WHITE PELICAN RIBBONS & THE ULTIMATE RV'ERS

"Tiki Bar," Cedar Key, FL  

     After we left Lake Kissimmee State Park we set up home in the Tampa area.  Our timing was perfect as we were able to attend a UCONN women's basketball game against the University of South Florida.  It was a typical blowout, but we got to see this bunch of superstars before the tournament starts.  It turned out that at least 60% of the crowd were UCONN fans and we even met 2 couples from our former hometown of New Hartford, CT.

UCONN v USF
Sun Dome, Tampa, FL

     Later that week we visited Gordon & Liz (New Hartford, CT friends) on Anna Maria Island.  They have a great rental in the quiet end of the island and are a short walk/bike ride from either the Gulf or Tampa Bay.  Anna Maria Island is very laid-back with a lot to do.  I can see why Gordon and Liz love it there.

Liz & Gordon on Anna Maria Island

Sunset on Anna Maria Island

     After we left the Tampa area we headed north where, after approximately 25 years, we finally met-up with Dick and Gaila.  We met Dick and Gaila in 1979 in Mammoth Cave National Park and became instant friends.  We hooked up with them a few times over the years, but have not seen them since the early 90's.  These guys are the ultimate RV'ers.  When we met them they were in their mid-20's and had already been living full-time in their rig.  Although they now own a house in Michigan, they continue to spend most of their time in their rig on-the-road.  They will do anything to stay-on-the road, including working at gold mines, horse farms, constructing and selling bird houses, etc. Dick is a phenomenal writer and entrepreneur.  He has through-hiked the "Big 3" (Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail & Pacific Crest Trail), he has written and published a monthly birding magazine, he has written the book entitled "Crossing the Divide," and he authors the "RV Shrink" blog which is published on the "RV Travels" website.  It was amazing seeing them.  We hit it off like old times, but only seeing them for 2 days was not enough.  We are trying to see if we can get back together in the near future.  

Dick & Gaila
Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland, FL

Manatee Springs State Park
The Florida home of the buzzards from Buzzard Bay, Mass.

Manatee Springs State Park
2 non-poisonous snakes.
I asked Nancy to pet the snakes
thinking it would make a good photo, but she refused.

     We are now on the sleepy island of Cedar Key, FL.  Cedar Key is approximately 2 hours north of Tampa on the Gulf.  Cedar Key is truly "old Florida" with classic Florida houses and a preserved downtown.  For the size of the town's population there are a surprising number of restaurants with plenty of music.  AND YES, it has a great tiki bar appropriately named "Tiki Bar" which is located 200 yards from our campground.  It seems that every time I take a walk I trip and fall, hit my head, get knocked unconscious, and wake up sitting at the "Tiki Bar" with a "frosty" in my hand.  (I am hoping that Nancy believes that story 'cause I'm stickin' with it!)

Tiki Bar, Cedar Key, FL

     Our campground, Sunset Isle RV Park, is a very cool place.  There are tons of musicians which live in the campground during the winter and play in the downtown establishments.  You can find jams sessions all the time with Friday and Saturday nights set aside for bluegrass/country-folk music around the community campfire.  Our site is fortuitously located directly across from the community fire pit which burns every night and offers plenty of entertainment.

Sunset Isle RV Park, Cedar Key, FL
Our site can be seen in the background.
The community fire pit is near the base of the large tree.

     One Saturday night we were listening to the campground music and were surprised to see Stan & Paula standing there.  This is the couple we met at Long Key State Park in January.  They were on their way back to Indiana and happened to score a couple of nights in the same campground as us. What a treat!  We visited with these new friends for 2 days before they had to get moving.

Stan & Paula at the "Tiki Bar"

     Nature can do some odd things and we were treated to a fantastic spectacle.  One beautiful day we kayaked from our campground on a journey around our island.  In the distance we could see 20 or 30 groups of white pelicans floating with the current toward a distant island.  Each group was comprised of 20-100 white pelicans.  The groups were floating in a line and as the lead group got closer to the island it took off in a closely spaced, single file.  The group varied its flight from inches above the water to soaring to great heights.  Their white bodies against the powder blue background took on the appearance of a single ribbon floating on a wind current.  Once one group crossed the island and finished its flight the next group took its turn in flight and created its own unique pattern.  It almost seemed as if each group was trying to out perform the prior group.  After all the groups cleared the island, they appeared to join together to create multiple ribbon patterns just for Nancy and me.  I have never seen anything like this.  It truly was spectacular!
     ENJOY!