136 THE HOT AND THE COLD

Before leaving home, I debated what clothes I should take.  Florida is generally sub-tropical weather, but many years ago I was here, and the temperatures dropped into Arctic range.  It was the coldest winter in Florida’s history.  Oranges were freezing on trees and they ended up losing about 50% of the orange crop back then.  We were walking around Disney and Epcot with 4 T-shirts on because we had not cool weather gear.

So, this time when packing, I included, jeans, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, a light jacket and my heavy leather jacket.  It has certainly paid off.  Not that the temperature has approached those record lows yet, but yesterday it was only +10C at 10:30 AM.  When I went out, I was wearing jeans and my light jacket.

This morning I got up and discovered it was still cloudy and the clouds were looking threatening.  Checking the weather app, showed the temperature to be 18C at 10:00 AM.  It was also showing a severe thunderstorm warning.  I was talking to a staff member who is in his 70’s and has lived here all his life.  He said to be concerned as this is the type of weather that spawns’ tornadoes.

I was hurting big time today, and not from walking, as I didn’t do much yesterday.  This is another major indicator of a weather change for me.  So, we shall see what happens.  Because I was hurting so much and uncomfortable, I decided to stick around the hotel today.  But I also thought I should get some pics around here as well.

I walked outside and it was like getting punched in the face.  It was so muggy, and hot as it had warmed up to 24C in an hour.  Maybe there’s something to what the staff member said.  I was sweating like crazy with just a few steps outside and my Apple watch is giving a water warning.  I took photos of anything and everything I could think of.

I did the morning routine I have done every morning since getting here.  I get my breakfast at the Bayliner Diner in the hotel and eat it while reading Harry Potter on my iPad, then wander next door to the Starbucks in the hotel for my Grande Americano.  Then I go and sit in the lobby and people watch, while planning the plan of attack for the day.  I couldn’t find anything I wanted to do today and as mentioned, with the possible severe weather, I decided to stay here.

I don’t want to get caught out in a severe weather event just a few days before going home.  It seems though, that I may face one getting home.  Sunday the temperatures are expected to drop below freezing and snow for the first time this winter.  The only snow I have seen this winter was sitting on the tarmac in Toronto waiting for the plane to be de-iced.

It’s hard to believe the trip is almost at an end.  Tuesday morning, I check out and head for Orlando Airport to start the long journey home.  Hopefully it will be a better flight than coming here.  It was really cool flying business class, but because of the red-eye flight and the fact I was feeling so sick, I couldn’t enjoy my pod experience.

I won’t have the pod going home either, but we shall see what happens.  I wasn’t expecting to be on a 787 on the way down and you never know on the way back.  It’s showing as an Airbus A321 on both flights.  On the way down, it was a 787 to Toronto and a tiny Airbus A319 to Orlando.  I don’t know anything about the A321, I’ll have to look it up.  One difference at Orlando Airport, is that I will have some American change to get a luggage cart.  It wouldn’t accept a Canadian quarter when arriving. 

The people around here have been amazing and friendly.  They have been extremely helpful, and I have   acquired several as Instagram followers.  Most of the staff know me by name and know me as the photographer with the big camera.  They were kind of surprised today to see me with a wide-angle lens on.  Even at Starbucks they place my order and write my name on the cup before I can ask.

It’s been an amazing 3 weeks and I am kind of sad to be leaving, but I am really ready to get home as well.  I have pretty much done and photographed everything I came here to do.  I didn’t do Epcot, but really wasn’t hugely interested in it.  I’m glad I did it, but I won’t say that I am planning my next trip just yet.