Art, Music and Food in Cedar Key

     I love Cedar Key, so I decided to stay another month. My plan was to go to Chiefland to stock up on supplies early and move to the new, less expensive, site by noon. I have been noting problems with the starting system of The Goose since Ohio, and had all four batteries replaced in Alabama to try to resolve the issue (which didn’t work). I could never duplicate the problem when The Goose was being serviced, so my concern was dismissed. Being right is a small victory.
     I went to WalMart, then across the street to the Winn-Dixie. That’s when The Goose decided not to start. I called AAA. The suggestion was to have The Goose towed to Gainesville or Ocala. I called the mobile mechanic who had done some plumbing repairs to ask for his suggestion. He was close by on another call; he pulled in practically as I hung up. Five hours later, he had installed a new starter, in the parking lot. This is the second time AAA has been pretty much useless, and AAA for RVs is quite expensive.
     The new site is much more spacious, but I can’t get satellite service because of the trees. My friend Lee suggested a free-standing satellite dish that I could position away from the trees. Sometimes when I’m close to a problem I can’t see the solution. Lee’s good at that.
     Our new spot is near the club house, laundry, and showers. Dylan loves the action, and sits on the front dash directing traffic.  
     My birthday was wonderful. I received bunches of well wishes on Facebook. My son Michael, dear friend Amy, and sister Julie called. Gracie and I walked to Kona Joe’s café for breakfast—they have a deck where dogs are welcome. I bought dinner and a cupcake at the restaurant in the park, and Gracie, Dylan and I dined on our patio. Sandy at the produce stand gave me a birthday plant which is still blooming. Lee, currently in Asheville NC, gave me a book we had discussed to download on Kindle. 
     The best part is I’m 62 and eligible for a Golden Pass to camp at national parks for half price. And I get my first Social Security check in about 60 days.  
     I bought two new televisions to replace the old tubular behemoths in the Goose. The talented handyperson in the park is an elfin lady named Rose. She helped me remove the heavy wall mounted tv in the bedroom, and is going to help me install the new one when the mount arrives, and craft something to build in the television and DVD player in the front.     
     Gator meat is very good. It reminds me of wild rabbit (my dad hunted; venison, rabbit and pheasant were staples of my childhood). I tried a heart of palm salad made with lettuce, avocado, pineapple, chunks of heart of palm (reminds me of jicama), topped with pistachio ice cream! Interesting. Smoked mullet is a delight. Mullet is fished with a net because it’s vegetarian. It doesn’t keep. So the fisherman catch it, clean it, filet it open, smoke it, and sell it as a flat board at roadside stands. With a cup of famous Tony’s clam chowder from the restaurant downtown, it’s a gastronomical delight!
     This weekend was The 48^th Annual Celebration of the Arts. There were about 120 artists, in ceramics, fibers, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting and pottery in booths lining the main street in Cedar Key. It was a feast for the senses; almost made me want walls to hang art. Gracie was unimpressed by the art, tolerated the crowds very well, and enjoyed the food vendors and music in the park. Art, music, and good food in the cool gulf breeze; my life is amazing. 

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Easter in Cedar Key

     At five o’clock Sunday morning I was wondering about my sanity as I hit the snooze button and snuggled for the last few minutes with Dylan and Gracie. Gracie and I hiked a mile in the dark to the nondenominational Easter sunrise service on the public beach in Cedar Key. The weather was just chilly enough that hot coffee was welcome. There were about 100 people, some in Easter finery but most shivering in shorts and sandals. The sun rose majestically just as we sang “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” The pastor’s brief, uplifting sermon compared the sun rising to the son rising. It was a beautiful spiritual experience.
    To add to the magic, on the way home as we passed over the Back Bayou Bridge, we spotted flamingoes high stepping in the low tide marsh below. The cotton candy pink of their feathers is a color not normally found in nature.
     Gracie and I completed the self-guided walking tour of downtown Cedar Key, checking out all 53 locations, in two days. The architecture and history are interesting. There are burial mounds on the tour from the Seminole Indians that were here until they were removed by the government. There are a couple residences and commercial buildings still standing made from “tabby,” clam shell concrete. The Victorian influence came in when the railroad still ran into Cedar Key. The gingerbread edging on the formal porches looks jarringly out of place in a beach town. Most of those large residences are now bed and breakfasts. The mill building downtown was from the time when all the cedar for Faber and Eagle pencils came from Cedar Key. When the cedar gave out, commercial fishing was the main industry. Then net fishing was banned in 1995, and although commercial clamming is still big business, tourism is the future. There’s a huge art festival here the end of April that I’m thinking of extending my stay long enough to enjoy.
    The homemade ice cream and fudge at the café here in the park are absolutely scrumptious. I have to remind myself I cannot taste test all 21 flavors of fudge. My mantra is moderation, moderation, moderation.
    There are boat tours of the little keys from the marina downtown that I would really like to take. Gracie is welcome, but I’m afraid she might panic. I have to think about it.    
    The produce and seafood stand sells gator meat. I’m trying to convince myself to try it. It’s really high in protein. I guess if I don’t like it I could give it to Gracie, but at $13 a pound it’s expensive dog food. Then again, this trip is all about new experiences,