Dana & JR's Excellent Adventure - Georgia - Florida Trip Part 1

This is not the best picture that I have of the beach at Cocoa Beach but it is the first picture that I took when we got there Friday night. I flew to Atlanta and rented a car, drove to Athens, Georgia to pick up my friend of almost 50 years Clarence (JR). That was Thursday night and we spent several hours touring Athens and visiting Clarence's stomping grounds for the past 33 years.

Clarence and I are two of 5 good friends who joined the Navy in 1968 because we would have probably been drafted soon anyway. As a matter of fact, I received my draft notice while I was in boot camp. Anyway, Clarence was sent to Glencoe, Georgia and he never left the south.

February 1968 - Boot Camp, San Diego, California.

August 2013 - Cocoa Beach, Florida. Wow! Somebody got old.

On Friday morning after running a few last minute errands and delivering Clarence's dog Mocha to the doggie daycare we were on the road to Florida by about 9:15. The trip down was great, we were in no hurry and we spent time catching up and visiting. As I told a friend who emailed us while we were in Florida and wanted to know what "are you old boys doing"; We were "Living. Talking about the past but not reliving it. Talking about the future but not worrying about it. Enjoying today and each other's company". That started on Thursday night when I arrived and didn't stop until the following Thursday when I left Athens and headed back for the airport.

We did a lot in a short time, including spending time with my son Jeff and his family in Florida. It was fun, plain and simple! I'm sure it will take several posts to do the trip justice. This is how our first morning in Cocoa Beach started.

Beautiful start to a great day!