Send Your Frenemies Here

​My week in Cocoa had its ups and downs as I disliked the overly-commercialized area but enjoyed visits to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Port Canaveral, and the incredible Kennedy Space Center. 

The town of Cocoa has a lovely riverfront park and downtown village area that caters to tourists and residents alike, but the remainder of Cocoa is a run-down, unwelcoming place. When you cross the causeway to the ocean, the towns of Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral are overrun with a mish-mash of buildings, too much retail, and traffic. If you like Old Orchard Beach, ME, Ocean City, MD or Myrtle Beach, SC, then you'll like it here. I'll pass, thank you. 

Overall, this section of Brevard County is not very bike friendly with the exception of a 14-mile stretch along the Indian River that passes through Cocoa Village, and the small town of Rockledge.  It was scenic with historic sites along the way, but watch out at the causeway crossings. 

The absolute highlight of my week was a nine-hour day at the Kennedy Space Center where I ran around like a child at a carnival. I also cried four times from the absolute optimism and pride that we had at the beginning of the space program, and at that time, for our country.  Too much to say, but many photos to share.