Day 31 – 11/3/23 – The Great Loop in a C Dory 25

Starting location: Florence Harbor Marina, AL

Weather: Still cold, but slightly warmer. 34 in am. Sunny and high 60s later in day. Locals say this chill is atypical.

Ending location: same

Statute miles: 0

General summary: We booked the courtesy car from 8am-10am (two hour limit). Drove to Hellen Keller’s birthplace in Tuscumbia, AL. Very informative tour.

Dining room where the food fight really happened between Helen and her teacher, Annie Sullivan.

Actual water pump, in original location, where Helen learned to sign “water” and first made the connection between signing and communication.

I didn’t know that Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, was so instrumental in her life. His phone invention came about from trying to build something to aid his deaf mother and wife. He led her parents to the blind school where they found Annie Sullivan. He and Helen were lifelong friends after that.

There is an outdoor theater in the backyard, which recreates the house in a stage format, with bleacher seats across from it, where “The Miracle Worker” play is performed live in the summer. Would love to have seen it there.

On the way back to the marina we passed this building, where many famous artists have recorded music (Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, among others). One of Cher’s album cover pictures was taken in front. Known for the “muscle shoals” sound, from the group of musicians who owned the studio and performed musical backing for many. Had to get the car back in time, so couldn’t tour the studio.

Then, walked to the Rosenbaum House, the only house in Alabama designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. No pictures are allowed inside. Fantastic tour!

Example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s later post-depression Usonian (short for United States of North America) design.

We thought about trying to go to the Coon Dog Cemetery, in honor our our previous dog, Pepper, but it was a bit far away.

Tom made a very yummy Tex-Mex pork stew in the mini Instant Pot for dinner.

Boater information: Need car to get to most places. Walking into Florence was not very pedestrian friendly (no stoplights, crossings, and few sidewalks), but worth it.

Comments

One response to “Day 31 – 11/3/23”

kmub

November 12, 2023

Wow, what a day! I would have loved to have seen Helen Keller’s home – I was in our high school production of The Miracle Worker. I played Helen’s aunt. The dining room and the water pump give me goose bumps; seeing it in person would be incredible

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Day 31 – 11/3/23

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