Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not much of an outdoorsman. While I appreciate running outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and cool breezes, that about does it for my “outdoorsyness.”
Yeah, that’s a new word. Let’s go ahead and deal with it.
Several years ago, I was tasked with writing a day-trip article about Cedar Key, a town southwest of us near the Gulf of Mexico. Very pretty, quaint fishing village about sums it up. Nice place to visit. Fun restaurants. You get the gist.
While I was eating in one of the local establishments, I overheard one of the other patrons discussing a small island nearby. It was visible from my vantage point in the restaurant , a couple miles off shore, and piqued my curiosity. Obviously, I had to ask a couple of questions about it.
Atsena Otie Key was apparently the original Cedar Key, back during the time of the Seminole and Civil wars. Most of the island was destroyed by a hurricane in the late 1800s and, after that, most of its inhabitants moved to where Cedar Key is currently located. However, the island was still accessible and contained ruins of the previous settlement.
OK, that’s cool, right? Abandoned island? Ruins? An outdoorsman I may not be, but how could I pass this adventurous opportunity up?
Problem was, getting out there proved somewhat difficult. If you’re a boat captain, you understand that fuel isn’t cheap; you likely have more pressing issues at hand as well. So, taking some random guy out to an abandoned island – just because he wants to go – isn’t high on your priority list.
That being said, it’s amazing what a $20 bill can do.
After finding a captain willing to work for my “generous” offer, we were off. I was instructed to give him a call whenever I was ready to be picked up.
Remember that.
He dropped me off on the long dock to the island and I set off with just a camera and cell phone. The island has some very cool, scenic trails for easy hikes. It wasn’t long before I discovered the remnants of the lumber mill along with graves of the island’s residents long passed. I even found something that resembled the hatch from “Lost” – remember, this is 2007; that show was big then!
After spending a couple of hours on the island, I figured it was time to head back. Dusk was rapidly approaching and the last thing I wanted was to be stranded on the island for the evening.
I pulled out my cell phone to make the call and noticed something that I would deem fairly important – I had no cell phone reception.
None. Zero.
Now, part of this could be blamed on the phone. My early smartphone didn’t have the reception of my previous Motorla RAZR, and the iPhone was still a year or so away. Of course, the other part of the blame could be placed on me for not checking that before I got off the boat. Or for not giving the boat captain a specific time to come pick me up instead.
At the time, it didn’t matter. I has no cell service; how in the hell was I going to call my boat captain to come get me?
I ran 20 yards down a trail and checked the phone; nothing. I made my way to the beach, hoping that bring clear of the trees would help. Still nothing.
Now, here’s the thing – in your mind, being on a deserted island sounds like a fun adventure. And, in some ways, it is. Until the sun starts going down and you have nothing with you but a camera and a worthless cell phone.
A few obscenities cluttered my mind. While the natives of Atsena Otie had long died off, I was pretty sure their ghosts still haunted the island and they would be coming to get me once the sun had gone down. That makes sense, right?
As the sun dipped below the horizon, I made my way back to the dock where I’d been dropped off, just hoping to find a boat waiting for me.
No such luck.
I plopped down on the wooden planks and pondered my situation. Would it really be the worst thing to stay out here for a night? I mean, my wife would be very worried about me whenever I got back to the house, and rightfully so. But hey, I can survive one night in the wilderness, right?
I never got the chance to find out. A few minutes later, I heard the dull roar of an engine in the distance. As it grew louder, I could see a light in the distance growing brighter. Thankfully, it wasn’t a ghost of the island coming to claim my soul, but my ride home.
“I was beginning to wonder about you,” the captain said as he pulled his boat into the dock. I quickly explained the situation.
“Oh yeah, cell phone service out here can be spotty.”
Thanks, guy.
Despite all of that, I’m going to revisit the island one day soon. There’s a lot of history there waiting to be uncovered.
Of course, next time, I’ll hopefully be a little better prepared.
