In keeping with our travel plans, we decided to rent a condo on the beach in Ponce Inlet, Florida for the entire month of May. May was our choice because we were hoping it would be fairly quiet with most kids still in school, the weather would not be too hot but rainy season had not started yet, and “Noseeums” could be at a minimum. We were right. It was a great month.
We stayed at Atlantica Condominium on the second floor with a wonderful view of the ocean and beach.
Jim’s birthday is in May and I submitted an application to the Volusia Turtle Patrol for him to volunteer while we were visiting. This takes care of another one of the things on his bucket list. He rode on Tuesday mornings and had to mark several nests during his tour of duty.
I was able to walk almost every morning and found a trail next to a nature reserve. Early in the morning, there were always wild rabbits along the trail which is not a bad way to start a day. I also saw a wide array of wildflowers and took these pictures.
Jim was nursing a bad foot from Plantar Fasciitis so his walking was limited, but he did manage to bike quite a bit while we were there. We were only a little over two miles away from the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and the Marine Science Center.
We went to the Science Center one afternoon just in time to see them feed the live seahorses, sting rays and octopus which was really fun. I actually got to feed the sting rays which was interesting. You hold a piece of fish in between your fingers with your hand flat in the water. Their mouths are on the bottom so they swim over your hand and suck the food from your hand which sounds like a bathtub draining and felt like a vacuum cleaner.
Octopus
MG feeding the Sting Ray
While we were there we managed to scope out several restaurants including Carribean Jack’s, Hidden Treasures, Hidden Treasures at Rose Bay, Aunt Catfish, Panhead Pizza, Sunsetter, San Diego Grill, Crabby Joe’s, Monterey Grill, Tiki Bar at Outriggers and more. Some of these became favorites that deserved a second and third visit.
There were some wonderful sunrises as well as a moon rise as well, check them out:
Sunrises from our condo unit.
Moon rise with reflection in water
We came across another critter on the beach early in the morning that we were not familiar with, it is called a “Black Heron” and they feed on Ghost Crabs that are usually just above the tide line. Here’s what he looks like:
Ain’t retirement great!
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