You're a Long Way from Malibu... Dan

[malibu_dan]

Day Three - Looking for my Keys in Florida

It was time for a down day. Come on, don't give me that ****e--I'm getting old. I haven't logged miles in a millennia. See, even the peacock agrees.

One of the 'things' I do is paint my helmets. In addition to a new dry bag, two days before departure, I noticed my chin bar was loose on my Scorpion modular. Upon closer inspection, I found one of the clamps was... no clamping. Well, so much for a cheap launch on this trip. Now I needed to figure out the theme.

Here's one of my OLDER helmets now retired >>

(credit: younger me)

A big part of today would be figuring out the 'theme'. The noisy inspiration for starting is pictured above. That ding-dang peacock. You can see his head below.

And part of his tail here.

So, I decided to make it a memorial helmet for all my parents. My parents divorced and remarried when I was a youngin'. So, the two animals so far illustrated are a koi for my father. He was a professional scout master with Boy Scouts of America back in the 1960's and 70's. He taught me to fish, to swim, to waterski--a big part of my love for the water is because of him. Later in life, in his 50's he became a preacher man--so it also represents the ichthus.

The mourning dove is for my mother. She always had a pair of doves that nested in the geraniums on her porch in the house I grew up in. Some spiritualists say when a mourning dove appears, it should be a reminder that you have support and love around you and that even death does not separate you from your loved ones.

The owners were fascinated by the fact I was sitting in the dining room painting their peacock on my helmet, so they brought me some lunch. It was the best soup of the trip!

Dave and Eveline texted me and said, "Go, go, go--dolphins jumping, must pay the ferry man!" Or maybe they just said they were heading to our secret tour of the historical society. I called my wife, told her I loved her, and said if she never heard from me again tell the police to look for an older couple riding a Can-am Spyder stopping at museums frequently!

There was also lots of civil war and later photographs, but this stuff interested me more. The safe below was the only thing to survive a fire at the local bank office. Only problem was no survivors knew the combination, until someone recalled they had a safe cracker in the jail. They cut him a deal and he opened the safe for them!

More Day Three to follow

 

[malibu_dan]

Day Three cont'd - Looking for my Keys in Florida

I'll try to keep the posts to more manageable length. << Pie crust promise right there!

Let's meet some more people and a chicken. Chicken? Why not?

That evening after an early dinner, I got to hear some more stories and meet more people who coincidentally found themselves at the Putnam.

Best fish dinner of the trip >>

Meet Mark and his wife. (I'm a flop, I almost made up a name, but that would have cheapened their story. I'm sorry I can't find her name in my contacts). So, they fascinatingly lived in the Caribbean for over 20 years. Mark had been through a brutal divorce here in the states, so they decided to up and move to the islands. I didn't ask if his now wife was the reason for said divorce or not--I didn't know them weeeellllll enough for that question--but I did wonder.

She tended bar on the beach, and he did maintenance for some of the resorts. They only moved back to the states because they said they realized they were getting older, and serious health care is non-existent on the islands. They had just returned from a funeral for a Rastafarian woman on St. Thomas whom they and everyone else apparently loved. That funeral was on the beach. My stepmothers would not be that lively a celebration, with singing and dancing and bonfires! Wow, what a send off!

The final couple from the Putnam was Steve and Tammy. Steve was an animal of the long ride. He and his wife were on a Honda Goldwing towing a small trailer with a swivel hitch. He said the hitch made him forget it was back there. I don't recall why they were in Florida, because there next destination was what stood out for me most. They were from southern Indiana, but were heading to ride the Natchez Parkway. Wifey and I rode the entire Natchez for our 25th wedding anniversary, with sojourns off the parkway each day. We both had bucket list things from that trip--hers was seeing Helen Keller's birthplace in Tuscumbia, and for me I got to see a Frank Lloyd Wright house.

