Running and Paddling

The homecoming trip doesn’t start until tomorrow, but we spent Sunday December 1 on outdoor activities in Cocoa Beach, FL. The day started with the Space Coast Half Marathon. Started is the key word: the start time was 6:15 am ET and the shuttle bus pick-up at the hotel was at 4:30 am! Greg and his cousin Debbie ran the race together. It was a bit cool and windy, but we were rewarded with great views of Indian River Lagoon.

Greg and Debbie finished the half marathon together in a time of 2:21. At least we finished ahead of the marathoners.

Next, Amy and Greg got brunch at 4th Street Fillin Station. The vibe was great and the food was exactly what we were looking for: a breakfast burrito!

Finally, after a short nap, we took a guided kayak trip in the Thousand Island Mangrove Tunnel in Cocoa Beach.

First, we saw a manatee and several bottlenose dolphins. The manatee was rather shy, so we only got brief glimpses of its nose or back. In contrast, the dolphins were characteristically playful; we saw them dart around an area where they are known to feed. Next, we paddled to a tall set of mangroves, where pelicans sat, sheltered from the wind.

We finished by paddling through a narrow section called mangrove tunnels. Even though we are experienced paddlers, it was challenging since the channel was barely wider than our kayaks. The guide instructed us to separate the paddles and use them like a canoe oar. There’s no way we could have navigated the mangrove tunnels without our guide, let alone find them by ourselves.

Tomorrow, off to pickup R2V2, our motorhome!