Daytona

It is reported that 185,002 tourists migrated to this area this week. 185,000 came for the Daytona 500. Barb and I are just migrating to the space shuttle launch. Traffic was heavy as we drove south. Cars and pickups, with the colors and numbered flags mounted outside their windows, flew by us, vicariously competing in their own NASCAR race. As we checked into our condo, we were presented a NASCAR welcome packet. It really didn’t compete with the welcome basket at the Oscars but we did accept them. The plastic bags contained the products of NASCAR sponsors. Goody’s pain reliever had the likeness of Richard Petty on the package. There was also toothpaste and even a Harlequin romance novel, Speed Dating by a Nancy Warren. Something for the fans to digest as they sit by the pool and swill their Bud Light (not provided). Good ol' boys from all over the U.S. are numerous here basking in the opportunity to attend what they determine to be a milestone experience in their lives.

Our condo, located on the beach just north of Daytona (Ormond Beach) is a studio complete with a Murphy bed. It is not much bigger than our RV but our condo association found this place for us as we migrate south, hopefully rendezvousing with the space shuttle launch. The Atlantic churns against a white and somewhat red beach just below our balcony and only a modest pool lies between our condo and the beach. It was 84 degrees today. It is 8 p.m. and the door to the balcony is wide open, allowing the sea breezes in. We will be O.K. here. This picture is me grilling a steak by the pool.

We are not NASCAR fans. I have often questioned how one can sit and watch cars go around a 2 mile circle for 2 1/2 hours. But I am not one to judge. In one of my last days in China I sat between a Scot and an Irishman as they both berated American football, offering justification after justification as to why international football (soccer) is far superior in athleticism, skill, endurance, teamwork and entertainment. Who am I to judge?

Anyway, we will travel the 8 miles into Daytona tomorrow. Is there a chance that we will become fans?????

By the way we received news that the space shuttle will not launch before February 27. We don’t know when we are coming home.