Florida Trip!

Hello! I haven't been posting much but have been on a great ten day road trip to see Uncle Raymond and Aunt Janet in Florida. Here are some pictures I took.

The first is of the Parthenon in Nashville. It is a scale reproduction of the original in Athens, Greece. It, as the original did, houses a statue of the goddess Athena. The new version looks something like a $2.00 hooker - but it is supposed to be based on the original

On Tues, Apr. 17, I visited the cemetery in Hendersonville, TN - burial place of one of my favorite singers - Johnny Cash and wife June Carter. Their home had just burned that weekend. It had been bought by Barry Gibb recently and was being remodeled.

Next was a visit to the Hermatige - home of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson's home is the most complete presidental home/museum. About 90 percent of the items in the home were actually owned by Jackson.

This is the burial place of Andrew and Rachel Jackson.

Wednesday morning I visited the POW Museum at Andersonville, GA. This is an artist's rendition printed in 1864. The next photo is the same view during my visit. Over 12,000 Union soldiers died at Andersonville.

Not many photos remain of Andersonville. This picture gives you an idea of the living conditions. The men drank, bathed, washed dishes and took care of any other business in the stream that went through the camp. It brought on lots of disease and death.
The dead were buried in trenches, shoulder to shoulder.
Andersonville is a very sobering experience - really leaves you feeling a little down, but really worth looking in to if you are ever down that way.

Some of the men tried tunnelling out - their tunnels still cave in every now and then.
Finally got to Florida Wednesday eve.
These two pretty girls are Megan and Emily - Jennifer's twin daughters. The next picture was taken about 12 years ago.
Here is Jennifer, myself and Janie - I hadn't seen Jen in a LONG time - she is just as bubbly and fun as I remembered.

On Friday, Uncle Raymond took me to the Kennedy Space Center. It really is a learning experience. Space travel is fascinating and it is incredible to see these machines and this technology first hand. Here Raymond is standing in front of the memorial to the astronauts who have died durng the Space program.

The next photo is the building where the shuttle is housed until it's next flight in June. It is the world's largest single story building. In fact, Yankee Stadium could fit on top with an acre left over for parking!

On Saturday, Uncle R. and I drove down to Ft. Myers, FL - location of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's Winter Estates. It was my FIFTH trip to Ft. Myers - I always enjoy seeig Edison's home and garden.
The Banyon tree behind Raymond and "Tom" is the first brought to Florida from India by Edison. It is 190 feet in diameter - the largest in North America. The mother tree, still growing in India is the largest in the world.

This is Henry Ford's living room.


Edison's back porch

The Edison home - Just as it was at the time of Mina Edison's death in 1948.

Mina Edison's Moonlight Garden.
Lots of talking machines!

Another visit with Jennifer and Hayden - her little grandson!


Oh, back to Ft. Myers, we stopped at the Ft. Myers Cemetery (you know I can't go anywhere without squeezing a trip to a graveyard). It is the burial place of one of my favorite pioneer recording artists - Arthur Collins. He began making cylinders in 1898 ( I have some) and continued until his retirement in 1922. He and his wife visited Mr. Edison in Ft. Myers and loved the area and relocated there. Collins' biggest hit was a 1905 recording entitled "The Preacher and the Bear."

Arhtur Collins as a young man.
After church on Sunday we had lunch and I took off for Clearwater Beach. Raymond, Janet and Janie were all GREAT hosts. Uncle Raymond kept me entertained from sun-up til sun-down and I made a temporary widow of Aunt Janet. I really appreciate their kindness.
This is me at Clearwater Beach ( I put some clothes on for the picture - haha!)




On Monday I bought a ticket for a ride on this racing boat. It cruises along at 85 - 90 MPH!

They even let me drive!
We slowed down and let the dolphins follow along behind!

I got back to Camp David in Cisne late Tuesday night and enjoyed a full day here before returning to Saint Louis (and work) on Thursday.