Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Seabreeze on the dock


We ate dinner at the Seabreeze for the first time in 1988. It was quite good. But "time makes ancient good uncouth" as the old hymn goes, or things change over time. There were years when people would drive to Cedar Key to eat dinner at the Seabreeze. Not so much anymore. It's still a fun place, dining on the 2nd floor, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico. But it's not the same; the spark is gone.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Monday, December 15, 2014

On the road (to Cedar Key) again!


Cedar Key, being 24 miles from the nearest main highway, is a magnet for bikers and you'll find a number of motorcycles in town any time you visit.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

That Old Gang of Mine


This is where (at least I believe it is true) the old Cedar Key gang meets for coffee in the morning to chew the fat and solve the problems of the world.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Airboat in for repairs


It appears this airboat, parked at the Auto Repair Center, could use a little bit of work.  Airboats are common in Cedar Key as many of the waters are very shallow - they're called "flats".  Airboats fly across the surface without getting entangled in underwater growth or old stumps, etc.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Friday, December 5, 2014

Monday, December 1, 2014

Twin Swings That Swing and Sing at Night


On a relatively cool day in the middle of the week, the beach area at Cedar Key is deserted. One might conclude that these twin swings get a bit lonely and bored sitting there baking in the sun with no one to get them moving.

There's a story told by Cedar Key natives that at night when all is dark and stormy and when there's no moon at all, the chairs party! They swing, boy do they swing. And when the swing, they sing. The natives say the singing is the voices of ghosts - those people who were driven off the island when settlers moved in to harvest the trees for pencils.

But others claim that's nonsense; it's just a legend that has no basis in fact and the singing swings are not really singing. What sounds like singing is noise from the wind blowing through the chains.

I think the native are right and the next time we stay overnight in Cedar Key I'm going to check it out if it's dark and stormy enough and there's no moon.

If I dare.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

On a bathroom door in a gift shop on the Dock


I wasn't going to post this at first 'cause I thought it was a crappy sign, but then I came to my senses and did it anyway.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Cedar Key reflections


This magnificent photo was taken by Lois Anne!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Abandoned and discarded


I don't know where it came from, but it was lying in this death position on the beach next to the Sea Breeze restaurant. So sad.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Rusty Rim - DOA


Some years back, we knew this place as the Captain's Table. It's gone through several incarnations, the latest being the Rusty Rim and Coconuts. Then there was a fire, which, while it didn't destroy the place entirely, left it badly scarred.

Not too many months ago, while visiting Cedar Key, it appeared the place was being restored. However, that restoration has either been stalled and halted.

Hopefully, someone will come along to finish the restoration and make this a viable eatery for Cedar Key.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Aeroplane at Cedar Key airport


The Cedar Key airport consists of one runway long enough for a plane this size to take off and land safely. Some of the people who live along the runway keep their planes in their driveway or front yard. This plane we found at the end of the runway.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Rusty Old Anchor


You may remember Hoyt Axton singing "Rusty Old Halo." It was a good song. Halos are probably more interesting than rusty old anchors, though, so I doubt if anyone has written a song about a rusty old anchor.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Waterfront Cottages



This tourist "camp" has been around for a long time; it still looks like it used to many years ago; it looks like "old Florida." I thought the infrared showed "old Florida" better than the color shot.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Seabreeze Restaurant on the Dock


Our first meal in Cedar Key was in this restaurant, in 1988.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Home across from the marina


This beautiful, iconic Cedar Key home is located directly across from the marina. It's a perfect location except for the noise generated by boats and people passing by.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Photographer caught in action


The City Daily Photo theme for March is "People on the street." These people are technically not on the street, they are on a dock connecting to the street trying to get a photograph of a little pin-headed duck or something similar. It was, as you can see, a cool day.

To see other takes on the theme, please click here.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

The Cedar Key Playground


It was a cool day. Very few people were on the streets of Cedar Key. But on warm weekends, this playground is filled with kids and their parents.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Kayaks ready to go to sea


Warmer weather has arrived and these kayaks will soon be scooting about the Gulf of Mexico!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Deserted beach


There was no one on the beach on this sunny, but cool winters day.

Photo by Lois Anne.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

SR 24 - the road to Cedar Key


From Otter Creek, at Highway 19 and SR 24, it is about 24 miles to Cedar Key. This is what SR 24 looks like.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Big Deck Bar


The Big Deck Bar, located on the Dock, has gone through many changes (name and otherwise) over the years. But it keeps on keeping on. In this latest incarnation, you enter through an orange door. Orange, of course, is one of many colorful colors that adorn this old building!

February's theme is "entry," and you can check out how other photographers portray that theme here.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

Cedar Key scenic


Photo by Lois Anne. Nikon D40.

Friday, January 24, 2014

The Gathering Place



In 1988, on our first trip to Cedar Key, this establishment was known as Cook's Cafe.  Locals and visitors considered it the place to go for a decent breakfast!

Down through the years, it changed ownership several times and for awhile it stood vacant.  To see the site of many happy memories sit idle was unhappy for us.

Then, in October of last year, Michelle renovated the building and set up her own cafe, called The Gathering Place.  What a job she has done!  It is clean and neat and the food is "home-cooked" by a chef who wants nothing more than to tease your palate with delight!

We had lunch.  It was delicious.  And the staff could not be nicer.  Michelle was warm and friendly as was Donna Risker, a native of Cedar Key (pictured in the last photo).  Michelle is also a very fine photographer, and you'll note she's standing in front of two of her photos of the old "Honeymoon Cottage," a Cedar Key icon.  We remember when the cottage was mostly intact and it's sad to see it gradually disappearing into the water.  Now, it's almost gone.

By the way, Donna is a graduate of the Cedar Key School, a photo of which was posted yesterday.

You can check out their website here

Addendum:  Michelle saw this post and gave us a thumbs-up.  She also clarified some of the information and added to it.  I'm afraid we did not give enough credit to a couple of people, so I'm posting some of what Michelle said:


As far as the renovations here, they were actually mostly done by the building's owner, Beth Davis, who owns/runs the Quilt Shop in the building. We, my husband and I, just spruced the place up a bit ... added some more paint, the tablecloths, napkins, and the Caribbean Blue touches (napkins, window sides, etc). Beth also had the small partition brought in near her door up front.

The restaurant is actually my husband's baby who had been in restaurant for years, and I just came along for the ride. ;-). He's the cook and has all the knowledge.

 
Thank you, Michellle, and we wish you a long and happy career at The Gathering Place!