love the picture from there. Meanwhile enjoy the fireworks.