The view from the balcony of Room 228 in Park Place, Cedar Key, Florida, Saturday, January 21, 2012, 3:17 PM. I had not been in the kayak since Sunday and was suffering withdrawal. So, when I saw the marine forecast for the waters around Cedar Key was a light chop both Saturday and Sunday, I decided to make a overnight visit. As usual on my Cedar Key adventures, I stopped first at the Waccasassa River.
An early start at the first stop, time stamp on the above photo is 6:55 AM. I was so eager to get on the water after 6 days when I looked at the clock and it read 3:37, I said, what the heck., I won't be able to sleep. Had sunrise been earlier, I would have been on the water earlier. Not waking up before I did, but driving faster. I went the speed limit, and below, because I know it would be dark when I arrived at Wacassasa Park in Levy County. With the price of gas, I'm glad I drove slowly. Two power boaters launched before me. 99% of boats head downriver. I went up.
For some reason, I'm really tired. Time for a nap before a sunset paddle.
I'm back.
Time to cook dinner.
Since I'm just here one night, I'll eat in. Tomorrow, maybe lunch at the Pickled Pelican. Now, back to this morning.
Arrived at the confluence of the Waccassasa and Wekiva Rivers to see the first guy who launched waiting. At least I assume it was the first guy. Remember, it was dark, so I did not get a good look at him. Didn't get a very good look, now, either. In camo. Head to toe. Eyes peering out from his balaclava. Hmmm, that's not a fishing pole on his lap. "Beautiful day" he said. "Sure is" Unless you're a duck. I only heard one gunshot as I paddled up the Wekiva.
Good thing there's a cattle ranch so I have some wild, er, domesticated animal photos.
There were numerous small birds. A big flock of robins. Seems like I'm seeing more robins this year than ever. Forgot to mention saw a lot of them last Sunday, on Rock Springs Run. None on the other Wekiva River.
I exited the Wekiva and paddled up the Waccassasa.
Turned back here as I began to scrape the limestone bottom.
Waccassasa left, Wekiva, right.
I landed at 10:25. Hours later, when I downloaded the photos, there were 4 of just water. Were they the last of the morning or first of the afternoon. Oh yeah, there was a otter near the launch. I snapped four quick shots. Still had the zoom on from the above pic, and the otter was right next to me. Thus, photos of water. Lots of trucks and trailers now in the lot, but they all had gone down the Waccassaaa, towards the Gulf. Thank goodness, as that meant I just heard the airboats.
I had told Park Place I expected to arrive around 1:00. More like 11:15-20. My room was not ready. Which was expected. So, I just wheeled the kayak across the street and was back on the water at 11:45.
The forecast light chop must have been early in the morning. Breezy on the Gulf in the early afternoon.
Past Dock Street, and the beach where I launched, to the channel behind the lodgings for my last two trips to Cedar Key, Old Fennimore Mill.
My favorite place to stay, but not after a month when I did not get a commission check. $125 a night, Park Place is $81. (AAA rate)
No wind or wave issues in the Back Bayou.
Sunday morning. Heating up the leftovers, waiting for the tide to go out. A few more photos during breakfast.
Back to Sunday. You know you are close to the Gulf when you open the sliding glass door to let the breeze in, and hear the kayak rental guy, on the beach, say "I have a group of 12 coming in an hour and a half" That would be 10:30. So, I'm shooting for 10:15.
I had not noticed the osprey in the background when I took the photo.
Time to back and get in the yak.
More to come when I get home tonight. As I told a woman on my walk this morning, we have no reason to hurry home for the game. She was attired in a Packer sweatshirt.
9:30 PM Sunday. Home after another wonderful day. More about later. Let's see if I can finish Saturday's Tale before bedtime.
And a cormorant.
I landed about 2:30. Wheeled the kayak across the street to Park Place, where the housekeeping cart stood out side my room. So, I took my time putting the yak on the car, rinsing off the salt water, getting my gear together. When I finished, the room was ready. Sat down for this photo at 3:17.
The guy in the shorts operates the kayak rental concession.
I was back in my kayak at 5:30 for a sunset paddle. Which, as you know, was successful.
Right on both counts. I was 3/4 of a mile to a mile away from the launch site. Time to head back.
The last photo from the kayak was taken at 6:14 PM. The first was at 6:55 AM. Not quite 12 hours. I think I earned a good dinner.
2 comments:
I love to read your blog!!I check it every week to see where you have been. Living in GA we do not have as many places to kayak as you do in Florida. We have been wanting to go to Cedar Key and I think we just might this spring. Any suggestions, on where to kayak and where to stay. It looks like alot of open water, boat traffic bad?
But, Lori, if you've been reading the Tales, you know where to go ;)
My first Cedar Key kayak trip was in July, 09, first overnight, September, 10. Been back 5 times since. Go to the right side, open the year, then the months to find more Cedar Key Tales. Its a series of islands, so kayak anywhere. But the most convient launch is the City Park Beach. Across the street from Park Place, which may be a bit small for a family of four. I've also stayed at Nature's Landing. Two bedrooms, a three block walk to the Park. On a inlet, tide dependent for launching. My favorite spot is the Old Fenimore Mill. Gulf and bayou frontage, so when the Gulf is too rough, you can launch and paddle on the protected backside of Cedar Key. As Cedar Key is off the beaten path, no large city within 90 miles, boat traffic is light. Just used common sense when crossing channels.
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