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The Illinois winter has been dragging on with its 38-degree temperatures, so we traveled to Florida this past week. I had some simulators to tinker with, while Rachel had some relaxing to do. Bike Week, which was wrapping up as we arrived, turned out to be quite an event. We passed thousands of bikes and trailers on our way down from Jacksonville, with Rachel watching like a hawk for the Orange County Choppers crew. Her vigilance paid off as we cruised like outlaws in our 2004 Camry — down the A1A, over the Intercoastal and inadvertantly past a pro-topless demonstration — and spotted the OCC display in the middle of biker central. The trailers were difficult to spot amid the throngs of OCC-merchandise-wearing bikers, but there they were, just like on TV. Sadly, there were no Teuttles or Spider Bikes to be seen.

That was Sunday. Or Monday, the entire town switched into Spring Break mode with raw efficiency. Signs that had read “Welcome Bikers!” now read “Welcome Breakers!”, and the breakers bought as many OCC shirts as the bikers. Instead of the usual airport Courtyard by Marriott (booked solid), the company put me up in a beachside Holiday Inn, which was essentially a dorm. Drunken frat brothers wandered the halls with red cups, and Rachel had trouble concentrating on her homework due to a massive Trojan-sponsored party in the hotel next-door. It was an interesting business trip. Also, many thanks to Rachel’s grandparents for a relaxing day away from Spring Break on Tuesday.

The Wisconsin skiing was excellent, even with 50-degree temperatures. The “mountain” was only 700 feet tall, but it was also wider and every bit as steep as Wisp. I finally learned to control my speed on the blue squares and black diamonds (plowing doesn’t work; turning is key), which should allow me to handle green circles out west. Must ski again.