February 18

   Decided to spend the day at the sea, so set off to Cocoa Beach, about 60 miles away. It is a beautiful beach with golden sand and the sea has good breakers. We fed the seagulls, laughed at the little sand piper's which were running into the sea as the waves went out and running back out as the waves came in. Watched a pair of pelicans for a while too. We walked a fair way down the beach all paddling in the sea, which is really quite warm and wishing we'd brought our cozzies.

   We then drove over to Melbourne [yes I CAN drive that fast in one day] and stopped at New Haven Park which is a refuge for Manatees [didn't find any,] but we saw about 15 -20 turtles, they were obviously used to humans as they kept following our voices, with their little heads bobbing out of the water, they are soooo cute!!! Saw a few pelicans too, and watched them diving for fish, they are so clumsy as they enter the water, compared to when they are in flight. We watched the sun go down from here.

   Dinner time again, found a really nice restaurant called The Austin River Grill, where we ate loads, clam broth, for Carole, Pete and Andrew, shrimp cocktail for me, salmon for Carole and Pete, chicken for Andrew, and steak for me, lovely wine Diamond cab. sav. Yummy chocolate stuff for pudding.

   I drove home, arriving about 11pm. We are sitting by the pool with more wine, I'm typing, Peter has gone to bed and we are debating having a swim, so it's goodnight from the Intrepid Explorers!!!