Drifus' Travels

Becky was first to head downstairs, I showered and then went downstairs. This time she was making waffles and sausage, another favorite of mine. She had noticed my degree of sunburn from the previous day and asked me if it hurt to which I replied “no not at all”. So we talked about going to the Daytona 500 and what time we should leave etc. I mentioned that I needed to go to a Best Buy or similar store as I had forgotten a charge cord for my phone. So we added that to the list and headed out shortly after some TV watching.

The stop at Best Buy was uneventful other than arriving 10 minutes before they opened. I quickly found what I needed and headed back to the car.

Next stop was Daytona; we decided not to get burdened with traffic, so the game plan was to arrive after the race started. Well we arrived at about lap 20. We had to take a long road to a distant lot, then a bus to the speedway. The up about 3.5 stories of stairs (which heights are not my thing), then across a gang plank of sorts and then up to our seats. We were smart to grab something to eat and some drinks before the hike up. Well we saw some wrecks, some serious drafting and just good old racing. I got a few pictures and some short movies with my camera. Well at about lap 120 we decided to go, didn’t want to sit in hours of traffic. After we left the race we headed back to Orlando and to a local place for dinner.

We went to High Tide Harry’s, the LIIT tea was not all that great, food was decent, and the company was the best part. After dinner we went back home and watched a movie on the IFC, it was about vampires, corny and nothing special. After the movie Becky gave me a kiss and headed to bed about 8:30, I have been up about 2 more hours trying to get my dumb phone to connect my laptop to the Internet. Tomorrow I think it will just be a trip to the beach and save NASA for another visit. I had mentioned to Becky since she has to work Tues, that it was fine if we did little to nothing so she could get whatever she needed done or if she wanted to relax. I also mentioned that she could take me to the airport in the morning as I was sure I could find something to occupy my time. We shall see.

Well I woke up early but I did not hear Becky stirring and I was still tired so I went back to sleep. I did eventually hear her getting ready, so I did the same. I got done and went downstairs to find cooked bacon, biscuits in the oven and eggs ready to be made. Scrambled they were and good they tasted. Well we finished sooner than she had planned so we caught some of the Today Show.

We eventually headed out and went to Tom & Jerry’s Air Boat Tour. I thought it would be more of a “ride” than a tour but I really enjoyed the stops we made and I took a lot of pictures, crocs, a Snail Kite (bird) and some herrings etc. It was a very informative tour and Capt. Jim was a lot of fun. We did do what I would call a jet wash but I think it was more of an aqua-donut. We might have done more interesting maneuvers but our boat was full. Regardless if you are in Orlando you have to take a tour. Plus you can also hold and pet a baby gator, way cool! After the tour we headed to GatorLand, which is everything gator, gator wrestling, gator jumping etc.

Here is another place where you could spend at least a few hours and take a lot of pictures. We tried to see the gator wrestling but it was too crowded, but from what I could hear I think it was more gator-cation, still sounded good. After that we headed over to another part of the park and saw the Jumping Gator show. This is not the time of year for gators as they are cold blooded reptiles and need warmth in order to get motivated. The show is funny and the jokes aren’t bad, but the gators disappointed. After that we took the nature walk around GatorLand and read some of the signs that pointed out things in the area. Never saw any wildlife to take pictures of but it was nice, plus I got a back shot of Becky with her long hair. I did snap 2 others while here are the park, she is camera shy so I must be more stealthy. After the nature walk we headed to the other end of GatorLand where there used to be aquariums, well those have been removed and they had a huge cage with Burmese Pythons, there was one there that I am guessing was upwards of 20’. Well after snapping their pics it was time to go as we were getting tired and I think the sunburn was getting to us.

Next Stop was a place called Old Town, in Kissimmee; here you can find a Fun Spot which is what I would describe as a permanent but quality carnival, all rides and games and well kept. Old Town is just what is it, a place that looks like 1887, cobblestone streets etc. Well I guess every Sat. they have a car show/parade; well we were early enough that we got to see all of the cars parked, there were a lot of your standard fare of muscle cars and street rods. There was an Amphicar there which always intrigues me, there were a few late 60’s Toyota Cornas an Austin Healey, two MG’s and a Triumph. So after the cars we walked the 2 blocks of Old Town, we began to smell food and it was sounding good. Of what we saw there wasn’t quite what we had in mind but it did smell good.

So we left and headed to a place called Tu Tu Tango, the cuisine if like what you would see on the Food Channel. Things that you don’t quite think would go together but when it arrives at your table it quite delicious. We shared a Strawberry Salad, Curry Chicken Skewers and a flat bread pizza. For dessert she had the Fudge Brownie Sundae and I had a Rocky Road Cookie.

Well after dinner we went back home and both felt really tired and thought we would catch a movie on TV. Well about 20 minutes in Becky said she was tired and I said to her that if she wanted to go up then go, she did not have to entertain me. So a quick kiss and she headed up, about 20 minutes later I grabbed a glass of water and headed to bed as well. 8:30 and heading to my room? Well I wrote all of this, I am sunburned and this is more air and walking then I get at home in 6 months. Well off to some reading and then to bed with me.

Tammy took me to the airport (Thanks) I made it through TSA without issues and only had my pockets patted down. Made it down to the gate and had plenty of time so I grabbed a water and pretzel. ($5.65, not bad at all I thought). So finally it was time to board the plane.

Just before that we were offered to check in our bags as it was a full flight. I passed, if you’re going to allow 2 carry-ons per person then have the room on the plane. Well some people were nice and agreed to check in their bags (at least it was no cost) I silently thanked them. So I make it down to my seat 29F, which on this flight was the second to last row on the plane. So I am sitting there for a short time and then my other seat mates show up. A guy about my size maybe a little thinner and his petite with of maybe 5′. So he sits next to me and eventually we began to talk and it turns out they too are also going to the Daytona 500 on Sunday. So we made some small talk about racing and where we each lived, they were from Chester, Il. So about half way through the flight his legs were getting sore and he and his wife changed seats. So she and I had even a shorter talk and she is a school teacher.

Now what I did not mention is that there is this girl in front of me to the left, she is somewhere between 14-17 years old. Her mom is to her right and her brother to the left. I can’t ever make out what she is saying but I got the impression that she was nervous about flying. I could see the anxiety when she turned to her mom. She would flutter her hands in the air in from of her and then run her hands down the side of her head. I could see the terror in her expressions, I had contemplated talking to her as I know a few things about anxiety but society has issues when men talk to girls. So I just sat there and felt bad for her, I was glad for her our flight was only 2 hours and that she remained calm enough that the flight attendants did have the plane return to land anywhere else.

Ok so the plane has landed and I text Becky and relay the same. While I am making my way towards her she calls me as she thought I was past security at the airport where she was. Well it turns out that you have to t where she was. Well it turns out that you have to take a tube to another concourse where people can meet their arrivals. So I got there and looked around and there she was, long blond hair and a warm friendly smile, I know it made me feel good. So we embraced and had two short kisses and began the journey to the car. I say journey as there is this walkway from the concourse to the garage that was broken so we had to take a rather long way around but made it to the car nonetheless.

So we talked about her recent move to Orlando and discussed dinner which I declined as I just did not feel hungry. Well we made it to her place, it’s very nice and because the real estate market in Florida is so bad she is renting what would be a condo for sale. So we talked for a short time and then decided a movie was a good way to unwind. After looking to see what was available we decided to watch Zack and Miri Make a Porno, a Kevin Smith movie. I was wondering what this says about Becky or our first re-encounter. It said nothing which is fine and the movie is pretty decent. So after the movie she shows me my room and I get settled in and off to la la land I went.