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Visitors From The North

The Month of March brought visitors from the North down to the sunny climes of Florida. My zombie Mark and his golfing buddies from Aledo's Oak View Country Club trekked to St. Petersburg on their annual winter golf tour. Then, the next week Carrie and Tim of North Henderson and managers of the Community Center there visited for a couple of days.


We met Carrie and Tim at the Crab Trap II in Bradenton upon their arrival.   Nice place, good food and sure excited to see the newlyweds again since I had not them seen the wedding in September.   Although I made a trip back in December, they were busy with other things at that time and didn't see them.  Apparently Bob Seger is more important than his old neighbor.



The next evening we met at the Conch Republic for a loud crowded meal.  I hope everyone had a good time because I paid for the dang thing and couldn't put it on any expense account. 


We had planned on two days of riding (Tim rented a cycle in Bradenton) but that day ended up being a mess due to their car having problems and they had to hunt for a dealership.  But Thursday was a nice day for riding and so we headed off to Wauchula for a beer and a burger.  Here is Carrie taking a picture of us on the Skyway.  That's me clear up there leading.


As many times as I take the Skyway, it is always a thrill, more so seeing Tim and Carrie in my rear view mirror.


Some days are perfect for riding, and most are pretty perfect down here.


Just some of the brush country heading to Wauchula, and Charlotte's Web.







We passed one field in a controlled burn.  Should have stopped and soaked it all in, but I didn't.  I could feel the heat as I passed and the smoke was fun to watch. 


At Wauchula, in the back is their 300 year old tree. 


Tim and the tree.


Carrie and Tim and the tree.


Mike, Carrie and Tim and the tree.  Wauchula's Charlottes Web didn't have a grill, so after a beer, we headed out to a place Charlotte recommended, a place called Solomon's Castle.



So, here we have Solomon's Castle in the middle of no where.  I mean no where.  I'm not exaggerating.  Hell, Wauchula is in no where, and this place is even beyond that.  It consists of a castle looking structure encased in insulation sheeting.  They give tours for $9.45.  Inside is supposed to have stained glass windows and other art works.  We passed.  



Captain Howard from a pic from his website.  When we were there he was sitting behind us at a card table watching his customers.  I always thought it was creepy to see a grown man wear a nautical hat on land.  Yes, I thought Thurston Howell III was creepy, too. 


Another pic from his website.  Notice the aging and discoloration from the picture below.  Apparently all of Howard's profits go to his account, not the business.




Here's Tim and I in front of the place in a totally unrehearsed un-posed picture.  Notice the jaunty hands-on-hips casual look.  No, this wasn't the least bit posed.



Walking over a small viney path you end up past this 'boat in the moat' and a restaurant of sorts.  We all agreed the food was OK, nothing to rave about, and the ambiance was C-R-E-E-P-Y.  It was straight out of a Stephen King novel where unsuspecting travelers find a place in the woods and think they are OK but everything is just a little off-kilter.  The sunlight seemed a little filtered, the conversations from other were mostly in a foreign tongue, and no one smiled.  The place gave off a different "vibe' that's for sure.  Glad to be gone from that place, but man, seems whenever I get with Tim and Carrie we always end up doing something memorable.


Saddle up!


Supper at O'Maddy's and the next day Tim and Carrie were heading back home.  Sure hope we can do it again.  We talked of a cruise in 2013 that should be fun.  Hope no one falls off.   

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