I started today same as yesterday, early start (though I had a small lie in) then off to find a spot for breakfast. When I got to Cocoa Beach, I was disheartened to find that everything cost money, including all parking anywhere near the beach. At this pier, it was $10 to get anywhere near it. I was fearful the rest of the Florida coast would be the same. Turns out it’s not, thankfully, it’s just a Cocoa thing. Hungry now, I stopped in a carpark near the beach and ate my cereal.

I had a few spots to check out on my way south down the coast, but most of them were surfing spots and the ocean was still flat, so I just stopped in for a few looks here and there. At Sebastian Inlet State Park, I found out it is the second-best surfing in the country, but not in these conditions, so I didn’t pay any money to go in there. I enjoyed the driving, I almost always had a view of the water and the further I drove, the whiter the sand and the clearer the water. I found that outside of the cities were the choice spots, hardly no one around and free parking for all.

Just before lunch, I needed some exercise to clear my head and remind my body that activity is good so I put on some running shorts, took my shirt off and went running down the beach at Fort Pearce. It was a pretty beach, with dark coloured sand, but beautiful turquoise water. Running on the soft sand was hard work, which I had to stick to in order to stay behind the people fishing, but it was a good burn. I probably ran 2km, then went for a swim. The water wasn’t too cold, it was devine. I swam out a bit, then tread water and noticed I could see further than the tips of my toes the water was so clear. I felt so good just floating in the water, moving with the waves, the sun glistening off everything.

I fought the strong out-current to get back onto the beach and run back the way I’d come. On my way back I stopped a few times to do some push-ups and squats just for something different, washing my hands off in the ocean after each stint. Back at the start, I had another swim, longer this time, though I wondered if there was a reason I was the only one in the water. Could there be sharks?

I showered at the toilets by the beach but when I was changing back at the car, I found I hadn’t even come close to getting all the sand out of my undies. Ha ha, I would need more practice. I ate lunch and enjoyed the feeling I always get after solid exercise.

I drove further south, the views getting better all the time. On my left I saw birds diving from great heights into the ocean to catch fish and on my right, pelicans glided effortlessly just above the water of the inlet. My next stop was the northern-most beach of Jupiter Island where there were lots of people out fishing. I stood on the boardwalk, watching the waves, willing them to grow and quite a few fishermen were returning with their catch. One guy had caught fifteen fish in the space of 1.5 hours! I don’t know what he planned to do with all of them.

The rest of Jupiter Island is made of gold. Mum would have loved looking at all the houses either side of the narrow isle, just as I did. Perfectly manicured gardens with all sorts of exotic plants surrounded circuitous driveways and mansions in every style, with things like Porches and Teslas in the driveways. And it just kept going, not a shack between them. I was gobsmacked at the wealth. This must have made me tired because after clearing all the richness, I felt ready to find a camp. Surprisingly, freecampsites.net had an option not far inland of where I was. Although I was determined to have a beach camp, it was only 30 minutes away so decided that would do me.

I stopped in at a library on my way but their public computers didn’t have the Excel tool I needed, so I carried on to camp. After driving through the built-up town of Jupiter, I drove along a very straight road until I came upon the “Wildlife Management Area”. It was $6 for the night which I happily paid. It was a huge place mostly used for hunting and had heaps of camping areas. I drove past three of them and decided the second one would do me. I parked up (had the place entirely to myself), set up my hammock right next to the lily-pad covered canal and listened to the fish splash around on the surface every now and then as I read my book. Perfect.

As I cooked dinner, the mozzies came out in their droves and I mean droves! They didn’t really bite which was a bonus, but I’m sure I ate more than one in my dinner. Funnily enough, a few hours later, they were gone as soon as they came and so was the warmth of the day, but I’m not complaining!