On the road again. First stop Biloxi, MS.

An early out of Ruskin with the car loaded up. A first stop in Monticello, FL at the Tupelo Cafe for scratch blueberry turnover and tupelo honey. Very historic downtown.

Opera house
Courthouse

Away I went and across I-10, I went. Traffic not bad and ended up at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

I had received a hot tip from the SMBC peeps that there was a local restaurant called Shaggy’s that had super fish tacos. They were right. Triggerfish and hush puppies. Great big u peel em shrimp as well. Gibby!

Took a drive off 90 to see very nice neighborhoods and a cool historic district.

Tomorrow, Houston. Peace out Tres

Harry P Leu Gardens, House and Museum-Orlando.

A late sleep and breakfast brought Mariella and I to the Gardens.

Very cool bird houses, watch for more

Harry P Leu House Museum. Side view because the front view had an industrial sprinkler going.

Photo credit: Mariella Smith
Photo credit: Mariella Smith
Photo credit: Mariella Smith

Early tapas dinner at Jaleo with class tomorrow. Big peace out

New and old Legacy Trail/Venetian Waterway Trail-51 miles and 530 feet of elevation.

I waited until after lunch to hop on the bike and began my first time exploring of the New Legacy Trail extension. I started at Pompano Ave Trailhead and went south.

I had the wind at my back and it seemed to blow me down to Venice Train Depot. Went on to Shamrock Park and turned around.

The Shamrock Road to get to Manasota Key.

Very cool separate bike lane on Ringling Blvd that took me to Bayfront Drive and the water. The new infrastructure is great.

Great afternoon Peace out Tres dog

Paddle Florida Blackwater Paddling Festival-Camp Chowenwaw-10 miles today

It was a beautiful rollout from Casa Smith to Clay County. I was accompanied with SMBC stalwart road biker Dana W and off we went to picnic lunch in a beautiful downtown park in Melrose, Florida.

Easy roll into Camp Chowenwaw. Nice campground with hot showers and a refrigerator.

Millie

Great fall off the bone baked chicken dinner with BBQ baked beans, cole slaw, salad, yeast rolls, chocolate chip cookies and sweet tea. Gib! Two great speakers about the King’s botanist John Bartrand and his son, William, exploring the St. John’s River in the 1770’s. They had been in Blackwater Creek in a battoe, an old row boat with a small sail. We would follow their footsteps today in the kayak. The pics.

Mark
Life is good

Dana and I went underneath the 15 bridge into the St. John’s River next to take out. It was beautiful.

Another killer dinner with live folk music. An 8 miler up Peters Creek and after lunch away we go back home.