Official Start of the Daytona Bike Week

Friday was one of the best Ormond by the Sea weather days we have experienced. I biked down to Main Street were most of the Bike Week Activities take place and took a few pictures. It was busy but not crowded at the time. HR describes the remainder of the day.

HR SAYS: I spent a good part of today sitting in my favorite room with a bucket on my lap, another sick day. When Ron & Arabella arrived Gord was off on a bike ride. He returned within the hour and I sent them off to catch the sights on Main St, Daytona, as there was nothing they could do for me. I had a nap, felt better and started nibbling on food items Gord had purchased on nurse Arabella’s advice. Felt even better when I showered, got dressed and did a few things around the condo. Gord showed up about 7 PM without our house guests to check in on me. He cooked himself a pizza. It looked so good but I kept nibbling on my special food. I knew by the end of the day the situation would be better and it was.

Gord was checking out his emails when we had a surprise call on Skype from Captain Hot Shot Gerry and Hotette Sybil from the Travel Lodge in Winchester, VA. They just finished their first day traveling from Ottawa in the pouring rain headed for Indian Rock Beach. Nice to know they got there.

Ron & Arabella arrived at the condo about 9 PM after their outing on Main St. We chit chatted till midnight and called it a day. I might add both Ron & Gord had camera’s full of interesting pictures which you see on the blog.

Today is suppose to be a warm day but not looking good for the days ahead, so we will be spending the day out enjoying the sights of the day.

Today’s pictures are of Bike Week, it is a people show including a Wet T-Shirt contest photo for the Captain.

Thursday in Ormond by the Sea was a beautiful day, sunny, warm, with few clouds in the sky. The temperature remained in the mid 70's. Today is the official opening day of the Daytona Bike Week festivies. There are many more motorcycles in the area, mostly Harley Davidson's with no mufflers and old farts driving with their Biker Mama's hanging on for dear life, some young, some middle aged cougars and some, well you know what I mean.

HR says: We did some cleaning and cooking as we had Bernice & John for dinner and cards. It was a very nice evening. My newly found recipe of spaghetti was enjoyed by all. The girls beat the guys in the first two games and the guys insisted on another two games which they won..we ended it there.

Mid day we biked to Publix to pick up some groceries and then took a nice long walk on the beach. The water is getting noticably warmer as the temp rises.

We expect friends from Melbourne Beach, Ron & Arabella, this weekend as we will take in the sights on Main St, Daytona. It should prove to be very interesting and very busy. Check in with us as we will post our pictures.

Today's picture is our version of Bike Week.

Wednesday's weather in Ormond by the Sea was sunny, cool, with a stiff wind blowing off the water, but still a short pants and golf shirt day. A bit of a slow day with a long bike ride in the morning, a walk to the Publix and a beach walk in the afternoon.

Today's picture is of a fisherman found in front of a bait shop, notice the similarity to our Melbourne Beach fisherman.

Tuesday was a nice Ormond by the Sea day, sunny, light wind off the water, with a temperature of 70 F. Four of us visited the Blue Springs State Park to view the Manatees. At the park entrance we were told that Walt Disney World was releasing a Manatee into the wild after 8 years with Disney. Before releasing Bock into the warm water of the Blue Springs. The Disney crew took some statistics, measurements, an ultrasound, of the 1034 pound mannal and inserted a satalite tracking device. The pictures will show Bock with the Disney crew working on him prior to his release. He was pulled out of the truck and to the water by the crew dragging him on a tarp.

The first pictures you will show the Manatees in the warm spring water where they like to stay till the river water warms up. One picture shows a school of Manatees at the top of the picture. We were told there are times when there are many more. Just as we were about to leave we caught a glimpse of an alligator resting comfortably on the shore of the spring.

Here are a couple of websites with information on Blue Springs State Park and Manatees:
http://www.planetdeland.com/bluesprings/
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/
What is a Manatee you ask, check out this website: http://www.manatees.net/

You will notice how clear the water of the spring is, a very nice visit. My Brother John and I played twilight golf at the Riviera Country Club followed by dinner at the Condo.

