Sweetwater Springs to Cedar Key

Friday, Feb, 22. 2013.  Had to be out of the cabin at 9.

The deer must have known.  The trio I saw the last two mornings were 15 minutes early

Said goodbye to Bob

Made an entry in the cabin log on the deck.  8:50.  The cleaning crew arrived just after 9

 One last look down the road for a bear. Never saw one. Had to settle for deer, alligators, manatees, monkeys, otters, and bald eagles.   Just to mention the megafauna.

Locked the gate behind us. 9:11. I was not ready to return to civilization.  Cedar Key was 100 miles away. I would drive to Ocala, call Park Place, see if a room was available.  If not, I would think of a plan B.  Stopped to get gas at US 27 and I 75.  Made the call. A room was available.
At 11:17, I was on the Number 4 Bridge, the first bridge into Cedar Key

Not only was a room available, it was ready. View from  the balcony at 11:50

 The interior

On the water at 1:20

A bit wavy on the Gulf. So much so, I did not take a picture of Dock St. Headed the other direction to the protection of the Number 2 Channel

Lesser scaup. I would see many more.

Under the current Number 2 Bridge, looking at the old.

Feeding frenzy

Overlook at Cemetery Point Park.  Fancy camera, long zoom.

I use the yak zoom to see the oyster catchers

 The ultimate kayak vacation would be a week at the Sweetwater Cabin, followed by a week here.

Number 3 Bridge

Black skimmers

 Distant white pelicans.  I turned around.  Too tired to paddle that far for some reason

Not sure what these are.

 Still choppy on the Gulf as I headed home

Landed at 3:45.  Relaxed in the room, downloaded photos from earlier in the week, fixed dinner.  The tough steak was better chopped into small pieces and mixed with pasta.  Did that with 2/3 of the steak, put the rest  in chili for Saturday.
Back outside for a cloudy sunset from the Big Dock

Final view, from my balcony