King's Landing

Last weekend we went to King's Landing. I have been wanting to go here since before we moved here but we've been busy with other things and we had to get some reservations. I reserved the canoe three weeks ago and this was the only date/time they had available. When we get there they tell me there is a three person limit in each canoe. We have five of us. 

They didn't have any double kayaks left but they had two singles so we got a kayak for Natalie and Adri and the boys rode with me in the canoe. I guess I got lucky they had the kayaks because otherwise we'd be screwed.

King's Landing was all I thought it would be. So far this was my favorite trip in Central Florida. We did 8.5 hours of canoeing in 4 hours. It starts with a canal at the boat launch that goes to the rock springs run, about 1/3 of a mile or so down the canal. To the right is all the clear water. It was about 2 miles upstream to where the Kelly Park tube float ends. To the left was the murky water that goes to Wekiwa Springs state park. This is where all the lilly pads, water birds, alligators, turtles, and river otters are. We did both, going the path of the clear water first.

It didn't seem too hard to paddle upstream but it did take quite a bit of time. Going up stream takes about 2-3 times as long as paddling downstream. We stopped by the Kelly Park bridge for 45 minutes and had lunch and let the kids out to swim. That 70 degree water feels so good on a hot Florida afternoon.

The boys at the boat launch.

 Adri learning how to paddle in a kayak in the canal.

This is right where the canal goes in the rock springs run.

Most of the trip was shady like this. One of the things I love about Florida. I grew so sick of being in constant sun.

We stopped here to let the boys pee. I walked them into the trees to pee which probably wasn't a good idea. I think I got some poison ivy on my ankle. They ended up swimming right after. I should have just had them pee in the water.

Zach on the tree island.

Adri and Natalie finally caught up with us.

This is where the Kelly Park tube float ends.

Heading back.

On the other side of the canal.

They had a couple of these fish feeders.

The only alligator we saw all day.

Back by the canal. The kids wanted up on the tree. Dean chickened out when I picked him up. He then said he wanted to jump off the edge of the bank on the other side into a deep spot. I walked him over there and he chickened out so I threw him in. He cried, I'm a bad dad. 

Cocoa Beach & Surfing Lessons

A couple weeks ago we went to Cocoa Beach to watch the Falcon 9 launch. The launch was originally for 10:50AM and that morning they moved it to 10:20. I figured this was due to weather. When we got there it was already cloudy and it was all moving towards the space center.  We parked at the pier and hung out for 90 minutes before the launch. 

When the Falcon 9 launched everyone was looking in the wrong direction, where they launch the NASA rockets. It was really cloudy in that area but I heard someone yell "There it is". I look over to the left and caught the flame for a whole two seconds before it went into the clouds. After that we felt the ground rumble for a couple minutes and that was it. We waited to watch the rocket return but saw nothing. They had a platform setup out at sea we all figured that is where it was landing but they have another one on land. Wherever they landed we missed it.

It was kind of disappointing but now they have announced the launch of the Artemis at the end of August. We found a spot a few miles closer to watch it and the Artemis is a lot bigger than the Falcon 9. Allegedly it's the biggest rocket they have made. I tried to book a hotel for the Artemis and they are already booked full everywhere in the area, with 100K people expected to show up. Lucky for us we are just over an hour away. 

After watching the rocket launch I pushed the kids into some waves on the boogie board and we walked to the pier and the kids got to watch some guys surfing. They decided they wanted to learn to surf. We went home and watched surfing videos and all week the kids were talking about surfing, especially Zach. Of course the next day when I was working the kids wanted to watch Soul Surfer. The next week I brought my boards to a guy that repairs surfboards in Melbourne and I bought the kids a soft top board to learn on. Nothing fancy because it's for them to share while they learn. 

We went back to Cocoa Beach and had our first surfing lessons. I taxied the kids around and tried to push them off in the pathetic 2-3 foot breaks. They were breaking a bit bigger the previous week when we were there. I got the kids on a few waves and they are loving surfing so far. They are a little too cocky though telling me it's so easy and they want to try by themselves. Maybe it's so easy because I shuttle them out there, pick the waves, and push them off? It sure as hell wasn't easy for me. I was pretty beat up for a couple days after. I tried to take a few waves myself but I'm too fat for their little 7 foot foam board. I was able to get one ride of the 10 attempts I made. I can't wait to get my Spyder 7'6" fun board back. It's a lot different than San Diego for sure. 

One of the only things I miss about California is the surf. I love the warm ocean here but I will say when it comes to surfing the water is more comfortable in San Diego. I was really dehydrated from trying to surf in 85 degree water. In San Diego I used to spend hours out there surfing and I never brought a water bottle Out here we have to chug a bottle an hour to stay hydrated.

Waiting for Falcon 9.

 

This is the platform they set out for the launch. Nothing came back down on it though.

There goes the Falcon 9. Nothing spectacular from 14 or so miles away.

Zach on the boogie board.

The water at Cocoa Beach isn't clear like other Florida beaches. It's the price to pay for some surf.

The kids with their new/used board.

I had to buy a new rash guard because I look like I'm wearing a condom.

Adri surfing.

Adri got photo bombed.