Monday was a sunny, windy and cool day. The wind was blowing off the water and the temperature only 62 F. It was warm on the back deck out of the wind. Helene is still recovering from whatever bug she is fighting. A slow day but we did walk to the local grocery store. The high winds brought out the kite surfers who sailed south on the sea. They stop at a life guard station and get picked up and travel back north and kite surf back the beach again.

Today's pictures are taken from the Condo balcony of the kite surfers. It looks like a fun thing, if I were younger I would like to try it.

Sunday was a great Ormond by the Sea weather day, sunny, a light breeze and 76 F. Saturday evening while sitting on the back deck enjoying a cocktail we met a couple from Michigan. They were on there way to Church and invited us to join them on Sunday. We met at 930 AM and headed to the Beach Side Church, a non denominational service. It was very upbeat with a gospel rock band, with power point presentations of all songs and scriptures. Very casual, jeans, shorts, T-shirts, ball caps with coffee and pastries available. A new experience, we will go back.

Yesterday was the second Sunday in a row that I got deathly sick, a little confused that it was food poisoning or a bug, I think the later. It came about both times right after breakfast eating the same thing, needless to say I have changed the breakfast menu, no more oatmeal or peanut butter, for starters. Another Sunday like this and I'll be ready to pack and head back to Ottawa. It is amazing how a body can violently react to toxin, my first such experience but I am sure some of you know. Our time here in Florida is almost half way through and really do want to enjoy the next month. Eventually I did get to settle in my bed with the TV to entertain me..love that Hallmark channel and then an evening with the Oscars from Barbara Walter's special, red carpet to the end of the Oscars..enjoyed them..got to see the movies now.

Today's pictures are carried over from Saturday's adventure on Main Street in downtown Daytona as they prepare for Bike Week 2009. Notice the age of the bikers, old farts.

Saturday was a much nicer day, sunny in the low 70's F. We headed out to the Daytona Flea and Farmers Market. Along the way we visisted Bruce Rossmeyer's Harley Davidson dealership. He is reported to be the largest volume Harley Davidson dealer in Florida. The bikes are beautiful. The store had every Harley Davidson piece of chrome, clothing line for men, women, children and pets. Onward to the Flea Market which covers a large area with sheds for the vendors and an outdoor aution tent. There was a large variety of items, mostly new and from China. Lots of knock offs. Upon our return we discovered another Volkswagon show and shine in a park along the Halifax River. There were some neat cars, most having their engines tweeked and loud boom boxes. Our last stop was along Main Street where the Bike Week activities take place. The early bird crew are in town. The vendors are setting up. Next week will be interesting. Another stop for some groceries and home for our afternoon walk on the beach. It was now cocktail time, basking in the afternoon sun on the back deck with a glass of wine. The days are getting noticibaly longer.

Todays pictures are from yesterdays activities.

Friday was sunny, windy and cold, only 54 F but still shorts and sandals with a fleece top. We went out and about to a Volkswagan gathering. They had several vintgage VW's all tweeked out. They all resembled the Beetles, some vans, carmen gias, but had engines that Dyno'd out over 300 HP. My first car was a 62 VW, blue with white leatherette interior with 40 HP. I still have fond memories of the car, it was ahead of its time, with a fast front and back with a 4 speed, no radio at the time. This gathering was a swap, buy and sell with the people exchanging VW experiences. I must mention the on site Hooter's, family restaurant cateering services. The girls were covered up in blankets because of the cold. We are starting our fourth week in Florida, where does time go. We are off to the reported largest Florida Flea Market in the vicinity of the Daytona race track.

Todays picture is the sunrise from the balcony this morning and a VW that caught my attention.

PS There were no Anglia's or Vauxhall's at the VW gathering. I added another picture of a potential trade deadline prospect for the Ottawa Senator's who I thing should be brought to Brian Murray's attention.

Thursday morning it rained most of the morning along the coast. It was still warm with a light breeze off the land. Barbara and Leroy, an old high school friend from Ottawa came over to the Condo for breakfast. We enjoyed a casual breakfast with lots of tea, coffee and good conversation. They left in the early afternoon to pack and prepare for their return trip to Ottawa. We walked the beach which is always alive with activity. Brother John dropped by and we caught up with his news of the day.

