Ah from frightened kitty that we could not even pick up to one that now happily sits on your arm and wants to see what you are doing.

This ball of fluff greeted me when I got in tonight. She’s fascinated by the image of herself on the phone camera she could see.

And then of course, bored so tried to roll over.

Whooooo Raar it’s

Had breakfast, slept, ate some more, slept some more. Climbed some trees, slept some more, dug a hole.

Now I’m really tired.

I love my HD Fat Boy, for me it is the epitome of all things American. It looks cool and sounds amazing and let’s be honest seeing the terminator climb onto this beast and ride off is something I always think of when I climb onto mine. So after 2 weeks of US sunshine and sat astride a Harley Electra Glide Ultimate, my beasty felt somewhat tiny today. It was like going from a Rolls Royce with all bells and whistles down to a Robin Reliant.

It is true that after riding something of that size you could a few hundred miles and not notice it, yet do 20 on a Fat Boy and KNOW you have done 20.

Still I love my lump of Americana but I did miss my pillion tapping directions onto my shoulders and the occasional squeeze of my sides to let me know she is still awake behind me.

The Robin

The Rolls

Ah the joys of fancy airports designed by architects aiming for a nice aesthetic appearance. Never mind sufficient chairs for people. So we are sat on the floor watching the world go by and wondering whether we will fly tonight.

One airline from the UK has just been diverted away from Orlando due to the extreme weather and an earlier Manchester flight was delayed to after our current planned time.

So, coffee in hand, we’ve staked out our little patch of carpet. We’re very relaxed about the whole thing, if we have to stay another night in Florida then we’ll manage to keep ourselves entertained somehow.

Now, anyone for Twister on this crazy carpet?

We have completed our journey from Orlando down the A1A to Miami, onto Key West with Mile Marker zero over the 7 mile bridge, then all the way back up the west coast of Florida, through Naples and Sarasota. Eventually landing back into Orlando, a total round trip of 1215 miles of superb weather and riding.

All we can say is Brilliant!

Now delays at the airport due to storms and apparently the UK Border Forces ZX Spectrum isn’t working so potentially even longer delays back into blighty.

A wonderful ride in on the country roads on our bug beast. We made it to the Florida Mall and a chance to chill in aircon, before the short hop to drop the bike back.

And now all flights delayed about 1h 45mins due to the storms, oh well time to do a little more walking and eating then.

The good news is that we managed to stay dry on the bike today, but on checking the Weather Channel over here there are a lot of people being affected by some of the worst tornadoes this year. Thankfully few people have been killed.

Storms are slowly moving Eastwards and will affect Florida in the next few days apparently so we may see some severe weather tomorrow when we are waiting at the airport. For tonight we have thunderstorms developing and a fab view from our hotel.

We have been watching the clouds build here since we arrived.

Up this morning to clear skies and talk of the tornado devastation from yesterday. Stepping out of the air conditioned hotel at 9am to 93 degree searing heat with a 30% chance of rain at 1.57pm (how exact is that), we decide to chance it and head back to Ona and Solomon’s Castle (will it be open today) along 37 miles of beautiful roads, scenery and love bugs. Now Love bugs hit twice as hard as normal bugs at 60mph and leave more of an impact on everything, so you currently cannot see the Harley below the dead critters

On then to Solomon’s Castle which is a quirky little place where a 79 year old guy has spent most of his life building thing out of cans, tin, wood and junk

Including the castle made of aluminium sheets, a three sides wooden door on a hexagonal room with stained class window. Very funky and the tour has enough puns to keep everyone groaning.

So with the threat of more thunder and rain we headed to our last stop at Lake Wales a short 57 mile trip on country roads and US roads (whilst always looking for gravel, idiot drivers and smokey).

Tomorrow is the last full day in the US, with a 44 mile drive back to the airport and the return of the big encrusted bike.

So what have I learnt on this journey, well car drivers are idiots the world over, but 95% of the Americans are vigilant towards bikers. The only problem is the 5% that aren’t, have followed us the entire trip.

When Mrs Fogg lifts her visor to sneeze, I get a wet neck!

When your pillion climbs onto the back and asks if you are ready to hold steady, what she actually means is she will try her hardest to topple you and the bike over in the process.

US traffic lights are designed for street racers, they go from red to green without Amber and you have to floor it as fast as you can.

The average American looks mockingly at you when you have helmet, boots, armour plating and gloves in 93 degree heat

Every American is proud to talk about their illnesses, no matter what it is.

You can’t sit in a hotel bar with a map open, without at least 5 people telling you the best place to visit as a precursor to talking about their illness.