Rather than a direct link I'll share this gentleman's website >> https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/...nessee-river/460-helen-keller-birthplace.html
The curator of that site handled all of our accommodations flawlessly, if you ever head that way yourself.

Meet Steve and Tammy!

You know a guy who goes to Mississippi by way of Florida ain't afraid of miles. They are smart enough, however to know when to cut bait. They hit terrible storms, literally saw a huge tree fall way too close to them, so they didn't go all the way to Natchez, MS. They only missed the first 100 miles, so they still rode over 300+ miles of the Natchez? Good people.

End of Day Three

 

[malibu_dan]

Day Four - Looking for my Keys in Florida

And with that, we can officially start

Day Four - Looking for my Keys in Florida

...with breakfast. There were about 3 or 4 cats patrolling the front porch and protecting my Spyder. But this one was the queen...

"Okay, you may live another day... I no keel you."

Day Four to be cont'd

 

[malibu_dan]

Day Four - Looking for my Keys in Florida

I'd had enough of Cedar Key and the Putnam. It was time to say goodbye and head for the beach! But what beach? Well, I had a theme, Keys. I'm feeling a little tired. So... let's head to Siesta Key. Who doesn't like the sound of THAT?!

The lioness had earned her keep and breakfast. I think she was appreciative, because she took the valet service role very seriously after that!

Maybe she was trying to show me she has what it takes to go to 'Siesta' Key! One last resident to say goodbye to. You thought you'd met the owners--this is who really runs the hotel.

Today is not nearly as picturesque. I spent the days burnin' toward the beach, and dodging rain showers. I finally realized my estimated ability to dodge rain drops like a dragonfly were grossly exaggerated.

I finally made it to Siesta Key, well, technically I first made it to Manatee Public Beach. What a beautiful, crowded drive. 44 miles from Manatee to Siesta Key Beach--and not ONE open parking spot to stop, dip my toes in the Gulf, and get a picture. You think I'm exaggerating. Not one.

Maybe I was fatigued, maybe I was tired--but I had had enough. I pulled into a lot, and traded the Spyder in on this >>

Heh. Those of you who called bull****e, give yourself 3 points and proceed to the next level. Your ****e-meter is working great. I headed to the hotel, still on my Spyder; the Best Western Plus Siesta Key Gateway. Wow, that was a mouthful.

=-=-=-=-=
If you are an anti-vaxer or an anti-masker, please skip over the next paragraph. Not looking to upset you, start a debate, or raise your blood-pressure. You will not hurt my feelings at all if you want to move ahead, you have every right to your feelings and to avoid things you don't want to see. I just thought my check-in experience was funny, that's all.

Checking into the hotel, the gal behind the desk and the table in front of the counter, which prevented me from getting to the counter, was bubbly as can be. She said, in a mixed southern accent, "Oh, honey, you're in Florida now, you don't have to wear that mask." I replied, "Oh darlin', I want to wear it. That way I don't have to ask you if you've been vaccinated!"
=-=-=-=-=

I headed to my room, lugged my dry bag and all my other bags up to the second floor, and stripped down to my skivvies. Then I cranked the a/c on high and flumped in the chair. Don't know how long I sat there. I might have checked my eyelids for leaks for a moment or two.

Then I decided to paint some more, and checked in with my sister to see if her flight arrangements were still set for the next day.

I decided I had to stand in the ocean--cripes, that's why I came to the beach. So, I went and picked up a steak from one of the chains, don't recall which--it wasn't memorable. And went and ate my dinner beside the ocean. The traffic was all flowing inland, so I had a clear ride.

The kewl part was there was a drum circle... drumming on the beach. There must have been 200 people shouting, dancing, and playing. I cranked the iso up, held my breath, and took the best shot I could shooting hand-held at night. These latest generations of Sony mirrorless cameras are low-light monsters. They can see more than the human eye by far. I couldn't make out any bodies, only the glow sticks with my spying eye.

I made it to Sarasota!!!

End of Day Four

 

[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.

