Day 7 allahassee to Kissimmee
Me not being one to sleep late, was up at 5:30 today and got ready for the day. I gathered my items together and proceeded downstairs to put them in the truck while the wife was getting ready. As I turned thhe corner onthe first floor I see ED (P/P) and his wife. Turns out they had spent the night at the hospital due to Matty not feeling well. Ed had been in a chair al night doing the jello neck head bob, while Matty was being treated to help her feel better. Those two had decided they would stick around for a while until check out and get some good rest before meeting uo with us later.
I walked the hotel lot with the camera to get some shots that were difficult to get at the show with all the people around. After finishing my photo rounds, I went to finish packing the truck wtih the wifes items,and then to breakfast, which was now open. As we were setting down for that, Lon and Lauren (Vettegirl) arrived to join us. A short time later Circlek454 and his son arrived. I told tem we would be one short for the trip today, but that P/P and Matty would catch up later. WE ALL HOPED THINGS WOULD BE OK.
On the road I took the lead running east on I-10 and cruising about 70. I-10 was uneventful, except for a few double wides being transported. they obviously take up more room on the road. Once in a while they would vere off to one side to let traffic go by, and when they did they would fall off on the shoulder and kick up rocks sending them accross two or three lanes of traffic (ting, ting, short pause then ting again) spraying all the cool cars coming down the road including mine. Now we turned onto I-75 towards the Florida turnpike. We had cruised on I-75 at 75mph for a while when someone in a white van decided they wanted to be in my lane while I was still in it. NO BLINKER, NO LOOK OVER THE SHOULDER TO SEE IF ANY ONE WAS THERE JUST A SHARP TURN TOWARDS MY LANE AND MY SSR. I pulled of to the side as far as I could and laid on the horn. They quickly went back to there own lane, and as they did that my foot went down to the floor and we were off like a rocket., passing anything that wasn't in our way and around a curve. We flew passed two semi's and a few other vehicles doing about 95-100 just to get away from the person in the white van. I called JEFFDBFL near Gainesville, but they were quite a ways away yet, so we decided to meet up at Race Rock in Orlando for lunch. I then called Lon (mr vettegirl) and asked if he would take the lead for a while since he new this area better than I do. Lon had taken us right to the Race Rock (good job my man), but no Jeff. Called him on the phone, and he said, he had just left there cause he didn't see anyone, but would be there in about 5 minutes. The Race Rock is a must stop place for anyone into racing of any sort.
This place has racing memorabilia from monster trucks,nascar,swamp buggies,go carts, indy racing, formula 1, speed boats, motor cylcling, both high speed and motocross, drag racing, and more. not just pictures and suits, but whole vehicles hanging from the ceiling or on the walls, and it was everywhere you looked. really cool. We almost had to order for Circlek cause he was too busy drooling over all the racing stuff.
After lunch we left the rock and proceeded down the road, which was thought to take us back to the Turn pike to finish our trip. Needless to say it did take us there, but would have sent us back north instead of south, so another u-turn and back through Orlando to get on at the other end of town. Just a little sight seeing tour that the wife enjoyed.
Back on the roadwe continued to Kissimmee and Osceola Heritage park. Inside the park they were directing us towards the muddy grounds for parking. This didn't sit well with any of us. Well I had to cross what was a grassy field now turned to mud in order to get to the BFG trailer for display. When I got there I got out the water and towels to clean off the truck,but decided to leave the mud flaps alone. Too much mud on them to clean with a towel.
We made our rounds to the vendor to ensure our long hauler status, and met up with the group as we did that. Later on as the door prizes were about to start, we noticed everyone walking away from the main stage. As it turns out, they had arranged to do the prizes indoors at the silver spur arena. IT'S good thing they did, because shortly after they had started the awards they anounced that the skies had opened up as Tropical storm Arlene was due west of Kissimmee.
The wife was tired and we needed to find our hotel again, so I called P/P to get directions to get there, since he had already left and found it. I followed them the way he reported them,and as we were to make our seci=ond turn onto Osceola parkway there were no signs and constuction everywhere. well we proceeded straight hoping to find the parkway, but instead came up on hwy 4, whoops too far. Another u-turn and back towards the other roads. The wifes says this looks like it might be it, so I turn right and what do I see, but a Hunter Creek estate sign, oops wrong turn again, another uey and another right turn, now back on the main road. I come to the next light and said look at the map cause I'm turnin here and want to know if the raod on the map is the same shape as what we were traveling. The response after a long pause, I think so. Ok now there's a toll coming up. No one said anything about going through a toll to get there. Better ask the toll person where we were. She said next exit past the toll. $1.50 to go 1/2 mile. Anyway we turned onto 535 west to get back to 192 and got there fine. Now the map says it should be a short ways down but disn't specify which side. Now it's raining again and dark,and in construction,( boy i'm getting a headache).
We drove for a few miles and decided this was too far, so I called vettegirl (thinking they were at our same hotel) and he put the desk person on toget me back to where they were, another uey and headed north again, while still on the phone in the rain and construction with traffic, suddenly the wife yells out there it is, as I come to a SCREECHING HAULT almost jumping a curb. I see the tiny little unlit sign that reads double tree resorrt at the end of a small drive. Sharp turn down the drive, and I'm thinking these look like Condos not a resort hotel. After the brick driveway was the entence and resort desk. We finally check in and drop our stuff in the 3 room condo with full ammenities, then headed for the in house restaraunt where Ed P/P and Matty were already eating all the while I had vettegirl on the phone to see if they had eaten yet or had plans. The conclusion was to have dinner here and tip a few beers to relax. We swapped stories until they kicked us out as they wanted to close up for the night.
We exchanged gracious parting words and hopes that all would be well, and have safe traveling home. We all agreed we would share our trip stories with the fanatic club when we got home.
I appoligize to anyone I may have offended by telling these stories to everyone, but thought the whole group would get a kick out of our trials and tribulatons along the way. Happy motroring.
PS. The Power Tour will make an east cost run next year, starting in Kissimmee through Georgia, the Carolina's, Virginia and to Englishtown New Jersey. Start planning now, and I hope to make next years run too.
:thumbs
