Well, it didn't take long for Linda's bug to find me. Still, I wasn't feeling as bad as she was. It seems the only time we get sick is around the holidays when we are around bunches of people.
After a day of rest and medication, we were doing pretty well and agreed to go out with Jay & Karen to Barbara Jeans in Ponta Vedra for our last night here in Jacksonville. Barbara Jeans is on the intracoastal waterway, but it was too cold to sit outside and too dark to see anything.
Linda & I split a Coastal Platter which consisted of a crab cake, coconut shrimp, and a grilled fish filet. That, along with the pumpkin bread and the jalapeno cornbread was more than enough for both of us. :)
Linda did great during the holidays and didn't gain anything at all. I, on the other hand, gained a few pounds. But we'll knock those off easily enough when we get back on the road.
Back at the house, Linda was starting to feel worse and we both went to bed before 9:30. The plan all along was to leave on Wednesday, and we hoped we felt well enough to make the next day's drive.
It was another cold morning with temps below freezing, but it was supposed to warm up fairly quickly into the 50s. Just yesterday, we decided to head toward the Cedar Key area for a few days before moving down to the Crystal River/Homosassa area.
We selected the Cedar Key RV Resort which is about six miles east of Cedar Key. They had one site available through the weekend, so we took it. With us both being under the weather, we opted for the 50-amps and full hook-ups, and we decided to be in an RV park rather than a public campground for the New Year's weekend. We haven't had full hook-ups since the middle of October, and we didn't want to deal with any potential craziness in the public campgrounds on New Year's Eve.
We thanked Jay and gave him a big hug before he left for work, and then we eventually got moving. There wasn't much to do in the way of preparation, and we were on the road between 9:30 and 10:00. We gave Karen big hugs and were on our way for the day's 130-mile drive.
It took us about 25 minutes to get out of Jacksonville, and then we picked up I-10 west for a few miles before taking U.S. 301 toward Gainesville. We picked up FL Hwy 24 through Gainesville and took it all the way to Cedar Key. Not too bad.
We arrived at Cedar Key RV Resort which has about 80 sites that are better spaced than the other RV parks in the area. It's not on the water like some of the other parks, but it is newer and reasonably priced, especially if you stay a week or more. I got the impression that they started building this park and then cash got tight, but they are slowly adding improvements.
They gave us Site 11, and we backed in and got settled.
It was cloudy when we arrived, but eventually the clouds started to break up.
Linda just wanted to set up, turn on some heat, get in her recliner, and take a nap. I sure hope we both start feeling better so we can get out and enjoy some of the nature in the area while we're here.
I decided not to give in and wanted to drive over to Cedar Key. Linda opted to stay bundled up in her recliner. :)
Continuing on Hwy 24, it goes through some marshes and crosses a few bridges until it runs into the town of Cedar Key and turns into "D" Street.
I drove around each of the three keys connected by roads that make up Cedar Key. Be careful around the airport as the planes sometimes cross the public road. :)
After driving around awhile, I parked on the bridge that connects "C" Street with Dock Street (or "A" Street) which is on the Gulf and contains many of the restaurants and bars and the marina.
I took a quick picture out to the west from the bridge, ....
and then I walked around Dock Street and the fishing pier.
Many of the locals get around on golf carts and there is special golf cart parking around town.
Here are a couple of shots from the fishing pier.
This is Coconuts and the Rusty Rim Pub.
Coconuts is a sports bar with a huge outdoor deck which is one of the best places on the island to watch the sunsets.
A silhouetted gull on the pier.
I wasn't up for going into the bar or waiting out the sunset - it was a bit chilly on that pier - so I headed back toward the RV park. I did stop and take a few photos over the marshes.
I get the feeling that beautiful sunsets are a common occurrence here. :)
Well, here's hoping that rest and medication work quickly so we feel like doing some of the things I want to do while we're here. The weather is supposed to get really nice this weekend, and we don't want to waste it.
See ya!
Speedy Recovery to you both. Tony and I had it also and doing better now except for the cough that hangs on forever.
Nice pics Howard!!
Happy New Year!!
Posted by: Eileen Fiore | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Hope you both are feeling better soon! Lots of hot tea, echinacea/zinc/vit.C and Odwalla juices! Love the Homosassa area...we're jealous...it's 15 degrees, windy and blowing snow up here in Maine! Take care and have fun!
Posted by: Sue | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Hi Howard and Linda,
Glad to see you're finally on the "right" coast of Florida. That's the Gulf Coast which we prefer over the Atlantic Coast!
Sure hope Linda and you feel better soon. There is a lot of stuff going around so it might be a good idea to get a flu shot now.
Looking forward to seeing you both soon. Thanks for the pass to the Tampa RV Show.
Bill
Posted by: Bill | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 05:27 PM
Hope you both are feeling better real quick!!
Hate to miss the GOOD weather.
We are heading south next Friday so we would appreciate it if you would keep the warm weather around for us!!
Take Care... Nancy and Papaw
Posted by: Nancy and Bill | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 05:40 PM
Enjoy Cedar Key, spent a few days there myself years ago. Stayed on the water in some townhouse for rent. Very laid back, reminds me of the Keys somewhat. Booked a fish captain to take us out on a flats type boat. Caught black tip sharks (we were fishing for cobia)and he fileted them for us, told us how to cook them and it was delicious!
Enjoy...... G
Posted by: Guido | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 06:05 PM
I hope you feel better real soon!
Posted by: gail durham | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 06:41 PM
Get to feeling better quickly. I love Cedar Key and the Rock Crusher Canyon RV park in Homosassas. Enjoy and let's hope the weather stays pretty.
Posted by: Carolyn | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 07:09 PM
Hope Linda feels better soon. Great sunset pics. After being wet and cold, but warm with our daughter, in CA, we are now warm and fuzzy in the Rio Grande Valley where it was 87 degrees today.
Posted by: roger and dianne | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Your pictures really captured the essence of Cedar Key!
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, December 31, 2010 at 12:24 AM
Hope your both in good health soon! Check out these folks, http://www.everymilesamemory.com/pats_blog.htm I think it would be interesting to hear your take on their place
Posted by: Alice | Friday, December 31, 2010 at 01:17 AM
Hope you both are feeling better soon.
Posted by: Janie Dean | Friday, December 31, 2010 at 02:10 AM