Normally, my beach trips from the east side of Orlando aim straight for Canaveral National Seashore. But, this past weekend, the main beach in the southern part of Canaveral - Playalinda Beach - was closed because of the upcoming shuttle mission from the Kenneday Space Center at Cape Canaveral. For safety and security reasons, the part of the park that is adjacent to the launch pad closes when the shuttle is readied, and re-opens the day after a launch.
It had been many years since I'd been to Cocoa Beach, so I thought I would give it a try, but what I found is what I feared I would find. The beach road is bordered by convenience stores lined with gas pumps, tacky shops from which I would never buy anything, and restaurants that serve bland, fried seafood. The beach itself is basically a carnival in the sand...
It didn't take long for me to decide to hit the highway, and head for the northern end of Canaveral National Seashore - the part called Apollo Beach - by way of New Smyrna Beach. It meant a forty minute drive, but I can't stand a beach like Cocoa Beach. Even though I like the southern end of Canaveral much better, the difference when I arrived at the north end was immediately obvious...
I caught a handful of good waves, and walked a few miles, and, by then, it was time to go to Port Canaveral and meet a friend.
Jesus Loves Me
On the sand at Cocoa Beach, I had noticed a tent full of people passing out religious literature of some sort. They were mixed in with the people passing out samples of energy drinks, headache powder and a variety of other things. It's nice to know that people care...
During the drive back from Apollo Beach, I was relieved to see that Jesus not only loves me, but his disciples are leaving me messages in the most unlikely places, like this one painted on an old tire in the middle of nowhere...
The drive from Apollo Beach back to Port Canaveral takes almost an hour. It would be quicker except you have to negotiate the portion of US 1 that runs through Titusville to Cocoa. On this stretch of highway, the traffic signals are so remarkably well synchronized that a person traveling at or near the speed limit will hit every red light. I wish I were kidding.
Eventually, you arrive at Cocoa, turn left on the 528 causeway, go over the bridge to Port Canaveral, and turn left into the Cove and Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar.
Grills is fabulous. It is essentially a restaurant with a huge tiki bar built on top of a marina. The food is good. The service is excellent. The ambience is terrific. And the sources of stimulation are varied and abundant.
The tiki bar area is sheltered by several tall palms. There is a large wood deck in the back, right on the waterway, that provides a perfect viewing platform as enormous cruise ships and other commercial vessels come and go. The ocean breeze is constant and cool. And, even though it is in the center of a working area, as you enjoy the view you tend to overlook the piers, cranes, derricks, storage tanks and pumping stations. It's not exactly Cracker P's on Lubbers Quarters Cay in the Abacos (then again, what is?) but it delivers the same effect. There is always an interesting story somewhere nearby.On the west side is a long utility table with eight stations where the charter boat hands and their customers clean the day's catch. You can't help your curiosity when the boats tie up and unload. Who caught what? How big? How many?
The cleaning tables are just a short stroll down the boardwalk past the row of outdoor dining tables behind Grills.
On the other side, to the east, are the Port Canaveral boat ramps which provide their own unique entertainment.
Boat Ramp Follies
When properly executed, the process of loading a boat on to its trailer and towing it away seems to be a simple one. But, wind, weather, currents and tides, and other factors come into play. And, while I hesitate to pass judgment on the matter, let's just say that it's quite possible some of the fishermen and pleasure boaters may have consumed a few adult beverages while out on the high seas all day.
The plastic cups that Grills uses to serve drinks out on their tiki deck have an unusual graphic on the flip side. At first, I didn't understand it, but, after a few times standing on the observation deck watching the sometimes comical escapades of late afternoon boaters on the ramp, it all made sense.
Now, the Grills drinking cups proudly invite one and all to the Boat Ramp Follies.
I knew I would learn to enjoy it when, on one occasion, as a flustered boat-owner finally trailered his boat and climbed in to put his truck into gear, an amused spectator yelled out, "Hey, you might want to untie your boat from the dock first!"
On a number of occasions since then, I've seen the peanut gallery on the deck applaud sarcastically when someone finally gets it right after multiple failed attempts. It's all in good fun, of course.
So, this is where I go to wind down. It is a great place to relax in the sun or the shade, in the breeze or behind shelter, out on the deck or beneath the thatched roof of the tiki bar.
You should try it. Anyone want to go?
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