The Traveling 3some - Day 24 - Tallahassee Part 2 then to Pensacola, Florida

October 30

 310 miles - 38mpg

Today we had a buffet of dainty morsels that went well together with TV news.  Last night we enjoyed free beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres hosted by the hotel.  We had the place to ourselves. While the hotel was full, everyone was at a Clemson-Florida State College football game that attracted people from all over.

Nothing draws Americans like a car collection - but collections of knives? Electric fans? Generators? This place is a hodgepodge of idiosyncratic collections with the cars relegated to being displayed like sardines in a can. That is, jammed together side by side, perhaps an inch between them, So no way to walk around them or see inside. Anyone who revels in only seeing the fronts of cars will be thrilled. We decided not to pay $30 but did take photos of the outside sampling of what's inside.  

Get out there and vote, or else!

 When in Rome.....

This trip has really given Cricket the heebie-jeebies time and again. NOW what?

You have to look under rocks to find gems like this.

Elvis and Norm's thumb which has become heavily photographed on this trip.

As we said, "idiosyncratic". 

A map of the area around the state Capitol - in Tallahassee's case, two Capitols. The new Capitol, built in 1977, is closed on weekends and doesn't have much to offer a tourist.  But the completely restored Historic Capitol, now that's a different story and it IS open weekends.

Seen on our walk from the garage to the Historic Capitol, "Miami Beach Ball" by Romero Britto - this is not Miami and it's not the beach...

A very nice dolphin fountain sculpture at the back of the new Capitol. 

Cricket once again being tormented. The statue assemblage could be to honor the family, or kids not getting into mischief, or man's best friend. In fact, it honors the local newspaper, The Democrat.

Yes, this restoration to how the building looked in 1902 is also a museum which contains all original furniture in the various chambers and offices. 

A "pan" shot of the back of the Capitol. The striped awnings duplicate those that were on the windows in 1902 down to the exact shade of red. A great job of research in bringing the building to life.

The front vie virtually mirrors the rear view except for the intrusion of the top of the towering edifice that is part of the new Capitol.

The new Capitol, in all its charmlessness, is up and ready for occupancy - now to the restoration of the old to its 1902 look. The first thing is removal of the two wings on either end of the main building. These were later additions and had become rabbit warren fire traps in any case. 

The two wings are gone, the restoration is complete. If the new Capitol looks a bit grimy it's because close up it is. There is grime, paint peeling and cracking and general tattiness. It is not aging well. 

A "Pan" shot of the grand staircase leading from the front door entry to the second floor

We're in the rotunda - look up!

All those past governors and other very important people memorialized. 

Several rooms of all sorts of tidbits of state history. Nicely set up and annotated.

The Senate chamber exactly as it was in the day. Not nearly as ornate as some we've seen, but effective in its simplicity.

Tallahassee is in the rear view mirror and we are on the way to Pensacola located at the westernmost reaches of the Florida panhandle. We are taking the Gulf Coast Drive and will definitely be seeing oodles of water.

The actual scenic drive ends at Panama City, with Pensacola another 100, or so miles further off to the left of the map.

First stop is a visit to Carrabelle's claim to fame - the smallest police station in the world. Dr. Who's "Tardis" it's not.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday's one can pay $5 to climb to the top. The lighthouse, which is fully operational and doing its duty, is even taller than it appears here. Later, Norm's excuse to Pam for not making the climb was that he thought it was Tuesday.

Despite this, Norm still insisted he thought it was Tuesday and that this sign was not clear.

Our two favorite things at last, lotsa empty road and lotsa water - the beginning of the scenic drive.

How fitting that a pioneer in the field of refrigeration should have lived in Florida. His tombstone is hidden by the sign. 

The Gorrie Museum.

The actual device. Others profited from his invention as refrigeration transformed many 

aspects of our lives. Gorrie never profited and died disillusioned.

A little more than half way through the scenic drive.

Pam's a double-fisted happy camper!

We drove through a time change around Panama City - gained an hour back. Pam was excited at the thought to sleep an extra hour tomorrow until she was told (by Mensa Man) that the time goes back an hour again when we reach Atlanta tomorrow.  💤💤

Arrived at our hotel in Pensacola at 7:30pm (or 8:30 our time) in balmy 76 degree weather.