She's laid to rest

The S.S. United States was my departure of choice in the early summer of '68. She was then the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic. I boarded her from New York's City's, West Side terminal, and arrived in Le Harve, France after just four and half days at sea. Then in the following late afternoon, she docked into the port of Southampton, England, and from there, I set-out for a British education.

Today this famed and long retired ship, the S.S. United States, had faced years of being stripped naked. And with her 2 standing six-story high funnels now having finally been removed, last night she was scuttled and forever laid to rest along the bottom of coastal Florida's northern Gulf of Mexico.

  

 

 

 

John Chamberlain, artist, mentor, friend

Chamberlain was a mixed bag, an artist who made me smile, made me laugh. Taught me many things. One, on how to pace. John was always in motion, pacing inside and out. Taught me how to mix it up - counterclockwise, then clockwise. 

Arch of Lumps (below), shot in the early morning hours pacing at his 10 Coconut Studio, in Sarasota, Fla. Photo used for a Spanish exhibition poster (1984) and for a full page profile in Art In America. 

 

'Arch of Lumps' (A Tribute to an Act of Uncertainty, The Vietnam War) 1983. (click to enlarge)  

 

 

Floyd Street

Transition after moving to Floyd from Flamingo.

New abode on the left, hospital down at the end of the street. 

 

 

 

Now leasing an early Florida cracker-style cottage.

 

 

 

Shortly after our move-in, mid December 2024. A little chilly, no furniture, and a leaning bent holiday tree.

 

  

 Today's living room.

 

 

Miss Lolly, a Ridgeback member.

 

My office space out back. Group photo from my college years.

 

My first ever camera bought downtown, used, at Norton's Camera. Then, a Junior in High School (1967). Nikon's first production camera, the Nikon S (N1) rangefinder. Still have it, carried it through-out college.

 

 

 

My desk today out in the back house.

 

 

 

Pool house's outdoor, custom-made decorative shutters.

 

 

 

Outside my bedroom window, a common 'Snake' plant's florescence just prior to flowering. In Australia, it is considered a potential weed. In Brazil, it is referred to as "Saint George's Sword" (D. trifasciata). There, it is often planted to ward off evil spirits and used commonly as a protection against the "evil eye". 

 

 

 

Numerous Areca palms surround the property.

 

 

 

For now, home.

 

 

 

 

Old friend (motorcycle)

2002 Triumph Bonneville, my last motorbike. Rode her for 20 plus years, over 65,000 miles. Lost her with Hurricane Helene. 

2002 - 2024

 

 

 

Southern Georgia, back roads, heading for northern Alabama camping. 

 

Travelin' with a friend. Speeding. Pulled over near Plains, Georgia. 2010.

 

 

 

Worldwide member (BIR), Florida State Clan.

 

 

 

 North of Dade City, Fla. 

 

 

 

Riding out east. SR 72. DeSoto County, Fla.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two weeks on the road, cross-country, ridin' through northern Mexico. State of Chihuahua. 2003

 

 

 

Magazine article, "Motorcycle Diaries". On the road, Texas Hill Country, Blanco, Texas. 2004

 

 

 

"Motorcycle Diaries", searching for that famed "alien debris field". Roswell, New Mexico. 2004

 

 

 

Cold start. Heading out from a campout. Okeechobee, Fla. 2012

 

 

 

Last ride on the Bonneville, Myakka trails. Stopped, thought I saw a snake. Sarasota County, Fla. 2024

 

  

 

 

Old Friend (camera)

10 X 8 Gandolfi Field Camera, Cuban mahogany with leather bellows. Schneider 360mm Symmar-S lens. Majestic model 1200 aluminum tripod. Field camera custom ordered and hand-built by Fred Gandolfi after a shop visit and my return from England's Medway College of Design. 

Fred Gandolfi, second in from right. Borland Road, Peckham, London.

 

 

 

Covered a lot of ground together, thirty some years worth.

1976-1977  Black Studio Portraits (downtown studio, Sarasota, Fla.)

1977-2005  Florida Field Portraits (Southwest Florida)

1989-1990  Brazil Field Portraits (Rio de Janeiro - Pantanal, Brazil)

1997  Garden Portraits (Individual sub-tropical plants outside the home) Siesta Key, Fla.

1998  Cuban Street Portraits (Havana, Cuba) 

2007  "Mi Familia" (book project of family portraits) Siesta Key, Fla. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A long time comin’

Coming up on two years. (Bout’ a year and 9 months)

The after ....

 

 

and the after, after ... today, the property finally cleared.

 

 

 

 

 

Maine: Central Highlands

A low-key celebration of our country's 250th anniversary.

4th of July parade day, Sebec, Maine 

 

 

 

 

 

Village of Sebec (Wilson photo)

 

 

Cabin stay on Schoodic Lake.

 

'Wildlife Wilson'

 

 

 

Sandy & Santi (Wilson photo)