We crossed the Florida state line on Tuesday mid-morning and got a good laugh reading "The Sunshine State" when it was pouring down rain.  By the time we reached our destination, Cedar Key on the north west coast off of SR 24, the rain had stopped, and it was sunny.  Cedar Key RV Park is our location, one of two located about three miles from town.  The park is relatively new, the proprietors friendly and helpful, and the campers friendly.  There is also a third park, Sunset RV Park, located in town on the key.  If / when we return to Cedar Key we will probably try Sunset Park.  Although it's small, crowded, and does not have cement pads, it's right on the key and has the feel of a '60's "happening." Sometimes you just have to go for atmosphere.  We set up (which is getting so much easier as we go along) and took off for town.

If you ever get a chance to be in this area, you have to have dinner at Tony's http://www.tonyschowder.com.  World Champion Chowder three years in a row.  THE best clam chowder ever!  Lots of clams, few potatoes, and a bit of spicy.  If you order the fish platter, it's huge, but you get to sample the local fare seafood which all "slept in the bay the night before."  Since we love all kinds of sea food, and we love the coastal areas, we love this place.  Driving around in the dark to check out the town only wetted our appetite to go back on Wednesday.  For the first time in months, we slept with the windows open Wednesday night.

After lunch on the bay and a drive around town Wednesday, we headed north along the coast to check out Steinhatchee on the Steinhatchee River.  We've learned that a traveling necessity is a good sized cooler in the back of the Jeep at all times.  We stopped just north of the RV park at a fresh seafood retail market and restaurant, Robinson Seafood on SR24, "If the fish were any fresher, it would still be swimming!"  Grouper was our choice, and with that iced and packed in the cooler we headed back north.

Since this is not the "in season" time in northern Florida, the vacation spots are quiet.  Steinhatchee is more than quiet....  it's for sale. I've not done any research on the Florida economy, especially the resort areas, but it appears that if the U.S. economy is improving, it's not trickled down to northern Florida.  For sale signs were everywhere - not just houses, but condo complexes and resort spots.  Additionally, this is a fishing town much like Cedar Key, the river giving easy access to the Gulf.  Since we're always on the look-out for a place to park the whale, and finding none in Steinhatchee, we headed back south to HomeSweetHome Whale in Cedar Key. Grouper for dinner by Chef Jerry was excellent!

Today, Thursday, we'll head back to town for one more look around and get the whale ready to move on to Tampa on Friday.  The Whale gets a bath and a polish.  We hope to be in Naples Friday afternoon.

Cedar Key
Main Street on the bay

Cedar Key
Lunch on the bay

Home sweet home at Cedar Key