Friday March 11th in Melbourne Beach

The girls, Shelia, Arabella, Vonnie and Helene headed out bright and early to an "estate sales" looking for treasures.  It was a cold start to the day and they were bundled up in their fleeces.  They stopped for lunch before returning in the early afternoon with some treasures.  Last evening at 6:38 the US launched a rocket carrying a spy satellite from Cape Canaveral.  We enjoyed our company and another day gone.  We have no special agenda but the time passes quickly.  G

Thursday March 10th in Melbourne Beach

A real slow start to the day as it rained overnight and most of the morning.  Nothing really planned for the day.  I walked North along the A 1 A and ended up at the Loggerhead Sports Bar.  A quick phone call was made to Barry who joined me for a beer and then we headed off to the SBI Club for another beer.  Casey, the female bartender was quite a character and full of fun.  Connecticut's Big John also showed up for a beer.  When I returned home Vonnie and Albert, our friends from Saint John NB had arrived.  We enjoyed cocktails, many stories and a nice meal.  Poo-f the evening was gone.  G

Wednesday March 9th in Melbourne Beach

No real magic yesterday, we hung around in the morning and headed out to Melbourne to check out the shopping.  Helene went to Jo-Ann's a fabric shop while I checked out Dick's Sporting goods and road tested the new Taylor Made R11 Driver.  Then on to Bealls (referred to as Bells) where I purchased golf shirts, hats and a belt, less 20% and when you opened a credit account an additional 15% off and pay it off at the cash register, $75 tax in, I felt kind of guilty.  We returned home for a BBQ'd supper.  While outside at the BBQ the neighbourhood pet peacocks arrived.  We later went next door with friends Barry and Sheila and watched American Idol.  Another day gone.  Life continues to be good. G

Shrove Tuesday in Melbourne Beach

The day began with a Strove Tuesday pancake breakfast with Ron and Arabella.  Great, healthy pancakes prepared by Arabella and coffee by Ron.  Ron and I were off to the Baytree National Golf Course.  My first golf outing for 2011.  We arrived early and hit a bucket of practice balls on the driving range and a little putting on the practice green.  We were paired with another two some, Bill and Mike from Chicago, two good fun guys.  We had a great golf day, good weather and poor golf.  Another fun day in Florida.  Oh, the girls, walked the beach and lounged by the pool.  G

Monday in Melbourne Beach

We headed out to visit the Kennedy Space Center at Merritt Island FL.  We viewed the VAB, Vehicle Assembly Building, the largest one storey building in the world.  This is the space shuttle garage where it is worked upon and the fuel tanks attached.  It is hauled on crawlers from the VAB to the launch pad where it sits up to 30 days before launch for final preparations.  It takes 8 hours to travel three miles from the VAB to the launch pad.  The crawler uses fuel at the rate of 1 gallon per 42 feet travelled.  We also toured the sky deck view of the launch pads, 39 (A) & (B).  Then on to the Apollo control center for a presentation in the actual command control center.  Later, into a large hanger area with a full Saturn rocket, 131 storeys tall, displaying the separation stages, also several other rockets, lander's, space suits, moon rocks and many other space related items.  We returned and viewed the rocket park while waiting for the Hubble IMAX theatre presentation narrated by Leonardo DeCarptrio. It was amazing,  An educational fun day.  G

Settling in Melbourne Beach

The rental property is excellent and fully equipped. We are located a short walk to the beach and have access to a well maintained heated pool at the end of the street.  Roger, the property owner dropped by to welcome us and make sure we were comfortable.  We have local telephone and arranged for a cellphone through T-Mobile and internet service with Barry.  Ron and Arabella invited us to supper with her visting daughter, son-in-law and grandson Lucas. 

It is very relaxing, to get up and check the computer email and news links, walk the beach, go for a bike ride, read a book and have a cocktail at one's leisure.

The girls, Arabella, Sheila and Helene went garage sale-ing on Saturday morning.  Barry and I went boating in their Carolina Skiff on the Indian River.  We boated over to the Coastal Treasure bar to visit with Loni, the bar keeper from Cincinatti Ohio, real name Missy but referred to as Loni from WKRP, with quite a frontal and blonde.  The beer is cold and only $1.00 a glass.  Upon the way back, the boys have two crab traps in the river and we pulled two crabs which were boiled up and devoured. 

Road to Melbourne Beach

Helene and I left Ottawa last Sunday around 0530 in the snow and -11 C. The roads were snow covered to the US border. Once on the I-81 the roads were wet and all lanes open. We followed the GPS with Ormond set as the destination and we ended up south of Washington DC and onto the I-95.  It was 1830 hours (630 PM) +17 C and we were in Petersburg VA. After checking into the Hampton Inn we headed out to a suggested local restaurant to eat, another experience, they still allow smoking and the place was packed and we sat in the bar area, it was entertaining to say the least. Back to the Hampton Inn to settle in and watch the Oscar's.  1150 kms behind.

Monday, we were up and on the road at 0700 on the I-95 straight through to Ormond Beach.  The traffic was stopped just outside of St. Augustines FL for more than an hour. As we idled along it was learned that there were brush fires and the smoke had temporarily closed the highway. We arrived at Brother John's at 630 PM and settled in enjoying pizza, beer and a bottle of wine and 31 C.

Tuesday, we puttzed around in the AM. The I-95 south was closed because of brush fires in Brevard County. The local news later stated the roads were now open and we it the road for Melbourne Beach and arrived around 200 PM.  After making a few phones calls Barry Lovett arrived and opened up the rental property and showed us around.  We are pleased and felt right at home immediately. It was time to settle in and unwind after the trip.