Barber Motosports Museum (5/15/2023 Monday)

Breakfast at Shoneys ended my suspension that they didn't survive covid-19. Light on mid-morning weekday customers, but still serving a breakfast bar worth eating. Shoneys was about 40 minutes out of the way, but I reached the museum around 1020 (they opened at 1000).

The museum is overwhelming. First I walked outside to see the track and sculptures. Assuming it was as cool as it would ever be. That was a good call. The grounds are really nicely carved into the hillside with the race track. Unique sculptures to surprise the visitors not watching the passing cars. Bridges over the track in two spots allow for bird's eye views. The bridge section directly over the track each have sections with glass floors.

Taking their advice, I started on floor 5 and worked my way systematically down. That took almost 4 hours. I took pictures of anything I had heard of, or knew someone that liked the object.

Very happy to have found the video looping theater room to learn how the private collection went on display in 1980, and enjoyed a meteoric rise to this magnificent facility. Wow.

The store provided a sticker, shirt and new neckercheif. I had collected my jacket and hydration pack from the coat room, only to put them back just to confirm I saw everything.

The museum was open a few more hours, but I felt I was done. An evening thunderstorm loomed, but I had a few hours to reach camp. First I used Google maps to locate some twisty roads loosely on my way back. Then found a Panera Bread to enjoy a coffee and snack. Their wifi enabled me to upload all of the pictures. And post Anne's most recent blog entry. Lastly choose a pkace for dinner. And finally a race to beat the storm.

I placed items into the tent, collected my chair under the tarp and changed into sandals, just as the rain hit. I had taken my umbrella off the bike, but decided I should go back to the bike for the Aloe Vera. That got my pant cuffs wet, but I stayed dry. Sitting under my tarp in thunder and lightning was not ideal but beat every other alternative. One concern was the river of water leaving my tarp, pooling and becoming an infinity edge pool toward my tent. A quick look confirmed some pooling around the tent. It could be ugly in the tent, but if it is bad I can switch to the hammock for tonight. Nice to have options. Forecast still showing the worst storms will pass overhead in the next hour.

Now that I don't have a destination for Tuesday, I contacted my nephew. He would prefer I head over his way and see my middle step brother too. So that is my new Tuesday plan.