Now was some the time for some serious recreation. Today’s agenda included a trip to the beach and a later visit to Aunt Catfish’s on the River (the Halifax River, that is), a local restaurant that has some of the best seafood eating you’re going to get in the greater Daytona area.
But first things first, Daddy needed to go replace his ten year-old leather belt and the best place to do that is the Daytona Beach flea market just west of the airport. Belts of all shapes and sizes (remember that Daytona hosts Bike Week every year!). He also visited Gramps’ preferred citrus vendor (Albert Pell of Osteen which is 20 miles southwest of Daytona along Tomoka Farms Road) for some oranges and grapefruit. The “General” sends his regards for your fine citrus… 🙂
Then it was time to get ready for some fun in the sun. Unlike most of the beaches in North Carolina, Volusia County’s beaches are hard-packed sand that you can drive upon with ease (and the appropriate fee unless you’re disabled in which case beach access is free). So into Moby Dodge we went, across the Port Orange causeway, and down on the beach just north of the Pirate’s Cove. We found a decent enough space soon enough and it was time to meet the waves. Nicholas started out in a tidal pool where he impressed us with his sand eating abilities. It didn’t take long for him to taste a heaping handful of Daytona’s finest sand from a little tidal pool. Then it was time to have some fun in the surf…for all of about three minutes. One fast-moving wave was enough to convince him that he wasn’t exactly ready to compete on Oahu’s North Shore in those surfing competitions. But that’s is OK to be scared by a wave that really takes you out when you’re only eleven months old.
So back to Moby Dodge we go for some fun in the sand. Sand castles, covering with sand, digging pits…and of course, Nicholas tasting some more of the white sand. He rates it A-OK!
After our time on the beach, it was time to head back to the house to get ready for dinner at Aunt Catfish’s with Grandma Carol. The place was stuffed and the average wait times were two hours…unless you’re a local with a reservation, of course. During the meal, Nicholas decided to get cute for a six weeker in the booth next to us. That boy has more girlfriends in more ports of call than the average sailor, I tell you! But the food was some mighty fine eating (and lots of it)…so much so that there was no way we could even contemplate the Boatsinker Pie or the Key Lime Pie (their Key Lime is the best in the city…trust me on that!).
Returning to the house, we had proof that Gramps and Grandma Carol were just addicted to Sequence as we are! 🙂