Todays pictures are of our guests and of our beach walk. We meet a young family from Alexandria Bay NY, tough kids wading in the 60 F water. The bottom picture is for Captain Hotshot who wants some girls picures and not some old farts fishing.

Wednesday was a great Florida weather day, sun, a light breeze with temperatures in around 80 F. What to do, relax, read, cross words, sukodu, walk the beach or bike ride or all of the above. I started off with a bike ride and dropped into two consignment shops, interesting junk, actually looking for paperbacks. We walked the beach and waded in the rollers breaking on shore. Later in the afternoon we drove the A1A to Ponce Inlet where the A1A ends. Across from Ponce Inlet is New Smyrna Beach. There is a small beach bar on the wharf. We enjoyed appetizers with beer and wine. On our return we stopped in Daytona and met with Barbara and Leroy from Ottawa,who are vacationing and returning on Friday. The days just skip by.

Todays pictures are from yesterdays adventure. The two fishers are from New York and when asked about taking their picture, one replied "well I am in the witness protection program", a great sense of humor. The others are from Ponce Inlet, the bar, marina and lighthouse.

Tuesday was a sunny day with a light wind off the water with the temperature around 68 F. Helene still not feeling a 100%. We walked 4 miles (return) to the Publix grocery store. The walk took what little energy she had. She decided to relax in the sun by the pool for the afternoon. I played walk on, twight light golf at the Riviera Country Club. The evening was causual with Helene making a few telephone calls back home to Canada.

Todays picture is of Helene by the pool and of a hawk doing some fishing on the beach.

Monday, we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. It was a very windy day with the wind blowing off the water making for a cool day. The Voitel's arrived from Lady Lake and we enjoyed catching up over lunch at our Condo. Later in the afternoon, we met up with them again at the Daytona Hilton with their son Daniel, Lisa and daughter Madelen. Lisa's dad and his wife were there as well. We all went for a walk on the famous Daytona Beach.

Helene is still not up to speed.

Today's pictures are of the Voitel's, Madelen and Lisa and Dayton Beach.

Sunday, what a difference a day makes. It was grey and overcast and cool all day. There was talk of postponing the Daytona 500 race because of rain. It was just a lazy day. We headed out for a walk to get the Sunday paper. Helene was not feeling well and we returned to the Condo. She must have picked up food poisioning or a flu bug. The remainder of the day was spent in bed. I watched the rain shortened Daytona 500 race on TV.

We are expecting friends for lunch and looking forward to meeting with them.

Todays picture was taken of this mornings sunrise from the Condo balcony.

Saturday, Valenties Days was a special Florida weather day. The beach was full, sun bathers, sand castle builders, kite flyers, fishers, walkers, joggers and shore water waders. We went to seven(7)yard sales in the Ormond Beach area. We saw lots of junk,some nice items but nothing we were looking for. I spoke to family in Cape Breton and Ottawa, all is well. Last evening, we enjoyed a lovely meal at the Olive Garden in Daytona with Gord's brother, John and Bernice. Fortunately, we had reservations, people were lined up when we entered and and when we left. We ended the evening back a our Condo for chocolate coated strawberries, chocholate iced mocha cakes, topped with a ciminamon heart and champagne. The evening temperature was a comfortable 70 F. Another great day in Ormond by the Sea.

Today is Race Day for the Daytons 500.

Todays picture is our outside pool at the Ocean House Condo. The pool water is warming up with the rising temperatures of the past few days.

Happy Valenties Day folks, enjoy the day and do something special for your other half.
Friday, another Florida day, cloudy with a little overcast and a temperature in the mid 70's F. I biked to downtown Daytona. It is interesting to see the city fill up with race fans. We went to the shopping areas and looked around. Monday is President's Day and there are all kinds of sales. We did make a purchase of a coffee maker.

Lorraine and Charmaine are in Arichat (Cape Breton) to celebrate Gramma's, 94th birthday. Happy 94th birthday Gramma.

Todays pictures are of a restaurant road sign, which reads: "Free gas with the baked beans Race week only", and a kayka'er on the beach taken from the Condo balcony.