Cypress Swamp

This a vertical panorama shot. 

Just Walking In the Rain

Highlands Hammock state park. It's a jungle out there. Saw a herd of deer slogging thru the swamp, a fish hawk let us walk right past its roost, and Shannon turned a corner and squealed (!) in surprise as a wild pig scrambled away off the trail. Also, two fellow hikers had just seen a bear. A little one. 

Thank goodness we have wifi here, otherwise the unrelenting rain over the past three days would bring on Cabin Fever. We were able to catch up on ABC's Nashville and Modern Family last night. Today was forecast to improve; hasn't yet. 

Guess Who

Guess at what famous artist's museum in St Pete ?

In The World!

Not just Florida, not just the USA -- the sponge Capitol of the World, by Godfrey. 

Famous Travelers

In 1867 a young John Muir walked a thousand miles down from Indiana to Cedar Key, and spent the winter recovering from malaria. It was a bustling seaport and railhead then. Now, not so much. 

Brought to you by....

These schoolyard trees in Cedar Key appear to be sponsored by ZZ Top. 

Contrasts

Could be that Carriage had a MissCarriage?

Florida Sunset

Cedar Key

...On The Beach, Continued

Orange Beach AL, baby!

On The Beach

Toured the Eudora Welty House today. What a treasure that dear woman was.  Her bedroom was upstairs, the two windows to the right of the sign. It was there that she composed her major works. 

 Now we're down here on the Redneck Riviera, Orange Beach AL, basking under a full moon. 

Texasville

Then on to Archer City TX, hometown of Larry McMurtry, author of many noted novels -- Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment -- and winner of a Pulitzer for Lonesome Dove.  Last year he auctioned off three warehouses full of his rare books; now Booked Up is down to only 150,000 volumes, of which these are but a few. 

After a fun visit with friends near Ft worth we drove on to Vicksburg MS. That's M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. 

On The Road Again

Oh yes, we did!  Cadillac Ranch, a bit west of Armadillo TX. Nowadays more spray paint than Cadillac. 

Counting Down

One week from today, weather permitting, we hit the road. 

But who's counting

One week from today Shannon retires.