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