A colleague at work told us to visit Cedar Key, a 'must' she said!
But I had underestimated the distance from Tampa and the drive after our visit to Busch Gardens took much longer
than I had expected. We arrived at around 20:00, in complete darkness, and checked into a motel still on the mainland,
shortly prior to crossing the bridge to Cedar Key. I staggered at the amount I had to pay for a double room: $60,- plus tax!
The fact they did not accept cheques or credit cards, only cash, was more of a problem (for my cashflow, no ATM's on every streetcorner in those days), but we were too tired to refuse.
The next day we could stay and visit Cedar Key only during the morning, as yet again we had a long drive ahead
of us.
Cedar Key is a very nice place, it has (or had?) that special quality of a remote community, somewhere at the end of the universe.
So in the end I was pleased with the advise my colleague Ana had given me! |
That Route 98 was not scenic, as I had hoped; dense woodslands were left and right for much of the way.
The weather had changed too, it had started to rain a little during the night, though our walk around at
Cedar Key during that morning we had benefitted from a dry spell.
At the time I did some photography with a medium format camera, a Mamiya 645S, loaded with B&W film.
I had been changing from aviation photography to landscape- and travel photography.
Did some model photography too in those days, but that is yet again another story.
Can't believe we stayed
at a Trailer Park!
Those days we often spent nights at Motel 6, very affordable and indeed we were on a budget.
But after too many occasions where I was woken up by people talking loud or arguing, had groups of noisy kids hanging around, I found myself upgrading to a bit more expensive accommodation.
Often used discount vouchers ('The Traveler Discount Guide' and 'Roomsaver') and gradually over the years benefitted from online information and deals.
The same developed with the diners where we took our meals. Those early years, in the 1980s & 1990s, we often took our meals at McDonald's, Burger King, Hardee's, Shoney's, Denny's and Pizza Hut. Though I regret to see less and less of the local diners, I more or less insist these days (2016) on a beer or glass of wine with my dinner and for my dinner preferably a bit of entourage.
Fortunately, our standards of living improved over the years so we could afford all that. |
|
Photos © R.Leeuw
