Terry's Journey in Retirement
Chapter 605
11/1/2021
Wedding Southern Style
all about spreading love thru food
Wedding at Saint John Vianney Church on Saint Petersberg Beach. Priest said do not be late for 2pm time slot as 3pm mass scheduled. If you miss time, no wedding. We arrived at 2:30, but got married anyway.
Rehearsal at Saint John Vianney Church on Saint Petersberg Beach. Fantastic pre bunch and dinner at Greg's Pier 22.
Intricately scripted and executed reception plan. A lot of thought went into it. Cocktails, live music, and Reception Dinner at the perfect and top rated Riverside B & B Palmetto.
Extravagant three course dinner under open skies with a kiss of rain.
Masquerade party with more drinks and circus performers after dinner. After 12 hours of wedding carryings on, I opted out for that one. Stayed overnight there & had fantastic brunch the next day .
We were staying at the Compass Hotel , Margaritaville next to Anna Maria Island for a few nights. Very good Jimmy Buffet vibe, music constantly going mucho happy hours. I wont name names but someone had too many cocktails and ended up with bruises. Right across from the Neal Preserve that we toured.
We found Brian's final resting place the same day a pair of Van Life Youtubers did. I saw their van there. In case you didn't hear about the Brian and Gabby drama, here is their first and last video before the murder / suicide. It's an American Tragedy of seeemingly contradictory emotions that went worldwide. So many things she could have done but clouds got in the way. It's life illusions I recall. An internet sensation drawing billions of eyeballs, internet sleuths, and social media crime crowd sourcing. Wait for the movie. We found the hanging rope that could eventually be determined to be the source. Colleen wanted to say a prayer there for Brian.
Colleen was extremely timid entering the preserve as there are bob cats, wild boar, poisonous snakes, and alligators there that could kill you. A guy made a series of nice captures on critter cam within this enorous 50,000 acre area. We wandered 5 miles trying to get on to the correct spot and it all looks the same, yet his remains were only .6 miles from the trail head where he parked the Mustang. His Dad apparently had to know exactally where to go and told cops the location but they expanded the search needlessly.
For lunch we stopped at an old fish camp Snook Haven on the Myakka River in Venice. Brian actually ended up in the Big Slough preserve- linked to the Carlton Reserve, Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, and Myakka State Park.
We went to Florida to experience the beautiful fairytale wedding, and it was, but it's an important life lesson to realize there will be clouds in every relationship.
On Anna Maria Island at Bean Point Beach it was a bird paradise. Such a pleasure walking with hundreds of birds. Here is a masterful promotion in the 7 Miles of Paradise video. There was a storm and tornado warning but we had a bit of time so we walked the beach, stolled the Rod & Reel Pier, and ate at the Bradenton Beach Hotel. We were off season so did not feel touristy with no congestion lines or parking fees, but I can imagine prime time you'd feel pressured.
In 1539 explorer Hernando De Soto camped here.
Did a bunch of Mangrove branch chopping so Greg could access his kayak launch from his new house property on Terra Ceia Island into the Bay below the State Park. Never floated thru the mangroves so it was an adventure. Greg hadn't used it yet , says I could go 15 foot wide and 5 feet deep. Most of the channel is narrow enough to use both arms to pull along using the roots. A big unnecessary effort would be required to widen to the point where you could use the paddles. There's bunches of small crabs on the branches but I guess they are harmless. His 5 dogs love eating them. Saw no crocks or manatees, but did find some Wood Storks and Green Herons down there. Somewhat mucky and buggy at times.
Mangrove protection Florida they do not want the mangrove habitat to vanish , but it's always a balance to keep them from wildly growing all over the place
EZ Dock Kayaks would get out of the muck
Walked from Don Cesar's on St. Pete's Beach up to the Spinners rotating 11th floor restaurant and back three times (9 miles) meeting up with daughter Amanda and Ben till sunset, then on to stay at Indian Shores with Sis Suzanne. Five mile tour on Colleen's brother's deckboat on Terra Ceia Bay from Palmetto.
Another whirlwind tour - sometime it might be nice to just take a short barefoot walk on some small beach.