Fun Times on the Florida Spacecoast

After just one night at the Escapees Sumter Oaks RV Park, we made our way east to the Manatee Cove Campground at Patrick Air Force Base.

When I was a young airman, fresh out of technical training in June 1982, my first duty station was Patrick Air Force Base. I really enjoyed the two-plus years I spent in the Cocoa Beach area... what 22-year old would not? I still have friends in the area and whenever we're in Florida we stop and visit.

Sunset from our campsite

Manatee Cove Campground is a nice campground. Depending on what site you get, you may be on the water or not. Worse case, you'll be within a 3-minute walk and so it's all good. This time around we got a site right on the water, two spots away from our friends Fran and John. They are also heading to Key West and we've been trailing a few days behind them since Jacksonville. They got back on the road to continue south the day after we got to Patrick Air Force Base.

Once we were settled in at the campground, we went with Fran and John to eat in one of the base Dining Halls. The food was pretty good and you can't beat the price - $5.00 for a full meal with drink.

The next day, Tuesday, we caught up on chores such as laundry. It rained buckets that afternoon and this is when we experienced the Norcold refrigerator retrofit moisture issue. I explain this in the post Magnets and Norcold Refrigerators.

Raye, Paulie, Denise, Consuelo, Lynda

On Wednesday morning, we met up with friends Raye, Denise and  Paulie to go fishing. Paulie is Denise's 18-year old son and he is an avid fisherman and very competent boater. We had a really good time and it was so nice to be out on the water! Paulie took us out to sea via Sebastian Inlet but the water was a little rougher than we liked, so we headed back to the more sheltered waters of the Indian River. We tooled along and caught and released a few small fish. It was very relaxing, and I am so impressed with the man that Paulie is becoming. Denise has done a great job raising him!

That same evening, we all met up at Tammy and Debbie's house which is on the river in Grant, FL. They recently bought this property and renovations are underway. It will be a lovely home when they're finished. We all went to dinner at the Old Fish House Bar & Grill and enjoyed some good food and great company! I've known Denise and Tammy for over 32 years and we are still the girls we used to be! Life is good.

Next stop: Marathon, FL.