We had two lazy last days in Cocoa Beach. Stuart and Bob played golf with Bobo on Thursday. I was quite surprised Bob was up to it but he woke up feeling fine so they played 18 holes.

Fi and I spent the day on the beach with our books. It was hot, sunny…. the beach was really quiet. I really like this part of Cocoa Beach and I like our little resort a lot. I could spend a long time here. It’s very relaxing and quiet although there is plenty to do nearby.

In the late afternoon, Bob drove me over to Melbourne to visit Harriet and then we went to Fran and Dave’s house and dropped off the golf clubs and a case we won’t need this coming week. Then we went back to Cocoa Beach and later on we drove up to Port Canaveral to meet Fran, Dave, Janet and Bobo for dinner. It took about 20 minutes. Port Canaveral is a cruise port and a marina and it has been developed with a lot of restaurants and bars around the water. It was very pretty with lights and attractive buildings.

We ate dinner at a restaurant called Rising Tide. Like many of them, it was very busy. I had a fillet steak with all the trimmings and it was delicious. A bit of a treat but at about £18 not too bad a price for such a good steak. Wine was good too. After dinner the boys had a go at axe throwing in the area next door! Funny!!

A lovely end to our time in Cocoa Beach and I hope we return there again another year. It was so much nicer than I expected.

Bob actually managed to lodge his axe in the scoreboard and did it without decapitating anyone, or indeed, himself, in the process. Rather than push his luck, he called it a day!

Today we packed, loaded up the car and headed off from Anthonys on the Beach. We tried to take the smaller more scenic roads north towards Daytona Beach. It was about a 90 minute trip but we took longer. At one point we detoured off to New Smyrna Beach, a very picturesque beach resort, very old Florida and Key Westian. Very very busy though. We stopped just outside of town at a traditional smokehouse for lunch, the Sundown Smokehouse. https://sundownsmokehouse.com/ What a great place! We had platters of brisket and burnt ends and a pound of chicken wings, with sides, cornbread. It was melt in the mouth and full of flavour. The owner has won many championships for his bbq both State championships and Grand Championships. It is about as far removed from a chain store bbq as you can find. I am so glad we stumbled across it.

Got to Daytona Beach about 230. Our apartment was not yet ready so we did a bit of exploring, drove back to Daytona and looked at the speedway stadium. Couldn’t get inside today but the boys will probably take a tour later in the week.

We got into the apartment about 315 and wow what a view. We have a corner, ocean facing 2 bedroom 3 bathroom apartment with full kitchen and a massive wraparound balcony. We are right on the famous beach and we have already seen cars driving along the back of it. How weird!! It’s an amazing beach though and goes on for miles and miles. Will enjoy some time on it this week.

We have a washer and drier in the apartment, so began some laundry after we settled in. Tonight we ate dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel which is about 100 yards down the road. Nice food, far too much…..