Brown pelicans flying under the wire

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.

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.

Sailboat

Cedar Key scenic

Photo by Lois Anne. Nikon D40.

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!

The Cedar Key School

The Big Deck Bar

There were a few people enjoying food and drink at the Big Deck Bar, but overall it was quiet on the Dock, with few people out and about.

Although the sky was bright blue and the sun shone, it was windy and quite cold; at least for Florida.

Driftwood

Cedar Key pier on a cold, sunny day

On the beach at Cedar Key

Photo by Lois Anne.

Cedar Key Market

Photo by Lois Anne.

Fisherman in Cedar Key's Artist Garden

Pelicans...

Pelicans posing perilously close to the periphery of the pier. Photo by Lois Anne.

Waiting for takeoff

Photo by Lois Anne.

The Captain's Table or something...

At the time Lois Anne captured this shot, the building at the left was known as The Captain's Table.  For many years, this restaurant/bar served residents and visitors of Cedar Key.  Something happened.  The Captain's Table or at least the name disappeared.  Some time later it was reincarnated as The Rusty Rim and Coconuts (also a restaurant and bar).  Then it burned down.  On our last visit to Cedar Key it was being rebuilt. 

We liked it best when it was still The Captain's Table; when, on several occasions, we sat out on that pier savoring frozen margaritas as the heat of the day met the cool, cool, cool of the evening.

Cedar Key a Biker Haven

Cedar Key is located 24 miles west of the last main north-south highway in central Florida. It's a nice ride. Nothing but a couple of little towns and a few small businesses until you arrive on the bridge that leads you onto the island that is Cedar Key. Motorcycle riders love it and you'll often find Cedar Key full of bikes, mostly Harley Davidson's.

Rains Cottage on the main drag

House on G Street

Photo by Lois Anne.

Sunset by Lois

Please notice the pole. Hurricanes have hit Cedar Key at various times down through the years. The maximum sea level thus far has been 12 feet. Thus new homes in Cedar Key must be built on stilts so that the water can rush underneath the structure without washing it away.