Day 5 Sunday October 16, 2016 To Sarasota FL and the Ringling

Today, Sunday, is the official first day of the Gator Mog... the Florida Morgan Owners Group tour of southern Florida.  Over the next seven days we will drive approximately 1000 miles in a long loop from Winter Haven to the west coast of Florida, then to the Keys and Key West, then up the east coast to West Palm Beach and on to Lake Mary, north east of Orlando.

This morning we applied the bumper cards to our cars which identify our participation in the tour to anyone who might be interested.

It says, 2016 Gator MOG, Florida Morgan Owners Group, South to Key West.

Since I don't have traditional bumpers on my car, some innovation was required.

But first a quick two block walk to get some magic bean juice.

Here's some good team work as Judy and Pat Buckley load a heavy bag on the luggage rack of their car.

Up the road now, following this lovely Morgan Aero 8, owned by Brian and Rosie Miller

We arrived at the Ringling, bought our tickets for the 1o'clock tour, and headed for lunch. 

Our group had space reserved on the deck -- we felt important.

Debbie and John Stanley plus Connie and Lance Lipscomb

After lunch we headed to the Ringling Circus Museum and the newer Tibbals Learniing Center.

A nice walk took us past the rose garden of Martha Ringling

Then to the Ca'D'Zan, winter home of John and Mable Ringling.

The building architecture and furnishing are very impressive.

The west side deck overlooking the bay.

The window glass had a different tint in each pane, giving the draperies the look of a tapestry.

The east side of the home is equally as impressive as the west side.

Banyon trees everywhere here.  Don't see these in Ohio!

The Learning Center had numerous displays of circus life.  This of Emmett Kelly, a famous

clown I can remember from my youth.

Central to the Learning Center is a display of the entire set up

of a circus big top and the support services/facilities it takes. 

This miniature is 3800 square feet in size.   

In all, it was a great day... about a hundred miles traveled, good things to see, and a nice evening dinner at a nearby seafood restaurant called the Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside. 

Tomorrow we head to Naples with a stop to see Henry Ford and Thomas Edison's winter estates.