Back From My Long Weekend In Orlando With Some Pics>>>>>

[JBHII]

Friday morning I flew down to Orlando to see my father for a long weekend. Thanks to the direct flight from Dayton, I flew out about 8am, landed about 10:30am, grabbed the bags, drove to my father's place, unpacked and was pool side by about 2pm.

On the way to the club house and pool, I noticed what I thought was a gator and some turtles sunning themselves next to the pool - but I only had my point and shoot camera with me, so this is the only shot I got on Friday:



So I kicked back and enjoyed the pool, and decided I'd bring my DSLR tomorrow:



Saturday was just beautiful! Not a cloud in the sky!



This pontoon plan made a few take offs and landings on the lake:





I was hoping that gator would make it back out, but the only visitors to the local wildlife sunbathing spot were these turtles:



But I kept a lookout....hmmm....waitaminute....what is that I see in the water?



Yep....my buddy was back!







I decided to go out into the grass and try to get a closer shot! I crept up behind him.....closer....closer.....closer....here was the best shot I got. Did I get too close?



I also got a great shot of this blue heron:



Sunday my father and I went over to the IWJG Orlando show...it's one of the biggest in the country run by IWJG. I got to meet face to face with our very own Ed Delgado for the first time (Vintage Rolex Moderator) and saw a few familiar faces as well. Here's a shot of John Brozek, author of The Rolex Report (you can click here to read the review I did of this book):



I also got to meet many of the "Big" Rolex pre-owned/vintage dealers, including Robert Maron, the new head of Antiquorum.

The show was of course down a bit this year due to the economy, but there was still a good 1/2 billion dollars of product on display....more double red Sea-Dwellers, Comex divers, Bond Subs, and Mil Subs than I've ever seen in one place...if it was high end Rolex, it was in this show. In terms of what I bought though, I was pretty conservative and thanks to John Brozek I got a good deal on an item for my Rolex curio cabinet - I think it looks pretty good on the top shelf:





I got a smokin' great deal on this sign, and I've been looking for one forever! I flew back home Monday....it was a very enjoyable weekend!

[Wolfdog]

Welcome back John and thanks for the virtual tour!
Man, you were just a few hours south of me and I didn't even know you were in the neighborhood.
You got lucky, coming down during a warm and sunny spell, as it's been unbearably cold and overcast often, lots of cold rains too.

That little gator must have been in gator-heaven, finally getting to bask in the sunshine after several hard freezes here this winter.
Glad to hear you had such a great time while down here.
Finances and health allowing, we'll have to meet up during one of your trips south at some point.

Thanks again for the pictorials and feedback on the show.
One of these days I hope to check out the shows down south of me too, have not yet been to one.
Looks like good times, to be sure, especially if you have some cash on hand when something nice calls out.

[JBHII]

Bryan - my Admin Team didn't even know I was going anywhere until Thurs. When I have a compressed trip anywhere, I tend to keep it on the QT - I hate to say no to someone who wants to get together, but my agenda was packed this trip. There's always next time!

[Wolfdog]

Bryan - my Admin Team didn't even know I was going anywhere until Thurs. When I have a compressed trip anywhere, I tend to keep it on the QT - I hate to say no to someone who wants to get together, but my agenda was packed this trip. There's always next time!

No worries, John, just keep the pictures coming!
When I go on a weekend getaway, I don't usually want to be bothered with picture taking, so that alone is a nice thing to share.
Just glad the weather was good to you, especially since it's pouring buckets down here last night and today.

[JBHII]

The weather was MUCH better this year than last. Hopefully it's good when I go back with my son in April.