Start of a new era

Well, the travel season is off to a roaring start again. I managed to bail out of Indianapolis last Tuesday morning; literally on the heels of the Alberta Clipper that brought sub-zero temperatures to the Circle City. This first business trip of the New Year takes me to Orlando and Jacksonville, Fla., for three different conferences that will keep me on the road for 12 days. Yes, we were all complaining about the 40-degree temperatures in Orlando last week, but I’ll take that any day over minus 10 in Indy last Friday.

On my way out, I did see our friend Liz at the South Bend Chocolate Company in the Weir Cook International Terminal in Indianapolis. She sends you all her greetings, and I broke down, succumbing to a steaming hot white chocolate beverage to start off the morning. Just what I didn’t need, but it was oh-so-good!

After two conferences, seven days and two hotels in Orlando, I just made the drive over to Jacksonville for the final conference on the agenda. It turned out to be a bright clear day but still in the 48-degree range. I’m still not complaining!

This little road trip between Orlando and Jacksonville is never complete without a stop at the world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealership near US 1 and I-95 in Ormond Beach, Fla. OK, guys, don’t get worried that I’m about to change bike preferences, but this is also home of the Daytona Pig Stand, where they claim to serve the finest barbecue in all the land. Umm, I think our friends down at the Moonlite Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, Ky., might have something to say about that!

The Daytona Pig Stand does serve a great lunch, but the real reason for stopping was Ducati Daytona, which is tucked around the side of the mega Harley dealership. You can never pass by a Ducati shop without a quick visit.

If you remember from The Experience last week, the National Premier of the new Ducati Monster 1100S street bike was held a week ago, and Ducati Daytona also put together a beautiful entry that was proudly on display in their showroom this afternoon. I know we’re all anxiously awaiting the results of the nationwide voting, but I’m confident all you readers here at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com put in your vote before the deadline last Friday for our friend Greg Beall’s creation, the Ducati Indy Brickyard Special Edition.

Oh, and by the way, didn’t something big happen this afternoon in Washington D.C.? I’m sitting here in my hotel room in Jacksonville, writing The Experience, and when I flipped on the TV, I realized we have a new President of the United States of America.

I’ll see you all here at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com next week back in the frigid Midwest.

Greg