just chillin'

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After a great visit with Kim, James and Luke over Christmas in Milton we returned here to Gasparilla Marina for the New Year.

We had intended to be well on our way south by now but Florida has been in the grips of a 2 week cold snap that has us huddled around our electric heater in the marina. This morning it was only 4f warmer here than in Sauble Beach!

We will be on our way on Tuesday - finally!

Earlier this week we spent a full day at the Ringling Estate in Sarasota. After reading "Water for Elephants" we really wanted to see their circus museum and thoroughly enjoying the visit.

Happy New Year to you all!

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Photos

with Luke
Christmas in Milton with Kim, James and Lukas

Kim & Luke
all rugged up to watch the Olympic torch pass through Milton

Olympic torch
the Olympic torch on its way to Vancouver

miniature circus
this building houses a miniature circus that is very impressive

side shows
the walkway around the display takes you on a tour of the Ringling Brothers circus as it would have been in the early 1900's when it travelled around the eastern US by train

under the big top
amazingly, most circus stops were for just one day - the logistics of setting up and taking down, moving all the performers and animals each day is staggering

circus wagon
one of the many wagons used to parade through the town to announce the arrival of the circus

human cannonball
this was a favourite circus act!

Ringling mansion
the circus made the brothers wealthy but oil and real estate made them rich..until the crash of 1929 - John Ringling has $300 in the bank when he died

osprey
we have 2 osprey families nesting and fishing in the marina

Comments

[Bill and Audrey]

Happy New Year
thanks for the Christmas card...we are just getting over bad colds..hope to leave for Florida around the 20th...stay till late April...we will be in Bradenton..cell 519 524 3434...also hope to have e-mail too...stay warm and sail safe...Bill

[Ruth Dunlop]

Happy New Year!
Hi Marlene and Ian...It is great to hear of your travels....what a neat way to record and follow your adventures....and the pictures make it so meaningful....isn't retirement wonderful!...Take Care, Ruth