Kodiak's Maiden Voyage

I am not sure who came up with the idea first...but a few months ago, Brian and I started talking about getting a camper and spending more time travelling.  We rented a small motorhome to see if we like the lifestyle.  Checkout my previous blog post on our fun trip in the rental.

After much research and discussions, we agree that the best configuration for us would be a small travel trailer hauled by a cargo van (for all our toys...kayaks, motorcycles, bicycles, golf clubs and fishing gear).

Let me say that buying the trailer was easy.  Getting the van took a little more work.  But after a couple months, we finally had everything we needed for our MAIDEN VOYAGE.

I choose the Manatee Hammock campground in Titusville, FL for our first trip.  It is close to home (90 minutes away) and near some fun places...Kennedy Space Center and the Canaveral National Seashore.

Our campsite was a short walk to the Indian River with the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) across the water and a nice fishing pier.  Brian handled the trailer setup like a pro and in short time we were relaxing and watching the birds.  During our visit we saw some snowy egrets, ibis, red shouldered hawks and buzzards in the field behind us.

The next day we went to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).  Brian and I are both such "space nerds" that we have season tickets to the KSC.  My favorite space programs are the International Space Station and the Mission to Mars.  We frequently drive over to the coast to watch rocket launches.

The second day we went to the Canaveral National Seashore and kayaked through the mangroves in Mosquito Lagoon.  It was low tide and there were several exposed oyster bars.  Brian spotted a large True Tulip shell, but it still had a snail in it, so he left it.

The trees, roots and oyster bars were fascinating...tangled and covered with barnacles.

Just when I thought the sightseeing was over, a dolphin showed up.  It put on quite a show.

When we got back to land, Brian took an opportunity to do some fishing and I walked the Turtle Mound Trail.

Turtle Mound is the largest shell midden on the mainland United States at a height of 50 feet.  It was created by Timucuan Indians and is made up of oyster shells and Indian refuse.  From the top you can see from the lagoon to the ocean.

On the way back, we stopped in New Smyrna Beach for a 5-star grouper fish sandwich at Ocean's Seafood.

This trip was not just a MAIDEN VOYAGE for our camper and van.  It was a MAIDEN VOYAGE for our cat Lizzie.  To my surprise, she took to the RV lifestyle easily.  I think the idea of getting a camper was so that we could take Lizzie with us on our travels.  It isn't that I miss her while we are gone...it is how angry she is when we get back (and how guilty I feel).  It takes her a half a day before she stops yelling at us.  Our next challenge is to get her to wear a collar and leash so she can join us sitting outside.