Sea World

Well it's day three of our vacation and so far the weather has been outstanding. After breakfast it was time to decide what to do. After it was all said and done we decided on Sea World. We walked over to the automated ticket both and purchase our tickets, like all the attractions down here it's not cheap, $65 bucks each to be exact. After a quick pit stop to the restrooms, it was off to see some dolphins. I suggest to anyone if you get a chance to see these beautiful creatures up close do it, you won't be disappointed.

After the dolphin exhibit, it was off to catch the tail end of one of the shows over at the main stadium. This was an incredible show full of acrobatics from both humans and dolphins. One of the coolest moments wasn't from in the tank or on the stage. They had a Bald Eagle fly in over the top of our heads. You want to talk about an impressive looking bird, it's an eagle. I am just sorry I didn't know it was going to happen because I would of loved a picture of it.

Now that the dolphin show is over, we headed over to the Sea Lion and Otter display. They put on a good show and they weren't even performing. The Sea lions are very boisterous and animated, but man do they ever stink. This is one example of when getting too close isn't a good thing.

It was then off to the Penguin pavilion. This was far and away the best Penguin display I have ever seen. They actually have a snow machine pumping in snow from the roof so it kind of looks like it's snowing and the Penguins have real snow to play in. It's little details like this, that set this place ahead of similar types of theme parks.

Lastly, one of the coolest displays was the shark aquarium that you can walk underneath and totally surrounds you. There was your standard Lemon sharks and what not but there was these two giant sharks and I didn't catch their names or get a picture of it because it was to dark to shoot in. But the had what looked to be a hedge trimmer for a nose and they were big and scary, not something you would want to see if you were swimming in the ocean that's for sure.

Well that's the low down in a abbreviated version of our trip to Sea World today. I have posted a link down below of just some of the pictures I have taken on our trip to date.

http://never2fast.com/florida

Daytona International Speedway

Well as you may or not be aware, I am spending this week in Florida on vacation. My girlfriend and I flew in yesterday morning. The flight was generally good but the 2 hours through customs left something to be desired. Honestly it was easier getting into Washington DC Back in August than it was getting into Florida, but I won't bore you all with line up stories.

Today was a beautiful day. We took a long long stroll up the beach. In total our walk was 5 miles long and we were dead tired by the time we saw our hotel again.

After a quick recharge and some lunch, we headed over to the Speedway to check it out and man is this place huge and impressive. We wandered around and I took some snapshots, when I heard what sounded to be sports cars on the track. Did that sound ever get me jones'n to figure out how to get into the track so I could have a look at what was going on. After speaking to a rep from the Daytona 500 Experience she directed us to where we could get into the grandstand to watch the cars.

We went and stood on the outside of the turn 4 grandstand and watched the cars come off t-4. I'll I can say is wow. What we were witnessing was a historic sports car race. The particular cars we were watching where some old LMP600 and GT1 and GT2 cars from the late 90's early 00's. I couldn't believe how fast the LMP car was coming off 4, I am guessing somewhere in the 185 mph range. I was doubting the speed I was guessing at until I heard who was at the wheel of the LMP car. The car was being driven by Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Paul Dallenbach. Also participating in a GT2 Porsche was sometime ALMS driver and Speed World Challenge driver Cindy Lux.

Never one for settling for shooting through a fence, we drove over to the tunnel to get into the infield. Thinking we were going to be stopped and turned around, after all this is Daytona, we tried to casually drive in. Well was I ever happier to hear the friendly old lady at the gate say "go on in, it will probably be the only time you'll ever have a chance to." Once on the infield, you can really see how big this place really is. We drove over to the corner 3 hairpin and I took some nice snaps of the cars coming off the corner.

Then it was off to corner 4 to take some snaps of the cars on the banking and man is ole DW was right TV doesn't do it justice it's frigging steep.

In all, we probably spent about an hour and a half at the speedway taking pictures. I have included some other pics below so enjoy. Even though they weren't "Nascar cars." Seriously getting to see any kind of cars on this track whatever they are is cool!

These two pictures I took standing on the roof of our rental car so I could shoot over the fence.

RAPTORS EARLY SEASON WOES

So as I sit and write this blog, it's a half hour to tip off for the Toronto Raptors home game against the Orlando Magic. The Raptors have so far not lived up to expectations in this very young season. They won their first two games of the season, thumping the woeful 76er's and thoroughly trouncing Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets on the Nets home court, holding them to a measly 69 points.

That brings us to this past week. On Sunday afternoon the Raptors played one of their worst games in a long time, shooting 36% but somehow managed to dig deep and tie the game sending it in to overtime, only to lose on a last second shot to lose by three points.

Then when you thought that the Rap's couldn't play any worse then they did on Sunday, they come out and lay a huge egg in Milwaukee last night. At no point in this game were the Raptors even in it. Missing easy looks and jacking up needless 3 balls. What can you say when their leader Chris Bosh is held to one point in 16 mins. I am sure he could help his cause more if he stayed out of the early foul trouble he's been getting himself into.

It's becoming apparent very early on that a lot of Toronto's problems this year are the same as they were last year, they can't REBOUND. Everybody admits that the Raptors are a more athletic team then they were last year, it's got to make you wonder what's the problem and where's the heart and the will to win?

I give big props to Kris Humphries, who every time he's on the floor gives it everything he's got. I just wish he had more of an edge to him because I think that is what the Toronto Raptors really need. A big that won't take any guff in the paint and is going to make someone pay who comes into his house.

Oh well it's almost tip off and it's time to go watch.....