Connect with us

Entertainment

My friend said ‘I love where we live’ — and I understand why | Suzy Leonard

Published

4 weeks ago

on

My friend said ‘I love where we live’ — and I understand why | Suzy Leonard

Suzy Leonard
 |  For FLORIDA TODAY

“I love where we live.”

My friend Emma Kirkpatrick made this declaration as we took a break, sitting on our paddle boards in the middle of the Banana River.

It was just before noon on a Monday. Sunshine glinted off gentle ripples on the water. Dolphins danced around us. Though the temperature hovered around 95 degrees, a glorious breeze kept the swelter at bay.

For a few minutes, we enjoyed a panoramic view of paradise.

It took Emma and me six months to coordinate schedules so we could take our paddling excursion. She runs a popular restaurant in Cocoa Village with limited time off. Retirement for me has been busier than anticipated.

But finally, there we were, doused in sunscreen and gliding across the water.

We launched from Oars & Paddles Park in Indian Harbour Beach, making our way through the canal and into the river. We took our time, paddling down to Dragon Point to pay a nostalgic homage to the green remains of Annie the Dragon.

We considered rounding the bend into the Indian River, but quickly changed our minds. It looked much rougher out there.

Instead, we headed north, hugging the west bank of the Banana, toward Mather’s Bridge.

The river was mostly deserted. A speedboat with three women lounging in the front chugged by, moving slowly through the no-wake zone. We caught snippets of conversation about a bachelorette party.

From afar, we saw the bridge swing open to let a sailboat pass. It had snapped closed again by the time we reached it.

We ducked under it and continued our journey.

More: Believe me, there’s beauty beyond all the crazy: Let’s look for it | Suzy Leonard

Pelicans splashed down in search of lunch. More dolphins frolicked in front of us.

Eventually it was time to cross the river and turned back to the park. We were hungry and tired, our legs feeling limp from balancing on our boards.

As we packed up our gear, we congratulated one another for managing to finish our adventure without falling in.

Not quite ready for the day to end, we took the long way back to Rockledge, traveling over Mather’s Bridge to South Tropical Trail, admiring the grand riverfront houses as we drove along.

Salads and multiple refills of water and iced tea at River Rocks gave us another hour or so of Riverview time. Then it was home for much-needed showers and naps.

Emma and I agreed: It was the perfect way to spend a Monday. And she’s right. I love where we live.

Anyone who can’t find beauty on the Space Coast isn’t looking in the right places.

Suzy Fleming Leonard is a retired FLORIDA TODAY writer and editor. Reach her at suzy@321creates.com.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading