It's Sunday, the last day here at Cedar Key. We went for a walk on the remains of the old Cedar Key train track.  It ends just a quarter mile short of Cedar Key. In 1896 a very strong hurricane took out the causeway leading to the old port of Cedar Key.  The old embankment that we walked on was apparently protected slightly better so is still mounded up leaving a raised pathway which favors the old trestle in the imagination.

  Along the way, trees and shrubs are identified giving the trail the look and feel of a botanical natural garden.

We enjoyed the short walk which ended in the salt marsh.










As we look back on the last two weeks our minds are flooded with memories filled with friends, happy sails, hard work and hilarious moments of forgetfulness.  Take the day we looked all day for the dry bag containing the Garmin 78 ($400) and the marine hand-held radio.(another $150)  Having found a large tear in the side of our gear bag we naturally leaped to the conclusion we had somehow carelessly lost both out the side of the bag.  The rest of the day was spent tearing everything apart looking fruitlessly for the lost equipment.  We went through the famed five stages of loss lamenting the huge hit on equipment recently purchased. That night I chanced upon the bag protruding from under the cushions in the settee. Whew, what a load off he mind.  Karen said it was like making $550 for our efforts.  I, (the guilty party) call it "compost mentis."
We also remember the times spent learning the new boat, and repairing the failing seat boards that nearly put me in the drink several times.  A new platform will be built this summer to remedy that.  Then there is the time we had to take the mast down and put up back up three times because of jamming in the broken sail track.  New sail track is in the offing you can be assured.
But outweighing all that, the memories of screaming along at 11 1/2 knots, sitting quietly together on North Key, along with fond memories of fellowship with friends predominate.  The Saturday stroll on the beach at Atsena Otie with literally over 100 unique and exotic boats beached was worth the price of admission.  We saw more creativity, met more friendly people and saw more eye candy than we can describe.
The time at Cedar Key was rich happy times, sometimes stressful times, but times we wouldn't trade for anything.  Most of all it was way too short.  I think I'll take next year off: heck I think I will retire in December.  Wish us luck!