THE BEERS' GREAT LOOP TRIP ABOARD HUMBUG: Thanksgiving and Sarasota

HUMBUG stayed in Gulfport, which is right next to St. Petersburg, from November 25 until the morning of December 10. During that time, we rented a car, picked up our friends Hiromi,and Mike and dog Sydney, from "Off Leash," who were staying at St. Pertersburg Municipal Marina, and traveled to Odessa, Florida just north of Tarpon Springs, for Thanksgiving.

Our Thansgiving 2013 house

There we met Bob, Lorretta and dog Shaina from"Carol Anne," at a house that had been loaned to Bob by friends in New York. It was a funky "Old Florida" place - low ceilings and small, dark rooms, but on a lovely fresh water lake.

Dark living room

Den

Thanksgiving table

Loretta and Hiromi in the kitchen

Before dinner

Hiromi & Mike

Sydney (L) & Shaina (R)

We had a great time cooking together and the dogs had fun playing with the neighbor's Great Dane.

Shaina and new friend

Pete and I realized that this was the first Thanksgiving either of us had ever spent without some members of our families present. but we've spent so much time and had so much fun with Bob, Loretta, Hiromi and Mike, that it certainly felt like a family gathering.

The Monday after Thanksgiving, we flew home to Mystic for doctor and dentist appointments made months before. We stayed only until Friday morning, then scooted out in front of a coming ice storm. That day we drove to just south of Washington, DC and the next day to Jacksonville. After that, we spent a night in Mt. Dora, FL, visiting my 91 & 92-yr old parents, and finally made it back to the boat on Monday.

Tuesday morning, we were on our way to our next port of call, Sarasota.

Sunshine Bridge which spans Tampa Bay

Our marina in downtown Sarasota

While in Sarasota, we visited the Ringling complex which consists of an art museum, a circus museum, gardens, a library and Ca' d' Zan, Mabel and John Ringling's winter residence.

John and Mabel were circus owners, art collectors and financiers. They bought property in Sarasota in 1927 and moved the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey combined shows there.

Entrance to Circus museum

Circus in miniature

Upon John's death in 1936, the museum, art collection and Ca' d' Zan (house of John) were left to the State of Florida. Since then, the complex has grown to include the circus museum, the theater and the library. It's a fascinating way to spend a day.