Long Point Campground was a Brevard County Park in the very southern end of the county. Manatee Hammock is another Brevard County Park – in the very northern part of the county and (SPFB) is right across the Indian River from the Kennedy Space Center. The campground is older, fairly crowded and is well stocked with folks from Michigan – Jackson, Chelsea and Cheboygan! Across the way, behind us was a couple from Manistee who even brought their flock of plastic flamingos! At Christmas time, the pink creatures even “pulled” a sleigh with Santa in it. What a vision that must have been?
We revisited old “historic” Cocoa Village and a must stop
was the Travis Hardware Store that has been in business since 1885. We think some of the items stacked and stored
on the high dusty shelves have been there ever since then! A true “hardware” store! In and out of the eclectic boutiques and
antique malls proved an adventure in itself.
Between the mainland of Cocoa and the barrier island, which
hosts Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral is Merritt Island. All 3 are connected by high arching bridges
and beach lined causeways, which are dotted with fishermen, sunbathers and on
some days even adventurous kite boarders.
H spotted the bright colored kites sailing up over the mangroves and
pulled into one of the parking areas so we could watch. The fella with the bright red one was
zipping back and forth along the edge and putting on quite a good show with his
spraying wake and high flipping jumps!
The guys with the blue and green kites must have been beginners since
their kites were in the water more than in the sky.
Our stay in this area MUST always include a walk on the
popular Cocoa Beach. We usually get to
stop and visit with dear friends from home – Lois and Dave who winter in a
condo –RIGHT on the beach but they were unexpectedly called back home so that
fun part was missing. Instead we
parked down the road at the Lori Wilson Park and walked 2 1/2 miles, past their
cluster of condos to the very populated fishing pier in the busiest part of
this beach town. Since it was a warm
sunny Sunday afternoon – the beach and water were full of families with throngs
of kids. The multitude of children
were either happily digging in the sand or gaily dancing in and out of the
foamy waves. H even had to dodge the
waves like one of those tiny darting shore birds as the wet froth advanced and
then receded!
At the northern tip of Cocoa Beach is the busy Port
Canaveral with cruise ship terminals, pleasure vessel harbors and commercial
docks. Up and over the drawbridge that crosses the channel that leads thru a
set of locks you can see east towards the ocean and view the busy water
highway. Look on the right of the water
and you can see one of the 7 story cruise ships that is secured and waiting for
her passengers to board. Compare her
size to the black ocean freighter that is moored on the left of the
channel! Just over the low white
building is the top of the Exploration Tower that we “explored” last year! This time there were 4 mammoth cruise ships
in port – including the very popular Disney ship, complete with an oversized
Pluto suspended aft. He was painting
the Disney logo on the back of the vessel and was doing a splendid job of it,
it seemed. 