We got up bright and early as we had to report to the ranger office to pay for the previous night camping fee. After this we discovered what the historic site was all about.

Dr. Cyrus Teed led his followers to Estero in 1894 to establish a community based on his religious and scientific ideas, a community free of crime, tobacco and drugs that was to be the New Jerusalem. Dr. Teed took on the name Koresh which is Hebrew for Cyrus. The community had a large focus on education, philosophy, art and theatre. Those who joined the religious order lived in the settlement and were celibate.

We continued on US-41 and had lunch at a nice Italian restaurant close to Sarasota called Carrabba’s. After lunch we decided to take the Interstate to speed our trip to Cedar Key.

We found out about Cedar Key in one of our RV magazines.  It is a small rural artist town on the Gulf of Mexico. Our RV campground for the night is the Sunset Isle RV Park and Motel which is right on the water. We had dinner with a nice bottle of red wine, right on our own dock and watched our neighbours fish catfish and crabs from their docks.