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Originally Posted by pegasus1300
I hope either you had on clean skivvies or you put sometjing over them before you headed to get the steak and on to the beach
I like your style both the writing and the pictures. Looking forward to day five.
Thanks, Paul. I did remember at the last moment that I was in Sarasota, not South Miami Beach, so I girded my loins.
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Day Five - Looking for my Keys in Florida
My 40-some mile trek down the beaches of Sarasota looking for parking the day before had dampened my bathing spirits. Time to pivot again. PLUS, the best Mexican restaurant had closed early the night before, forcing the consumption of steak with plastic-ware on the beach to my chagrin. How to save the day?
Oh, and adding insult to injury, was my new found passion for collecting cutlery, in the form of pocket knives (strange the hobbies we've taken up during the pandemic, no?) had resulted in further frustration. I had left my epic We (brand) Sea Monster sitting on the dining room table at home in Atlanta. Google it, it's epic.
Speaking of Google, the search for botanical gardens (fahk me, I was in the mood to photograph flowers) had potentially saved the day. Did you know (yeah, yeah--I bet you already knew) that the Ringling is in Sarasota? As in Ringling bros. As in acres of museums, botanicals, and a epically gaudy version of the Biltmore now all under the care of Florida State University. Well, let's purchase an all-let-me-in pass for today! But they don't open for a spell. Let's solve the next problem.
Let's go buy a knife from this guy!
At this place!
Yup, I went to the Gun Shoppe, to buy a knife fight... wait, no.
They do custom engraving, and I was wasting way too much of Brian's time, and didn't want to have to eat Ramen for the rest of the trip (remember, still need to get to the best Mexican food restaurant in (near) Sarasota. THEN, he showed me a used knife. Used. Hmmmm, never bought a used knife before. What he shared was a Brous Blades XR-1, #375 of 500. A little old lady had owned it, and only taken it out at gun fights at church on Sundays. It was still the factory edge, still sparkly sharp.
Look! The day is turning around already!
Day Five cont'd below
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Day Five cont'd
The Ringling had a note to please buy tickets online ahead of time. Okay, easy enough.
What they didn't tell you was complying with their innocuous request would result you in getting to avoid a line that filled the lobby and poured outside into the Florida sun! Just walk right by all these folks who don't know how to read a web page, and walk up to a counter and say, I have an online ticket and I want to take lots of peechurs!
That little exercise in interwebs compliance results in Joan saying "Would you like to photograph the Asolo theatre as well?
Meet Joan
I didn't hear Joan's story, but she did tell me the story of the Asolo.
"Given John Ringling’s passion for the theatrical movement, color, and emotion of Baroque art, it is apt that the Museum’s first director, A. Everett Austin, Jr., dramatically expanded the showman’s collection by acquiring an 18th-century Italian theater."
He acquired a WHOLE FRAKKIN Italian theatre (notice I'm using the fancy schmancy spelling). The Asolo was built in 1798 in the great hall of Caterina Cornaro's palace--a 15th century Queen of Cyprus who was exiled to Asolo, Italy.
The Ringling purchased the theatre for $8,000 in 1949 because it had been dismantled to to make way for a film theater in 1931.
The rest of the property consists of the mansion, Ca' D' Zan, two circus museums, the Museum of Art, multiple botanical gardens, and Mable Ringling's Rose Garden. I took hundreds of photos, I'll endeavor to be sparse and selective.
Day Five cont'd
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Day Five cont'd - Looking for my Keys in Florida
Ca' d'Zan (or House of John) was inspired by Venice's Ducal Palace, Ca' d'Oro. John and Mable Ringling had traveled Europe for nearly 25 years, acquiring circus acts and art. As one of America's wealthiest couples, the Ringlings, started building Ca' d'Zan in 1924 and completed it shortly before Christmas, 1926, for the then princely sum of $1.5 million. Sadly, their happiness in their Sarasota bay front home was short lived as Mable passed only three years after its completion from Addison's disease and complications from diabetes.
The house is 36,000 square feet, is five stories tall, and has a full basement. The original 16th century Spanish tile roof was imported by the builder, Owen Burns. Dwight James Baum was the famous NY architect who designed it.
The house was built of terra cotta 'T' blocks, concrete and brick. and is covered with stucco and terra cotta and embellished with glazed tile.
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That architect went through a lot ink making the drawings to that behemoth.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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I just had no concept of the wealth of the Ringlings. Mind boggling for the times. Mind boggling for the times and the industry.
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A while back, PBS TV has a series about the circuses from beginning to a sad end. The Barnums began with nothing.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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Originally Posted by RICZ
A while back, PBS TV has a series about the circuses from beginning to a sad end. The Barnums began with nothing.
