Tooling Around Florida

 Tooling Around Florida: The East Coast

Last year Mike and I bought a Corvette to “tool around in.” We have driven it to a few car shows in town and plan to take it to “Vette Fest” in Old Town (Kissimmee) next month. One of the “tooling around” deals was to drive it to Rainbow River. 

Next, we drove it to parts of Florida I hadn’t experienced. To Chiefland for barbeque, on to Fanning Springs to the Suwannee River then to Cedar Key. Those were great trips. If you missed the posts about them, I’ll include links at the end.

This week we decided to head a different direction. I had visited the Space Center and camped on the east coast of Florida with my family to watch a launch up close, but when Mike heard I had never visited Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, he was determined to fill that gap in my “1970’s girl” education. 

So this past week, we headed east, taking the Florida Turnpike, which starts only a few miles from our house, over to the east coast, then traveled a state highway to Cocoa Beach. The weather was perfect and the Cocoa Beach area, though growing like every other part of the peninsula, still bears the stamp of Florida with the trees, flowers, remnants of old restaurants and motels, and the tourist shops. The weather was picture perfect.

Mike first visited the surf shop when it was a small building near the pier. Of course he was a teenager then.The surf shop has grown some since and he had watched its growth. 

Ron Jons is more than surfboards. Though that inventory is impressive. Jewelry, Yeti mugs, knick-knacks...you name it. It is a clothing store with everything from bathing suits for the sunny, hot days to sweatshirts for the evening chill. Everything.

 

The place was a bit overwhelming. I didn’t know where to begin. (Though we did pick up some very cool Christmas gifts for three of the grandkids.)

 

Mike knew of a great place for lunch near the store called “Twisted Tides”. Though they offer rooftop seating with a full view of the Atlantic Ocean, we opted for the airconditioned inside dining. It was a hot September day. 

The Mahi sandwiches, fries, and sweet tea were great, but the server we had was THE BEST. She was quick to take our order, checked  up on us regularly, and brewed fresh sweet tea to assure we had a full carafe on our table.

After lunch, we took a walk on the beach. 

As Mike reached for my hand, I told him, “Thank you for bringing me here. This has been a perfect day.” 

If you missed our visit to Rainbow River, CLICK HERE.

You’ll find our visit to Chiefland, Fanning Springs, and Cedar Key if you CLICK HERE

One Last Picture & Remember: Surf's Up!

This 12'...150lb. KOA Wood Surfboard
was shaped by Big Wave Rider Greg Nole 
for Ron Jon Founder 
Ron Dimenna