Cedar Key – Wandering Dawgs

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #157: Getting Away

July 22, 2021July 23, 2021Posted in Photography, TravelTagged Cedar Key, Disney World, Getting Away, Lens-Artists, Pandapas Pond, Photo Challenge19 Comments

Our guest hosts Bert and Rusha Sams of Oh The Places We See have challenged us with the theme: Getting Away.

Henry and I have always enjoyed getting away. When we were both working and raising our family, one of our favorite places to get away was to the Florida Keys. We started off camping in state parks there, first in a tent and later in a pop up trailer.

In 2006, we bought our fifth wheel trailer and took off for our first RV road trip with no set schedule and no reservations. For two months we wandered around the United States and two Canadian Provinces. We loved exploring the National Parks and National Monuments and all of the places in between.

After our first RV adventure we were hooked. We continued taking RV trips until the end of 2019. Our longest and most memorable trip was our four month journey to Alaska in 2013.

Majestic mountains and glacier in Alaska

This year we were able to get way to three completely different types of destinations for three short road trips . Oh, what a wonderful feeling to travel again!

In March we traveled to Cedar Key, Florida for a relaxing and fun weekend. Located on the Florida Gulf Coast in the area known as the Nature Coast, this small town was just what we needed for a short getaway.

In May we traveled to our daughter’s home in Virginia for Mother’s Day. It was wonderful to visit with family and on Mother’s Day we enjoyed a relaxing walk together around Pandapas Pond.

We returned to Florida in June for a week long getaway to Orlando. While we didn’t visit any theme parks we still enjoyed a little Disney Magic with two memorable meals at Disney resorts. We had fun being kids again at a dinner with Mickey Mouse and friends. Another day we had a fantastic lunch with a view of animals in the savanna of Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Many thanks to Bert and Rusha Sams for this challenge. Please be sure to visit their original post at Lens-Artists Challenge #157: Getting Away

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #140 – A Change of Scenery

March 20, 2021March 24, 2021Posted in Birds, Photography, SunsetTagged A Change of Scenery, Cedar Key, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Gulf Coast Sunset, Lens-Artists153 Comments

I have the honor of hosting this week’s Lens-Artists photo challenge. If you are able to do so, we are challenging you to get out and look for a change of scenery. You don’t have to go far from home. It can be in your neighborhood, town, or even a car ride away. Maybe there is a nearby park you haven’t been to in a while, or maybe you’ve been wanting to try a different route on your walk, run, or bike ride. If you are unable to get out right now, we’d love for you to browse through your archives to feature images from places you have visited in the past when you needed a change of scenery.

It’s been a long time since we have gone anywhere so my husband and I took off last week for a short road trip. Three nights in a small town on the Gulf Coast of Florida was just what we needed to recharge our batteries. Morning walks, nature trails, lots of birds, watching the sunset, and fresh delicious seafood were just what the doctor ordered.

Restaurants and shops on the Cedar Key Waterfront

Early morning view just a few steps from our room

Nature trail Boardwalk at Cemetery Point Park

Clam fisherman out for a day of work. This unique boat design isn’t seen in the waters where I live.

These stone crab traps are different from the blue crap traps we see in coastal Georgia.

Brown Pelican waiting for a handout on the fishing pier in Cedar Key. The ones at home aren’t this bold.

In your post, please include a link to my original post and use the Lens-Artists tag so everyone can find your post in the WordPress reader. I’m looking forward to seeing your responses!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Tina’s Special Moments challenge last week. It was a joy to see so many special moments and read the incredible stories that went along with the images.

Many thanks to Tina, Ann-Christine, Patti and Amy for inviting me be be your host this week. I’m looking forward to seeing all of your responses!

Bird Weekly Challenge #10: Yellow or Orange Legged Birds

August 17, 2020Posted in Birds, PhotographyTagged American White Pelican, birdweekly, Cedar Key, Photo Challenge15 Comments

For this week’s challenge I chose a few images of my favorite orange legged bird, the American White Pelican. With a wing span of up to 9 feet, they are one of largest birds in North America.

My first sighting of them was in Cedar Key, Florida. I have also seen huge flocks in Everglades National Park, on the Texas Gulf Coast, and have even seen a flock on Lake Chicot in Arkansas.

I fell in love with these birds when I first saw them several years ago while on a nature cruise in the waters around Cedar Key. Our captain took us by several flocks standing on sandbars and some flew right beside the boat.

American White Pelicans, Cedar Key, Florida

American White Pelicans flying by the boat

At Goose Island State Park on the Texas Gulf Coast there were White Pelicans hanging around the docks every day hoping for an easy meal.

White Pelicans go after a fish carcass tossed out by fisherman at a fish cleaning station in Texas

I was surprised to see a huge flock of big white birds on Lake Chicot in Arkansas. It wasn’t until I got out the binoculars that I could see they were White Pelicans. They were too far away to get a good photo but I was able to capture this one flying on the other side of lake while a Great Blue Heron stood in the shallow water by the shoreline.

White Pelican flies by blue heron over Lake Chicot

Thanks you Lisa. for this challenge. Her original post is Bird Weekly Challenge #10 – Yellow or Orange Legged Birds

We Love Waterfront Camping

September 25, 2014June 20, 2015Posted in Arkansas, Birds, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, RVing, Sunrise, Sunset, Tennessee, WildlifeTagged Bald Eagle, Cedar Key, J Strom Thurmond Lake, Lake Barkley, Mississippi River, Ortona, Seven Points Campground, White Pelican18 Comments

Our favorite places to camp are the campgrounds with a view. There’s nothing like waking up with a view outside the RV or sitting outside in the evening enjoying the scenery around us. We’ve enjoyed campgrounds with views of spectacular mountains, glaciers, forests, and all kinds of water.

For us, the best camping is beside a river, mountain stream, lake, or any body of water for that matter.

We enjoy watching the different water craft go by.