The Grand Finale
Sunday had arrived. The last day of the Hidden Coast Paddle Festival. The Grand Finale of the event which was an armada of kayakers paddling over to Atsena Otie, a nearby island, for brunch and a lighthouse tour. The NCLA women were tired from a fun-filled weekend but were not wanting to miss out on this event either. Several factors were concerning them and their decision to participate or not. Dot had exacerbated a shoulder injury and didn't have the strength to paddle the distance. Gray clouds had formed while they had been packing up their belongings for check-out and the wind had increased as well. This was a concern for Delores because her kayak wasn't made for distance paddling and is easily blown off course by wind or waves. Alice's concern was the designated launch site of City Beach. Again, no ramp access, her 100 lb plus kayak would have to be carried to shore. Easier said than done.
As they deliberated various options for the morning, they ran into Steve
Couryoner, one of the event organizers who happened to be staying at The Island Place as well. He mentioned that he would be paddling over to the island directly from the beach behind the condos and wouldn't be paddling with the rest of the crowd. The girls expressed their concerns to Steve and he seemed to have solved them within a short time. He walked Dot and Liz over to the boat ramp where a few of the local charter boat captains had been contracted to ferry various equipment over needed to set up for the island brunch and asked that they give Dot and Liz a ride over due to Dot's injured shoulder. He helped Alice with the transport of her heavy kayak down to the water and then agreed to escort both Alice and Delores to the island, keeping a sharp eye on Delores's kayak in case the wind was stronger than she was. Within thirty minutes, though, the gray clouds that worried many had moved on westward and the small white-caps that could be seen on the water had calmed down considerably. There really wasn't anything else to worry about except paddling over.
Couryoner, one of the event organizers who happened to be staying at The Island Place as well. He mentioned that he would be paddling over to the island directly from the beach behind the condos and wouldn't be paddling with the rest of the crowd. The girls expressed their concerns to Steve and he seemed to have solved them within a short time. He walked Dot and Liz over to the boat ramp where a few of the local charter boat captains had been contracted to ferry various equipment over needed to set up for the island brunch and asked that they give Dot and Liz a ride over due to Dot's injured shoulder. He helped Alice with the transport of her heavy kayak down to the water and then agreed to escort both Alice and Delores to the island, keeping a sharp eye on Delores's kayak in case the wind was stronger than she was. Within thirty minutes, though, the gray clouds that worried many had moved on westward and the small white-caps that could be seen on the water had calmed down considerably. There really wasn't anything else to worry about except paddling over.
Delores paddled over to Atsena Otie under the watchful eye of Steve and Alice. It seemed those two had a lot in common and they talked about all of the places throughout the U.S. that they had visited and paddled with their kayaks. It's amazing what a small world it really is. By the time they arrived at the island, Steve was more of a personal friend than an official event coordinator. Dot and Liz greeted them as they paddled to shore, they, of course, had caught a ride with one of the charter captains.
The Official Greeters to Atsena Otie
They came in droves...
Look at them all!!!
"Fearless Leader, Legs, Speck & Malibu"
Delores & her Atsena Otie palm frawn
Steve Cournoyer, one of the event coordinators, paddle buddy to Atsena Otie and new friend.
At dawn, the Festival organizers were up and coordinating efforts to get brunch equipment ferried over to the island and food cooking before the kayakers hit the water. A line formed at the buffet table long before the last paddler hit the Atsena Otie beach and nothing was missing on that table. There was so much food that plenty was left over even after having second helpings.
Get it while it's hot
Fried mullet, cheese grits, fresh fruit, biscuts & gravy, muffins, orange juice, Starbucks iced coffee and much, much more...
After brunch, Alice and the rest of the girls took a stroll down the beach and came up on Toni Collins, the unofficial Cedar Key historian, dressed in 1800's style costume giving a recount of Old Cedar Key and it's colorful past. She drew quite a crowd and told some fascinating stories.
Toni Collins attracting quite a crowd
From there they followed the crowd down a wooden walkway that led into the mosquito infested woods to an old cemetery that was plotted in 1877. If the bug spray was applied, the pesky mosquitos were tolerable. It was worth the inconvenience, though.
Creepy in a beautiful kind of way
Coolin' off the tootsies
All of the paddlers made it over from Cedar Key to Atsena Otie. All had been fed. Toni Collins had entertained them with her tales of Cedar Key of 'ol and the cemetery was available for touring to those who wished to battle the hungry mosquitos. By the time all of those activities had come to a close, around 12:30, the Tidewater Tour boats had slid up to the sandy beach for loading and ferrying to Seahorse Key. Kayaks were left on the beach where Festival staff tended to them until everyone returned from the Lighthouse tour.
Theresa on one of the Tidewater Tour boats heading to Horseshoe Key and the Lighthouse
One of the beaches on Seahorse Key
Arriving at the docking pier on Seahorse Key
Tiffany - our greeter and escort to the Lighthouse
After experiencing the Atsena Otie event, the Festival participants were invited to a special treat. The Cedar Key Light Station, normally open to the public only a few times a year, was open for touring. Complete with spiral staircase, it's one of the oldest lighthouses in Florida. A walk around the balcony gave a great view of Cedar Key and the surrounding islands. The Light Station is on Seahorse Key and is on a mound 52 feet above sea level making it the highest point on the west coast of Florida.
Waiting in line...
A cluster of oak trees behind the lighthouse.
Thanks for the warning
Looking at the backside of Seahorse Key and the driftwood that decorates the shoreline
More driftwood
Birds on the pilings on the boat ride back to Atsena Otie
A welcome sight after a long day on another island
After the Tidewater Tour boats brought the NCLA gang and other paddlers back to Atsena Otie, they were quick to hop back in their kayaks and paddle back to Cedar Key. It had been a long but exciting, adventure filled weekend but everyone was tired and wanting to spend the rest of their Sunday afternoon resting at their own homes. Dot and Liz were as anxious as any and quickly loaded up their kayaks and headed back to Citrus County. Alice and Delores, on the other hand, stuck around for another hour or so and walked to Tony's for one more bowl of that delicious clam chowder. There they ran into a few more Paddle Festival folks who were also wearing the bright blue t-shirt. There wasn't an empty seat in the place so Alice invited them to have a seat in the two extra chairs that were at her table. She and Delores chatted with the two other ladies for a few more minutes, paid their tab, walked back to their vehicles and then headed on back to Marion County. It was a weekend that would not be easily forgotten.
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