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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Sea Dogs in Cocoa Beach

We had the worst dry hangover ever. I was awake till 4:00 am and the Quad Queen was awake till 5:00 am.

I woke the next morning at 8:00 am and waved it off until 9:00. It had been such a long day, and night before, and worth every bit of what it took to witness the launch of Artemis 1.

If you've never experienced the dizzying thunderous roar of highly explosive propellants, you should witness a launch in person. If you can't do that, have a couple of burritos at a Roberto's, trust me.

So there we were in Titusville (insert puerile jokes here) with the launch achieved, and three back-up nights in hand. The only thing to do was to play tourist!

While the Little Giant was burbling some premium coffee into a paper cup, I went down to investigate the hotel breakfast and was delighted to find little cheese omelettes, and spicy red breakfast 'taters. Mrs. Flusher executed on some of her room camping recipes. I brought breakfast up, and we planned.


We'd hang around the room, and then take a drive, maybe checking out where the Kennedy Space Center was. Early in the afternoon we were ready to explore. We hopped into the car and headed east to the river, and then south, following the signs to the KSC, and noting the Warbirds museum along the way, which instantly made it onto my list of 'must drag the Quad Queen through' destinations.


We found the Kennedy Space Center across a long causeway, just where we'd left it on Feb 2, 1997, when we'd witnessed the night launch of the space shuttle Discovery on STS-82. It was well into afternoon, so we decided to return when we could spend more time there.

I passed by the entrance and kept going. And found myself headed right toward the gatehouse and checkpoint, where badges are required to gain entrance. Oops.

Fortunately, there is a very well used u-turn lane just in front of the gatehouse. We turned around and headed for Cocoa Beach, to see if we could find a Sea Dog, which is likely just a hot dog named a Sea Dog because ocean.

It was a beautiful day with dramatic clouds garnishing the sky like giant white olives. Where they find frilly-ended toothpicks that size is beyond my comprehension.


The Quad Queen spotted the Victory Casino entrance but I had to disappoint her and tell her that it was one of those boat casinos and off limits.

We made it to Cocoa Beach and found the pier, and the Sea Dogs place, but I bristled at the fact that I'd have to pay a minimum of five bucks to park, just so I could consume a dodgy frankfurter, notwithstanding its charming 'Sea Dog' moniker. Maybe some other time.

It was important to place an image of a palm tree on this informative sign that blocks the view of nature.

We bailed, and found the Alan Shepard park, where we paid to park. And it didn't have a Sea Dog. But it did have a big-ass beautiful space beach and boardwalk, so we wandered around in the sun. Our whole first winter in Florida last year, we never made it to either of the coasts.

Atlantic Ocean - done.



There's something about the sound of the waves that resets my stress-o-meter. We thought it might be fun to get a room here sometime and spend a couple of days making sand alligators on the beach, and eating Sea Dogs.

There's nothing like a tourist town to attract tourist traps, and the Don Juan Surfing Shop was one.


I think people go to this place because it's a thing and it's a thing because people go there, and it's pretty big. They sell all kinds of surfing gear to people who wouldn't know a surf board if the Beach Boys had signed one and stuck it in front of their face.

I'm one of those people.




We managed to keep the souvenir fever to a reasonable two t-shirt purchase - commemorative Artemis Long John Launch Surfing Shop tees. They threw some Don Juan stickers into the bag like bon-bons. I have yet to determine where to place these free advertisements.

The day was coming to a close, so we drove a bit further south past the Air Force base, then west, then back north to Titusville. Destination, Publix. To top up room camping supplies.

And in Publix, I made a horrifying discovery that would color rest of the entire trip.






    3 comments:

    1. Why are boats casinos off limits Flushie?

      ReplyDelete
    2. Next time your in Cocoa Beach check out the Sandbar! We loved it every time we have gone. I think it’s right up your alley!!

      https://www.sandbarsportsgrill.net/

      ReplyDelete

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