W. P. Franklin Corps of Engineers Campground, N. Ft. Myers, FL: Left at around 10:30 this morning and arrived at W. P. Franklin at about 12:00. I did all the driving, so I thought I’d back into the site with Mike giving directions. Needless to say, we provided some entertainment. Finally managed to get it backed in and got set up. Really humid. After setting up we sat outside relaxing, reading, and enjoying the view. The river was like glass. Went for a walk and then came back and grilled some hot dogs. Started pouring with lots of thunder and lightning.

View of the river from our site

Sun, 11/22/09 Manatee Lake SRA, Bradenton, FL: This morning I cleaned the cabinets where we saw mouse activity and threw away the worthless have-a-heart trap. Cleaned up some other areas and then just relaxed the rest of the day. Didn’t even go for a walk. The Grisham novel I’m reading is really good. Hard to put down. I entered the Osolo Theater web site onto my favorites so when we’re here next year we’ll be able to get on-line and see what’s playing and buy tickets. A mostly cloudy and breezy day. Tomorrow we leave for Ft. Myers and the W. P. Franklin Corps of Engineers park on the Caloosahatchie River.

The Tower on the Ringling Estate

Views from the tower

Sat, 11/21/09 Manatee Lake SRA,Bradenton, FL: Good news and bad news this morning. Our little mouse, Bruno, is no more. Bad news, he met his demise in the “death trap” even though we tried with the have-a-heart trap. He could have been captured and released in the tropics of Florida, but he resisted. At least he didn’t know what hit him. At least I hope so. In the afternoon we left for the Tony award winning musical, Contact. It was such a good show. A collaboration with the Sarasota Ballet, it was three vignettes about the pursuit of love and human connection. A lot of dance—mainly swing and jive. A great show. After the show we went to the Cantina Toscana for dinner, and after one vodka tonic and two glasses of wine I was swacked. Mike only had a Bloody Mary. So, he was good to drive. Back home and two Excedrins waiting for me. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Manatee Lake SRA, Bradenton, FL: Out to breakfast this morning and then we did the laundry. After getting that done we stopped at a huge flea market on Rt. 41. Then we did the grocery shopping. Came back and put everything away. Before we left we baited the “death trap” and when we got back the bait was gone and the trap never sprung. Why should he leave? He’s getting fed on a regular basis. Wish he’d go into the have-a-heart trap and then we could turn him loose. The other thing we did today was stop at the little museum in the historic town of Manatee. They have assembled several historic buildings on this spot. It’s part of the “cracker trail” where cow hunters drove their cattle across the state to this western terminus. The term ‘cracker’ came from the cracking noise their whips made as they drove the cattle. Very humid today. But nice.

Cracker Homestead

Oldest courthouse still standing in Florida

built in 1859-1860

The old Manatee Methodist Episcopal Church--built in 1887

Manatee Lake SRA, Bradenton, FL: Decided to kick back today. Washed out some tops and hung them out to dry. Then relaxed outside reading for a while. Finished a book by James Patterson, “1st to Die”, which is part of the Women’s Murder Club series. Like his regular books better. Started the new Grisham book, “The Associate”. Walked the pretty little trail down to the lake while Mike putzed around on the computer. Steaks, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob for dinner. I also ordered tickets for the Tony-award winning musical, “Contact”, for Saturday. Looking forward to it.

Venetian glass in all the windows

Ringling estate

Manatee Lake SRA, Bradenton,FL: Back to the Ringling Museums this morning after stopping at Waffle House for breakfast. We signed up for both the regular tour of the mansion and a private tour of their personal quarters. Besides the mansion, there are also two circus museums and the art museum which houses John and Mabel Ringling’s fantastic art collection. This collection is valued among the top 20 museum collections in the United States. And the historic Asolo Theater is one of the most important architectural works of art ever brought to America. Created in Asolo, Italy, in 1798, the palace playhouse was first remodeled in 1857. In the 1930s, the Ringling’s first director purchased the artifact for the Museum. We toured the circus museums first. One housed a huge model of a circus (occupies 3800 sq. ft.) which took more than 50 years to create. The other circus museum housed the private Pullman car used by John and Mabel Ringling. They sure traveled in style. We started our docent-led tour of the mansion at 1:15 and then took another docent-led tour of the more “private” places in their home. It was a great tour of this fantastic mansion. This beautiful “winter home” was designed after the Venetian palaces they saw in their many travels to Italy—and specifically to Venice. After the tour of the mansion we had lunch at the Banyon Café on the grounds and then toured the art museum which houses the Ringling’s huge art collection. A great day.

Pronounced cah-de-zahn, which is Venetian for "house of John"

(you know you've arrived when your house has a name)

Facade on the Bay side

Main entrance where visitors would be greeted after being driven from the railroad station by one of the Ringling's four Bentleys or four Rolls Royces.

One of the banyon trees--a gift from Thomas Edison

Roses from Mabel's rose garden of over 1000 plants

Bronze statue of David--cast from the original--what a butt!!

Ringling Art Museum

This marble boat dock is where they kept John's yachts and Mabel's Venetian gondola

Manatee Lake SRA, Bradenton, FL: Headed out this morning for Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then continued on. Anna Maria Island was not what we thought it was going to be. We thought it would be a large nature preserve or something. But it was all residences and resorts. We stopped at a pier at the north end of the island and one of the beaches and then headed south to Long Boat Key. Long Boat Key is a community of very upscale residences and resorts. Beautiful though with lush vegetation, beautiful golf courses and homes. Stopped at some high-end shops on the south end of the island and walked around for a while. Then over the bridge to Sarasota. Stopped on the historic Main Street in Sarasota and walked around for a while. Pretty area. Headed north on Rt. 41 and stopped at the Ringling Museums but didn’t have enough time to see the whole complex, so we plan on going back tomorrow early. Our mouse, Bruno, ate all the peanut butter off the trap again. This time in broad daylight while we were out for a walk. He is getting bold.

One of the beaches on Anna Maria Island

On the Pier at the north end of Anna Maria Island.  We saw a cormorant with a fish lure and line stuck in his throat.  He seemed to be fishing and eating ok, but he kept trying to get rid of it.  Poor thing!

Main Street Old Town Sarasota