Craig's blog

Today was our last full day.  We got up early and were on the road before 7.  We drove to Kennedy Space Center where we read we should expect to spend 5 hours minimum.  They were right.  We got there just after 11.  We started with the bus tour, first to an observation deck, which wasn’t worth the stop, then to the Saturn V exhibit, which was very impressive.  We also ate lunch at this location.

Next we returned to the main visitor area.  They have just brought the shuttle Atlantis to a permanent display here.  It was awesome to see and walk around the shuttle.  I’ll put up some photos when I get home. 

Then we went to the shuttle launch simulator which gives you some of the sensations of riding a shuttle during launch.  We’d heard it was very impressive, but it didn’t do so much for me.  I enjoyed the description of the launch from astronauts that rode on the shuttle more.

We hurried to catch the Imax move we’d been hoping to catch at 4:00, but missed it, so we finally left.

We drove to downtown Cocoa, FL, where we planned to take in their 4^th celebration.  We parked at city hall (in 5 spaces including the mayors).  I eventually checked with the police and several city councilmen and everyone said it was okay.  We made dinner, then went down to the park and sat in our chairs and listened to their symphony orchestra and then watched fireworks.  It was a nice 4^th celebration.

Finally we drove to our RV park in Cocoa.  Tomorrow we return the motorhome (which all the girls really like) and then spend the rest of the day in airports and planes.

We had our last “relaxing” day today at Clearwater beach.  We had a lazy breakfast of home made “Egg McMuffins”. 

We drove out the causeway toward Honeymoon State Beach, but stopped at the other end of the causeway to rent paddleboards and a kayak for me.   It was windy and the guy recommended we not try paddleboards, but the girls insisted.  They all were successful, although Jessie unfortunately only went down wind, so I had to go get her and pull her back.  Then I went to an island about a mile away.  It was hard work paddling against the heavy wind, but it was fun none the less.  When I got back, Jessie was successfully paddling the paddleboard upwind!

After the rental we drove back to Clearwater beach, had left overs for lunch and then went out on the beach.  I rented a wave runner from 3-4.  I took turns taking passengers out (everyone but Maddie wanted to ride).  There were pretty high waves as a storm was coming in.  They made me come in 20 minutes early when it started pouring.  It got pretty exciting – thunder and lightning, lots of sirens from emergency vehicles on the streets.  I walked about a mile back to the motorhome and got thoroughly drenched.  Then I drove and picked up the girls who weren’t all that dry either.

We came back to our campground and made shrimp and grits as planned.  They were pretty good, but not as good as in the restaurant where they certainly use more butter and cream.

Tonight was the opening for Despicable Me 2 which is the sequel to the girls’ favorite movie, so after dinner we went to the movies to watch it.

We just got back and are planning to go to Kennedy Space Center tomorrow.  We’ll need to leave early as we have to drive across the state (coast to coast) to get there and it sounds like we’ll want as much time there as possible.

Today we woke to rain (it rained all night – amazing) and had a lazy morning.  Then it started to clear around 9:00, so we quickly cooked some oatmeal, packed up and head back to Clearwater beach where we planned to rent paddleboards.  We ended up walking about 2 miles in the brutal heat (finally the sun was out) and eventually found a place that rents them, but they were all out at the time.  They said to come back in an hour.  By that time we were pretty eager to get in the water, so we walked back to the motorhome, got our beach gear and headed out to the beach.  We ended up hanging there from about 11:45 to about 3:30.  The weather stayed dry so we decided to enjoy it.  It was great and relaxing, but we’re now all looking much too much like beets.  We tried to stay sun-screened, but we clearly didn’t do an adequate job. 

We came home and sat around in and outside, took showers and did the laundry.  It is now reasonably cool outside and I am sitting out getting eaten by mosquitos, but trying to enjoy the comfortable weather.

Tomorrow we’re planning to try to cook shrimp and grits – a dish we enjoyed in New Orleans.

Kelli and Maddie decided that we should get to our next destination (Clearwater Beach on the west coast of Florida) as quickly as possible so that we could maximize the number of days we spend there.  I pulled out at 6:30 with the girls still sleeping.  We arrived at Sherwood Forest RV Park at 3:30 PM having stopped for about 30 minutes total along the way.  I couldn’t decide whether to take I-10 to I-75 (which is about 60 miles further) or take Hwy 19 more toward the coast line.  Eventually I decided on the highway 19, and boy am I glad I did.  It was gorgeous, newly paved and divided.  It was better than most of the interstates we’ve been on.  We ate breakfast and lunch while driving, but I did stop for gas.  We were slowed by incredible downpours for about 20 minutes where I could only drive 40 mph.

We chose a site and then immediately drove to the beach.  It turns out it is another 25 minute drive to the beach (and then it took us 20 minutes to find somewhere to park), so it was about 5:00 when we finally arrived at the beach.  It also was windy and raining.  However, I’d been cooped up for far too long, so we went in the water anyway (well all of us except Katie and Maddie).  I had a blast.  The water was toasty and while it was very choppy, the waves were ridable, so we stayed out there about an hour in the rain.

We eventually drove back, stopped at the grocery store to stock up and then I made enchiladas.  It was long day and we didn’t eat until 8:30.

Kelli and Maddie decided that we should get to our next destination (Clearwater Beach on the west coast of Florida) as quickly as possible so that we could maximize the number of days we spend there.  I pulled out at 6:30 with the girls still sleeping.  We arrived at Sherwood Forest RV Park at 3:30 PM having stopped for about 30 minutes total along the way.  I couldn’t decide whether to take I-10 to I-75 (which is about 60 miles further) or take Hwy 19 more toward the coast line.  Eventually I decided on the highway 19, and boy am I glad I did.  It was gorgeous, newly paved and divided.  It was better than most of the interstates we’ve been on.  We ate breakfast and lunch while driving, but I did stop for gas.  We were slowed by incredible downpours for about 20 minutes where I could only drive 40 mph.

We chose a site and then immediately drove to the beach.  It turns out it is another 25 minute drive to the beach (and then it took us 20 minutes to find somewhere to park), so it was about 5:00 when we finally arrived at the beach.  It also was windy and raining.  However, I’d been cooped up for far too long, so we went in the water anyway (well all of us except Katie and Maddie).  I had a blast.  The water was toasty and while it was very choppy, the waves were ridable, so we stayed out there about an hour in the rain.

We eventually drove back, stopped at the grocery store to stock up and then I made enchiladas.  It was long day and we didn’t eat until 8:30.