I moved away from the Space Coast of Florida in 1995 when I moved to West Palm Beach, then 30 miles North to Jensen Beach. I have not really been back to the area since.
Until I drove through this past weekend. We decided to take US1 all the way from St. Augustine to home, actually I swapped over to A1A (which runs on the ocean side) in Cape Canaveral and took it as much as I could down the coast.
I passed through Titusville which is due west of Kennedy Space Center and was where everyone that worked with the space program lived, unless you went south to Merritt Island or to Cocoa Beach / Cape Canveral. Titusville was the destination for the working man.
Titusville was never really a popular spot but it did o.k. while the space program was in full swing.
When I drove through there last weekend I was shocked to see the place is pretty much a ghost town now. The only company that seemed to still be in business was Ecklers Corvette.
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/about-us
Beyond that, almost every commercial building was vacant and overgrown like a bad post apocalyptic movie. It was alarming and kind of sad.
A little further North we were brave and stopped at a flea market on the side of the road in South Volusia County, south of Daytona Beach. Confederate Flags were a hot item, along with Beer, yes I saw a 6 pack of Smutty Nose IPA for sale on a table. Guns? Yup!! got 'em!! Shotguns, handguns, and rifles, there was a 1800's powder Rifle for sale I was very tempted but was low on cash, he was asking $700 I am sure if I waved $400 I could have gotten it. FFA? Who needs that?
Everyone was smoking too, I now have lung cancer to prove it.
We drove past our old rental duplex 1 block from the beach in Cape Canveral, took our tried and true locals only shortcuts (that still worked) around the tourist traffic in Cocoa Beach, and continued down the coast.
I wish I had taken pictures, I was afraid to at the flea market, and was driving a lot so no time to pull out the camera, plus I was in the moment, to be honest, I was just enjoying being there enjoying that memory.
I had a Tacoma Pre-Runner TRD try to race me somewhere on US1 in Daytona, I was in the E30, I wanted to teach him a little something about HP/Weight ratios but Mrs5543 was not in a mood for a good Sunday morning street race. I was a good boy for a change.
I also have cemented my hatred for Harleys and their riders. When in St. Augustine we were on a balcony restaurant/brewery, there was a rev-tard below us, showing off being a tough guy, he revved so loud one time our waitress jumped and almost lost a tray of drinks.
On the very last leg of our run home, 2 Harleys pulled out right in front of me, making me hit my brakes, then proceeded to do 10 under making sure to space out and drive like assholes so when passing zones came up it was impossible to pass. When nice curvy parts came up they would take turns holding up the traffic so one could tear through, mostly on the wrong side of the road (there is no god, I was praying for a truck on the other side) I was happy they turned off, so the line of cars they gathered behind them (about 30 of them) could move along at a sane pace.
Hopefully with Space X gaining traction, some of the area will come back, if you are in the market for cheap industrial or commercial space, well, look into Titusville.
I am going to dig through my phone and see if I have any pics from my trip worth sharing, posts soon.
Some pics...
From St. Augustine.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20151226_101946_zpstj0oov0p.jpg)
We visited a distillery, purchased a couple of bottles. Hic..
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20151224_135241_zpsdv4hfetn.jpg)
Things are a little fuzzy at this point, Mrs5543 had a Martini on top of something else from somewhere else, I cannot remember. I had a Manhattan. Mrs5543 then went on a texting spree telling everyone how much she loves them. We were sitting in a little waterfront Martini bar.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20151224_170819_zps6zfnfv0b.jpg)
We visited the Pirate Museum, I highly recommend this. It looks touristy but the tour is very good. This is a 300+ year old book. 1st edition.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20151226_162616_zpspcn8g3zd.jpg)
Went to the Lighner Museum, it is Flaglers old Hotel, it is run down and sad and smells like piss on the second floor.
I leanred something new, seems states all had their own currency prior to the civil war. I need to do some reading this may have been a confederate thing.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20151226_124329_zpsnhddby5l.jpg)
Found a little courtyard to sit in for a spell the evenings in St. Augustine were worth suffering through the high humidity 83° days.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/Mobile%20Uploads/20151226_181123_zpsg1e6ntez.jpg)
Watched a 12 year old cop write a ticket from his bicycle. I texted this pic to my friend who is a Sheriffs Deputy, he thinks this guy is a power bottom.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/20151226_160048_zpsgo9wlcv6.jpg)
I have nothing from the drive home, sadly.
BTW - This is one of those moments above where you think something but do nothing.
I looked at his Glock and thought it would be funny to release his clip, then thought that would result in the last bullet I am sure he has in his chamber being inside me, to at the least being tasered.
So I just looked at his gun and giggled to myself. I may or may not have had a Manhattan in me at this point.