 

[malibu_dan]

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. :2excited:

 

[malibu_dan]

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

 

[malibu_dan]

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

 

[malibu_dan]

Day Five cont'd - Looking for my Keys in Florida

I learned a trick years ago with amusement parks. Don't get distracted by the first big ride you see. Get there when they open, and race to the back of the park--avoiding all the crowds that get distracted by the shiny baubles. Then you will be ahead of the crowd for at least the first couple hours.

So, I headed back to one of the gardens Joan told me I must see!

Passed by the two circus museums, and I was near the mansion. That will wait for a little while.

And nobody kicking sand in my face on the beach!

Day Five to be cont'd

 

[malibu_dan]

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.

 

[RICZ]

That architect went through a lot ink making the drawings to that behemoth.

 

[malibu_dan]

I just had no concept of the wealth of the Ringlings. Mind boggling for the times. Mind boggling for the times and the industry.

 

[malibu_dan]

Day Five cont'd - Looking for my Keys in Florida

To give a sense of the Ringlings' wealth, let's go look at their art collection... but first Mable's Rose Garden. I believe it may at times be epic. Sadly, there was only one rose in bloom.

I give you... "The Bloom"

It was getting quite hot, so I continued on to the Art Museum. I was not expecting what I saw.

This was only one part of one wing of the museum, and there were two equally epic wings on this bird. This shot from one side through the courtyard in the middle.

While not the Louvre, it rivaled many of the smaller cities' museums I've seen over the years.

Hope you didn't want to see complete paintings... they were too big to fit.

This woman had a stone cold stare.

Tom Brady was there, just hangin' out.

Next up, let's go to the circus!

 

[RICZ]

A while back, PBS TV has a series about the circuses from beginning to a sad end. The Barnums began with nothing.

 

[Steve W.]

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.

.

 

[malibu_dan]

I started out with nothing, too.

Still have most of it left.

.

:congrats:

 

[malibu_dan]

Yup, still Day Five - Looking for my Keys in Florida

It takes two buildings to house the museum at the Ringling dedicated to the Circus. The idea of the museum did not belong to John Ringling, it was the brainchild of A. Everett “Chick” Austin Jr.’s, the Ringlings’ first Director and a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

These ladies were turning out for their day at the Ringling!! You go girls!!

Established in 1948, the Ringling Museum of the American Circus was the first to document the rich history of this form of entertainment. And because in 1927 John Ringling had made Sarasota the Winter Quarters of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, many of the performers moved to the immediate area. As a result of their contributions, the Museum’s collection of wardrobes and circus memorabilia rapidly grew.

One of the amazing finds for me was a display with Lou Jacobs clown car. I remember Lou as a kid. Christened Johann Ludwig Jacob, professionally known as Lou Jacobs--Lou was a German-born American auguste clown who performed for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for more than 60 years.

Lou's clown car act is featured in the 1952 Cecil B. DeMille movie, The Greatest Show on Earth.

What a day! I took hundreds of pictures, and I still had the best Mexican food in Sarasota to look forward to!

 

[malibu_dan]

Day Five cont'd - Looking for my Keys in Florida

Okay, I've been teasing the taquito long enough about tacos. Welcome to the best Mexican food in Sarasota!

It would HAVE to be housed in a gas station to even be in the running for the title. This little gem is ensconced in the Texaco Station on S. Tamiami Trail! Ding ding ding! Winner winner, Mexican dinner!

(credit Patrick Snow, 2019)

for those of you directionally challenged >>
https://goo.gl/maps/pt6KEDmh88bQfjFE7

Sorry, no pics of the food--it didn't last long enough to photograph.

Not much else to share for Day Five, except I barely beat the rain back to the Best Western--good thing I was only 2 blocks away.

This feller didn't mind a cloudburst...

End of Day Five

 

[malibu_dan]

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.

 

[malibu_dan]

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...Rapala|Lures#start=73&sz=36&cgid=rapala-lures