Nov 18, Bradenton, FL

We moved 30 miles today. First south, under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (which links St Petersburg with Bradenton) and then east into the Manatee River to downtown Bradenton.

Leaving the SPYC and downtown St Petersburg.

Going under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

The SULPHUR ENTERPRISE follows us under the bridge heading for the
Gulf of Mexico.

We are staying at the Twin Dolphin Marina right under the Rt 41 bridge very close to downtown.

Approaching downtown Bradenton.

Twin Dolphin Marina office.

Twin Dolphin Restaurant.

This is a pretty spot right in front of Bradenton City Hall and Library and only a block from the South Florida Museum.

We visit a site in NW Bradenton thought to be the point of land on the Tampa Bay where, on May 29, 1539, DeSoto led 700 Spanish soldiers ashore to on a trip to the interior of what is now the United States seeking another civilization to conquer.

Exhibit at the Florida State Park.

He hoped to find large amounts of gold and silver like those found in Mexico by Cortez (Aztecs) and in Peru by Pizzaro (Incas). He and his men wandered for years and did not find what they sought. Their wanderings took them from Florida into Georgia and the Carolina's and as far north as Tennessee and then west to the Mississippi where DeSoto died and was buried. His men set off for home. They continued west into Arkansas and Texas and were stopped by the dessert conditions and retraced their trail back to the Mississippi. Here they built boats and traveled down the Mississippi and then around the Gulf of Mexico west to a Spanish city in Mexico. After more than four years of traveling, less than half his men returned alive.

We toured the South Florida Museum, rated a GEM by AAA, which is located very close to our marina. Features the early history of Florida and showcases fossils and artifacts from this part of Florida.

South Florida Museum.

Beautiful diorama's.

Ancestor of the Great White Shark.
This shows the fossilized teeth that have been found that are three times bigger than today's Great White Shark teeth.
Over five feet top to bottom.

Go Gators.

The Parker Manatee Aquarium is part of the Museum and has a Manatee 'Snooty' who arrived here in 1949 and has been here ever since. He was born in captivity July 28, 1948 and the marine park where he was being kept went out of business. The South Florida Museum agreed to take him thinking "How long can he live?". He is now 61 and healthy, outliving all predictions.

'Snooty' being fed Romaine lettuce. Also likes broccoli and carrots.
No iceberg lettuce please, as not enough food value.

Sea turtle skeleton.

The museum also contains the Bishop Planetarium with shows several times every day. Over our heads!