A Fun Week made Extra Special

We always look forward to our week at Cocoa Beach - even if it's just seven days of being "beach bums" or just doing not much of anything at all except taking in the beauty of the sandy beaches and ocean waves or sitting around the pool.

This year Nate and Krystal joined us for a few days.   After taking the "scenic route" as Nate would say - they arrived around noon on Wednesday.   After settling in we took them for another ride (just what they needed after 3 hours on the road - right!).  Rich and I had visited this great little park before.  It's called the Manatee Sanctuary,  and is nestled away on the Banana River where most people traveling through the area would not find.   Krystal and I waded in the water out to find the small cove where last year we had seen dozens of manatee and dolphin playing in this small cove...........Unfortunately  - there were none to be found today.  A little disappointed - we decided to head over and check out Cocoa Beach Pier.

The pier built in 1962  is one of local  historical landmarks, but obviously  changed and remodeled many times since the days when you could actually drive your vehicle out over the water.    According to the local records it extends about 800 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.  

The first building that catches your eye is Trader Rickey's.   Yes - that's Nate and Rich! 

We didn't go inside - but the outside sandstone design did catch our eye.  

 800 feet sounds like a long way - but when you really look at the pier your first impression is that it really doesn't look that long at all.........

As you enter the Pier, it's  had not to stop and take in the beauty of the sandy beach and the views of the  shoreline...........

Or the young folks taking on the waves..........

Nate and Krystal  taking in the view..........And Krystal with that awesome camera!!!  Can't wait to see her pictures.

Like many historical landmarks - they change over the years to more of a tourist attraction and much of the pier is novelty stores and restaurants today.  (The burgers we saw did look pretty good!)!   Thanks to one of the locals- we were directed to the right door that would take us out to the end of the pier; albeit a little surprised that you had to pay $1 per person to do so. 

And yes - they really do fish from the pier..... and we watched as this gentleman pulled in his "small" catch.   We continued onto the end of the pier where there is a cute little Tiki Bar.........

We passed up the  beverages for the view from the Pier...

I'm hoping that Krystal puts this picture on her blog - With her camera it probably came out much better.  I took this one from the very end of the Pier pointing my camera directly down to the water where I could the "shadows" of the four of us....

OK - so enough of just watching these people on the beach - It was time to take to the WAVES..............Krystal and I catch a big one..........

But the guys saw how much fun we were having and just could not pass up the opportunity..........

 

 Well, we all know that the sun and the water really can tire you out.....It was time to head back and grab some dinner.  Nate had seen the picture of our Stromboli from a few days ago - and was looking forward to trying one, so we headed back to Anacapri for dinner.

But......even though I forgot the camera for day was not yet over.  We grabbed a drink and went over and sat by the pool where the breeze was perfect for sitting and casual conversation............... About 8:00 we turned the lights on at the tennis courts, grabbed our balls and paddles, chalked the lines and played pickleball for a couple of hours.

Lights Out...........for the day.