I started out with nothing, too.
Still have most of it left.
.
HER ride:
2017 RT-S SE6 Pearl White
My rides:
2000 Honda GL1500SE
1980 Suzuki GS850G
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Originally Posted by Steve W.
I started out with nothing, too.
Still have most of it left.
.
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Day Six - Looking for my Keys in Florida
Today was another road day. Before I head out, the Honey Bee and apple blossom is for my stepdad. He grew up on a fruit farm in Michigan, and I remember for the first time as a young boy, tasting what REAL apple cider tasted like. Not that pasteurized, over filtered crap they sell in a lot of grocery stores. Fresh pressed cider. He made the best apple dumplings in the world, it was Grandma Vera's old family recipe.
Sorry it's upside down, tilt you head waaaayyyy to the side and squint.
And I would spend the day dodging this >>
...not successfully, by the by. Not a lot of photo ops, due to the inclement weather.
Route >>
But I did get this nice shot.
Nice overcast shot, no harsh shadows. Almost golden light...
At Myakka River State Park. Not much interesting (oooooh, aren't I casting shade) to say about Myakka River. One of the highlights on the landing page of the park's website, is that you need to bring your own utensils if you rent a cabin.
Charlotte showing off her opinion on the matter.
I did arrive, none the worse for rain wear (who needs gloves). And arrived in time, I did, to help with estate 'things.' Pictured are my sister, and one of my step brothers.
Rick is an avid kayaker and outdoorsman, and is so famous, he's INfamous for his impression of Jackbox (a little gamer humor for you button mashers).
My task for the next two days would be sorting through Dad's old tool shed, which joyfully, contained all his old tackle boxes. I was able to sort through his collection of lures (he had an affinity for Rapala lures), and spread them throughout the sons, grandsons, and a couple granddaughters who also wanted a memento.
My temporary office...
Tomorrow, the funeral. Sigh.
That said it was built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), thanks to President Roosevelt. One of eight State Parks in Florida developed by the CCC in the 1930's.
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Day Six cont'd
Yes, you can pick up your very own 6 foot long Rapala lure. Except... it's out of stock. I wonder who bought them all?
https://www.rapala.com/rapala/lures/...d=rapala-lures
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Day Six cont'd
Okay, Myakka isn't actually that drab... I actually think the cabins look kinda kewl--but didn't check to see if they were a/c'ed. I found it interesting the cabins were built a few feet up on stone pillars--I assumed it's for flooding? I also didn't venture far enough to see the canopy walkway--not for those afraid of heights, but I bet it would lend itself to some fascinating photography.
(uncredited: floridastateparks.org)
You look it up, and decide for yourself. I was just breezin' through, so can't really judge. https://www.floridastateparks.org/le...walkway-myakka
Day Six concluded
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I second ya on REAL apple cider. Keep these posts and photos coming.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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Originally Posted by RICZ
I second ya on REAL apple cider. Keep these posts and photos coming.
Preach it!
Can you post up a bigger pic of that Simplex from the Barber, Ricz???
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Originally Posted by malibu_dan
Can you post up a bigger pic of that Simplex from the Barber, Ricz???
Your wish is my command. She's one of those, "I wish I kept her" bikes.
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Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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Day Nine - Looking for My Keys in Florida
Well, we're not in Florida anymore, Toto. Got a tip on looking for murals -- nice segue, huh?
The Mourning Dove is for my mother. I lost my mother back, oh about five years ago. I still miss her all the time. I still have the compulsion to pick up the phone and tell her about _________ (fill in the blank with anything). She always had mourning doves who nested in her geranium pot on the front porch, but now I may just be repeating myself.
Murals, you say! Well, let's see what we see along the way!
I must say, really good jerky! I met a couple riders, one a self-proclaimed long distance roller. Nice guys. Mr. Tungsten-butt was riding a ragged out, old school Goldwing. Looked like he could back up his claim. Sorry, didn't get a snap of them.
Here, we go, I can't identify the towns, perhaps ya'll can help?
Fitting last image for the trip. Thank you all for tagging along!
End of Day Nine - End of Trip >> And I believe I found my Keys!!!
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Originally Posted by malibu_dan
THAT is a piece of art!
You gotta go to Birmingham and spend a day at the Barber MC Museum. The building is purpose built to be an MC showplace. You take a centrally located elevator to the 5th floor and literally wind your way down a spiral incline. Hundreds of bikes are everywhere, even suspended in space. Two vertical rows of bikes decorate each corner of the elevator structure. The last two are the bike of my dreams, a mid 1980s Italian Morbidelli 850cc V8 with an engine designed by Ferrari. Now that's fine art!
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Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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