Bucket List Journeys: The Jetty, Port Canaveral

Green Sea Turtle

Never did I expect to be so enthralled by this area of Florida. First of all, I thought I didn't like the Atlantic coast. Too dull and lacking the aqua and emeralds of the Gulf water. Second of all, I was ignorant of all this area has to offer, both historical and natural.
Our first stop was at Port Canaveral on Cape Canaveral, The Space Coast of Florida. The campground, The Jetty, is right on the Canaveral port jetty where the cruise ships take off and return on their travels. There is a mile long jetty, just past the cruise terminals and a submarine pen to one side of the jetty canal. Let me tell you, there is a lot going on there.
I am amazed at the size of the cruise ships. We would sit for hours watching them, waving at the tiny specks of people on board the ships, excited for their vacation. On the way out to the Atlantic, they would be yelling and screaming, waving....you just had to smile at their happiness! (For the Carnival ships, Paul and I wanted to hold up signs like "Don't flush the toilets" but we restrained. Actually, Paul wanted to hold up a sign that said "Show me your _ _ _ s".)
And the Disney ships, they are stunning. So much cleaner, more stately and beautiful than any of the others we saw. And when they blew their horn, the first few notes of a Disney song would play, like "When You Wish Upon a Star". You just had to smile and feel the warm place in your heart full of Disney memories.
As a kid, I remember Sundays in Chicago, sitting in front of the black and white TV, eating Swanson TV dinners on tray tables, set up just in time to watch Disney. We thought that was the cat's pajamas!
The natural life at the jetty was amazing! We saw dolphins daily, close to shore as well as many Loggerhead and Green sea turtles. The birds were plentiful and would take your breath away, watching them soar inches above the water, or diving from far above. There were Pelican, Eagles, Osprey, Sandpipers, Egret, Ibis, and of course gulls.
One afternoon, a small boat with three persons on board, hit a big channel marker buoy. There were sirens all over the place, boats rushing to the aid of the boaters, coast guard and port police boats. Luckily, no one was hurt but we wondered, how do you hit a 15x20 foot buoy on a bright sunlit afternoon?
We did not get to see the submarine arrive as it must have come in at night. It was cool to see it from afar, in its pen, guarded and secure. It was a privilege just to see the subs flags, periscope and the small portion of the ship that was above the water.
Since we were near Cocoa Beach, we went to Ron Jon's Surf Shop. I needed a new micro bikini. It was a fun place to hang ten (dollars that is), and wipe out in the gnarly bikini department, dude.
We visited Merritt Island and NASA while at the jetty...that is on the next blog.
If you ever get a chance to visit the Jetty at Port Canaveral, don't pass it up. Fabulous!