Return to Cedar Key, FL

Sunset Isle (retro) Campground

We returned to Cedar Key on the Gulf side and decided to stay at Sunset Isle RV Park.  It's a small park sporting a small cafe with great food.  The 50's trailer painted  bright colors is indicative of the atmosphere here.   A retro RV park.  Actually, my parents owned a trailer similar to this one in size before I was born... not those same colors though.  The photo below is a picture of their trailer parked at the entrance to the Grand Canyon.  The RV travel bug must be in my blood.

Late 40's Trip to Grand Canyon... Pre-Pam

We don't have direct access to the Gulf, but there are boat ramps everywhere.  We put the dory in at Shell Mound which is an estuary at the lower Suwanee River.  What that really means is at low tide, the water gets really "skinny."  In some areas it turns to mud.  The first day we put in an hour after low tide.  Going out was a challenge, but coming in was great.  The second day we put in a couple hours before low tide.  We were dragging bottom on the way in, but no matter. Paddles work well as pole pushers.  This day Jerry caught a sea trout just long enough to keep and eat.  The day before when we put in a guy who was just coming in had bags of fresh oysters, and we bought some from him.  Trout, oysters, and pan fried onions and potatoes.  So good.

We continue to meet interesting people from all over the country , and their stories are as varied as their home locations.  Catherine and Bill from New Jersey are our neighbors right now.  Not only do they travel in their RV, they have a trawler in Florida that they will take back to New Jersey in a month or so.  Their beach house got hit hard and flooded during Hurricane Sandy, and it is being renovated now.  Jerry and I agreed that keeping track of the Whale and one small boat was enough for us.

Shell Mound Estuary of the lower Suwanee River

We had several days of wind and rain while in Cedar Key which meant we both got a lot of "inside" work done.  Maci love those days because she doesn't get stuck alone in the Whale while we go boating.  As you can see from the picture below, Maci has a corner on the rainy day power nap.

Our last day at Cedar Key, Tuesday, was sunny and very windy until late afternoon.  We made one last run into town for ice cream and a walk on the public pier.  We were treated to a show of dolphins who appeared to be playing as they traveled past the end of the pier.  Jerry and I were tempted to put the dory in at the public landing and go out with the dolphins, but we were packed to leave early the next morning.  Reluctantly, we passed.
 
Next stop, Three Rivers State Park near Snead, FL in the north central panhandle of Florida.