Adventure to Cocoa Beach...

My first trip to the beach. Ever. 

The third time to Florida was a charm. I finally got to the ocean-sort of.

I did get to hear it and see the whitecaps of some waves in the darkness. And, a lit up cruise ship.

We took an adventure to Cocoa Beach, which was only about an hour from our hotel. We loaded up in Holly's rental, tapped some directions into Mapquest and hoped for the best. To be honest the drive was pretty easy, minus stopping four times to pay tolls. They aren't exactly like Kansas toll roads, but we figured it out pretty quickly. It was just shy of 6 p.m. when we took off and that meant it would be dark by the time we arrived at the beach. And it was.

Once we got to the city limits we found access to a public beach by accident. We were going to stop at a hotel to ask for a dinner recommendation and found an entrance to Cocoa Beach instead. So we parked in the alley-type lot and walked up the big wooden steps and across a large wooden bridge structure and onto the beach.

The sand felt cold on our feet and the tide was out, but the waves could be seen just enough to make out the ocean. At least we think the tide was out. "I'm from Kansas, I know nothing about tides," said Holly.

Holly and Campbell at Cocoa Beach. 

"Let's take a picture," I said. Half-joking because of the darkness. By this time the three of us were laughing pretty hard. "It's pretty dark."

"Just use the flash."

"Okay," I just aimed and shot. It was complete blackness. "I'll take your picture."

"How, you can't see!" Campbell said. "Are you just aiming?"

"Yep," I answered. It was literally a shot in the dark. It turned out that I have pretty decent aim. They are almost centered.

We got back to the car and just started driving until we got to Cocoa Beach Pier. We stopped there to eat and take in the scenes. There were several little bars with live music, and we witnessed an elderly couple dancing what appeared to be an Irish jig to the Beatles hit "Lady Madonna." We happened to stumble upon a restaurant (can't even remember the name) that sits out on the pier over the water. It's lined with bay windows for a panoramic view, but because it was dark - we didn't see much but the lit hotels along the coast. Still pretty cool and we had some very tasty - and fresh - seafood.

When we arrived back at the hotel we parked the car, called for the shuttle ride and made our way back to the rooms. Holly needed something from my room (that three of us shared) so she followed me, and Jenni was already inside working to wrap up her night. I went to put my keycard in and the light turned yellow. It didn't work.

I had been so diligent in keeping the card away from cell phones, other cards, or anything that could deactivate the card. However, it didn't work. I panicked because for a moment I feared I was trying to get into the wrong room.

"Crap, is this even our room?" I said.

I went down one door and tried the key, and still nothing happened but a blinking yellow light. I quickly text our other roomie and confirmed the room number after texting Jenni to come to the door. We then started talking loudly.

"Jenni, Jenni, Jennifer!" But no answer.

"Maybe she's asleep already," Holly said.

Just as I was about to get brave and knock on the door a security guard came by. "Are you locked out?"

"Kind of," I said. "My roommate is in the room, but my card isn't working and she may be sleeping."

He tried the card. Nothing. He told us that if she was sleeping and had turned the deadbolt it deactivates any cards. Good to know for the future. However, I felt like I should have known this seeing as I stay in several hotels a year.

"Here is my ID," I gave it to him. "But, I don't think my name is on the room-I think it's under Jenni's name."

"Well, can you identify any items inside the room," he asked.

"Yes," I started. "Two beds, a rollaway, a red suitcase and a woman in bed."

Just as he was about to get into the room the door opened and Jenni stood there slightly confused.

"Nevermind, but thank you," we said as he walked off.

I felt pretty stupid, but it did cap off a fun night. Security and all.