So my final trip of the fall for conferences was to Orlando Florida for the SLOAN - C Annual conference and to Tampa for a workshop on appreciative advising. Both conferences were great and I came back with several new ideas for work. While in Florida I took a few opportunities to explore. This year I opted not to visit Disney World. Last year, I went scuba diving at Epcot's Dive Quest. This is a great experience where you get to go behind the scenes at EPCOT and scuba dive in the aquarium.
This year a couple colleagues and I went to Universal Orlando to experience the world of Harry Potter, Hogsmead and Hogwarts.
While in Hogsmeade we tried Butterbeer. If you have not read the books this is a drink that many in the wizarding world drink. This concoction tastes like butterscotch cream soda with a light marshmellow cream head.
We also went on the three rides in Hogwartz. The Dragons Challenge is a very fast feet dangling roller coaster race. The Flight of the Hippogriff is a kids roller coster. The big ride is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey provides a tour of Hogwarts Castle and a ride on a combo motion simulator movie with live action plots mixed in between. The ride was well worth the trip. Also included in Hogsmeade is the Three Broomsticks, Zonko's Joke Shop, Honneydukes Candy Shop, as well as both Dervish and Banges clothing store and Olivanders Wand shop.
In between conferences in Florida I rented an ST1300 for a day and went for a ride. Not planning too far in advance I rented from Eagle Rider and was fortunate to not rent a Harley. I had 26 hours on a 24 hour contract. (The advantage of renting on the weekend changing from day light savings time to standard time) I got an extra hour which of course I used. My first plan was to ride to both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts but didn't quite make it. I did however make it out to the Kennedy Space Center.
I made it to the Atlantic Ocean and rode up the coast to Daytona Beach. Of course being from Oregon and it being November, I thought for sure it would be warm. Temps were in the upper 60's when I left but by the time I got to Daytona Beach the temps dropped down into the 40's. My jeans, polar fleece vest and leather jacket were no match for the cold. I stopped in a tee shirt shop, picked up a hoody and two more tee shirts and with several layers rode back to Orlando. I also stopped at a mega store for hand warmers for my pockets. Of course, it's Florida, they don't need any stinking hand warmers. But since the Florida population is made up of senior citizens, they had plenty of Thermacare Heat Wraps. Oh, the wonders of the heat wrap. If you have not used one while riding. I highly recommend it. The last 8 hours of riding the temps started out in the upper 30's and warmed up into the 60's by the time I turned in the motorcycle. 26 hours... 650 miles. Not too bad!
He speaks! ...er Blogs!
ReplyDeleteHow fun, renting the 1300. Great way to go exploring. Too bad about the cold weather. We have sales staff at a trade show in Orlando this week. I guess they are getting cool temps as well. It's just wrong to go to Florida and not get warm, balmy weather!