Cedar Key, Florida-Anglers RV Park

Here is how our week started out...

Really it wasn't that bad. Fortunately, we were only a few miles away from the next town and there was an easy quick remedy until the Wal-Mart. It would not have been so funny if we had been on the other side of the town and had to find a place to turn around because after that town was small roads and no place where we could buy replacement wipers. I'm sure we will experience more challenging times during our adventure.

Cedar Key is a very cute island fishing town off the west coast of Florida with a population of 700. It is one of Florida's oldest ports and was a major supplier of timber and seafood. In 1855 Eberhard Faber purchased land here for a factory. Does that name sound familiar? If you were like me, you probably read it a million times on your pencils while you were bored, lost or just dreaming during school. Unfortunately, by 1900 the timber resources had pretty much disappeared and the town began to decline.

It still remains, however, and seems to be doing well. They do not allow much development here and so you will not find any big grocery or department stores. The nearest one is a Wal-Mart in Chiefland that is 30 minutes away. If you are the kind of person who likes a very laid back vacation where you don’t need much to do but stroll through the little town and check out a few local shops and restaurants, this is a place for you. Or if you like water for boating, kayaking etc., it's right here! All of the people I met at the campground had been coming back here for years. We were definitely the young couple around here! ;)

They have a very well maintained city park with a small beach area. We were there for a few hours and there was a woman there who meticulously cleaned everything the whole time, from putting each piece of mulch back in its place to spraying and cleaning the picnic tables. Since we had just been there a couple days earlier and saw how clean it already was, I don't think it was her monthly cleaning job.

The playscapes looked brand new and there was field room to run and play and fly kites. The picnic tables and benches all had view of the water.

Cedar Key Museum State Park was nearby so the kids and I visited. The museum was quite small, only one room in fact. We only paid $2 total to get in. It probably had some very interesting information but the kids kept me from reading any of it because there was nothing really to entertain them.

Here the kids are praying that God will fill this bowl with Lucky Charms!  Not really!  They are making their wishes before throwing their pennies in this pot.  This is actually a salt kettle. Before refrigeration, sea water was boiled until all that was left was the salt.  The salt was then used to pack beef and fish in to prevent spoiling.  A kettle this size would produce 150 bushels of salt per day (one bushel=56 lbs).

The most interesting part was outside of the museum. There was a 1920s historical home that was open for a brief self-guided tour (just enough information for my group).

Behind the house was a short nature trail that led to the water. We found tons of little tiny crabs living in these holes as we got closer to the water.  Look closely at the above picture and see if you can see one.

As we were getting ready to leave the museum, the attendant told us about a nearby eagle's nest. We ventured over there and found this HUGE eagle's nest. Just to the right of it, you can see one of the parents sitting on a branch. There were two hatchlings in the nest. We were able to see their wings some. (If you are viewing this on your phone you may be able to zoom in and see the eagle).

On Greg's day off we drove to Manatee Springs State Park about 30 minutes away. And guess what we saw?!! If you guessed manatees, you were right! (They are the white blobs in the middle of this picture.  One of them is surfacing for air).  The West Indies manatees come up the Suwannee river during the winter to hang out near the springs where the water is a constant 72 degrees.

The coolest part was that you could get into the water with them! The water was so clear though that it wasn't necessary. But we did, AFTER we got on our wetsuits (except for Greg who didn't put his on until later so that he could dive down easier). Greg made it in first and was able to get close to the manatee and check it out. Unfortunately, by the time the rest of us made it into the water, the manatee had moved to an area where swimmers cannot go. Even so, we had a good time swimming in the clear waters. Jacob said it was the “best day ever”. Four degrees and a wet suit apparently makes a huge difference because there is no way I would have ever gotten into Barton Springs in Austin (68 degrees), manatee or not!

The campground we stayed at was just okay for me. The men who worked at the front desk was quite friendly and of course, I met several nice people while doing laundry. The positives were that there were lots of trees, the bathrooms and showers were clean (although we did not really have to use them), the laundry was cheap and there were a few extra outdoor activities for the kids. The biggest negative for me was all the “stuff” that the permanent residents leave outside because they do not have garages. It quickly begins to destroy the beauty of an area.  The state park camping area, though, wasn't any more desirable, so it turned out to be a good choice.

Near the week's end, I learned that an old school friend's very young son is losing his battle against neuroblastoma. It is a horrifying thought and sadly, a real experience for that family. The mother has been so amazingly strong over the past 20 months and has gone to great lengths to get the best treatment for her son.  They have done all that is possible.

Once our pastor, half-jokingly, told us that we only have 16 summers with our children (because after that they are off doing their own things and don't want to hang with us). The truth is that we really don't know how long we have with our children so we must never take any moment for granted. As we sit in our small home now constantly surrounded by each other, I know that I wouldn't want it any other way and this is where I really should be for now. We are cherishing the times we have together and experiencing so much together. While I am still quite busy, it is so nice not to have all of those things that continually pull you away from your family.

Give your family some extra hugs and kisses and please pray for the Pickel family who will soon endure something no family ever wishes they have to.

Next stop:  Wauchula, FL.