Woke up just after 8am, but decided to lounge around room for longer on my Daytona Beach free day. For the one thing I wrote down that I was going to do (go for a run), finally got suited up and ready to go by 10:30am.
Headed out and planned to run south. Had noted the closest Starbuck was just over 2 miles down the coastline. Had no hopes of hanging to make it there on foot, so had brought my car keys and wallet to go hop in the car and drive down after down and back run.
Ended up running just a 1/2 mile total. I will give Daytona Beach credit -- the sands are fine and pretty well compacted. Running on the wet part of the sand made for similar bounce as you'd get on a rubberized track field. Still, my out of shape ass couldn't hang for more than 1/2 mile at my 12 minute miles pace. So, stopped, turned around, and walked back to hotel.
Pic from stopping point.
Also worth mentioning that my stomach has been bothering me and while I don't feel sick per se (nose flow has ceased as of today), I still don't have my full sense of smell back (for some reason cannot smell the ocean here really at all) and am still somewhat fatigued. So, didnt push it.
Drove down to Starbucks, got beverage, and stopped at my first Publix on the way back (had seen the supermarket elsewhere in Florida) for some water and other items.
Didn't get back to room until after noon, and shower plus beard grooming didn't have me back out for the day until around 2pm. Informal agenda of: lunch somewhere, pic of the "World's Most Famous Beach" sign for Daytona Beach, buy more postard stamps, buy postcards and maybe other souvenirs, maybe check out Daytona Beach brewery, drive by Daytona Int'l Speedway.
Did half of those things -- got pic of the sign:
(had to park, get out of car and walk down to stop light for good pic...)
Got to the post office right there on the main blvd right as it opened at 2:30pm (was only open 2:30pm - 4:30pm) and was the only person there other than guy behind counter. Sheet of stamps bought and I was out.
Stopped in at nearby gift shop and bought a few souvenirs, then back to parked car another few blocks back to seek out lunch. Was scoping but really no good food options in that beachfront area.
Ended up just getting a 4 for 4 meal at Wendy's a mile back further in town. Was going to go to their Popeye's but looked pretty sketch from outside (panhandlers etc.) so I kept driving.
After 4 for 4 I drove further to at least see the Daytona International Speedway from the outside. It is huge. Seating stands built as high as a MLB/NFL stadium, and it keeps going on and on from the outside as I drove past (on International Speedway Boulevard, no less).
Ultimately turned around and made my way back to beach area. Turns out there is whole other area of Daytona Beach, near the Speedway, that has all the feels of suburbia with a huge shopping mall and none of the kitchsy Daytona Beach stuffs there at the oceanfront areas.
Ended up parking to check out their one mall right there near the pier. Have to say it was underwhelming. Consistent with it being off season here the place was pretty dead, but even with that maybe half of the storefronts were empty. There was a Sunglass Hut hanging on on the first floor, but otherwise it was food spots (Bubba Gump, some wing place, a place called Sloppy Joe's), a Rocket Fizz, and a movie theater.
Parking was $1 for every half hour in the garage connected by pedestrian overpass to the mall -- I was back out to my car and out of the garage for a total owed amount of $1.
Was feeling tired so headed back to the hotel. Entertained the thought of heading straight to the Daytona Beach brewery, but it turned out it was 20+ minute drive on other side of town near raceway. Tentatively thought might make it back out to it along with grabbing dinner somewhere.
Ended up taking another nap back at the room, ha. Woke up after dark. With legs feeling tired and everything, went back and forth between taking myself down to the restaurant in the hotel, or just ordering room service. Decided I really didn't feel like leaving the room again overall, so I went room service. Wasn't a crazy splurge -- with what I ordered came in similar to what I spent the night before at the brewery, but I didn't realize I basically ordered two dinners, ha.
Really wanted something quality and healthy which is why I got the salad, but the club sandwich + fries sounded good too. Ended up saving half of the club sandwich for bkfst tomorrow before leaving for the drive up to Birmingham, AL to visit Friend #4.
Took my time getting my stuff packed back up. Also started a list of things I need to do when I get back to Cali. With the trip half over officially (and time-wise, more than halfway over), starting to set back in that there is everyday life to attend to. Thankful I am going to be off for the week I return to get readjusted.
No comments:
Post a Comment