Stuck in Orlando during a hurricane!

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I've so far had the most eventful holiday of my life! Due to fly out here on the day of the queen's funeral, and got delayed and had to spend a night in London. Eventually reached Florida and had a disastrous first day trying to get the property manager to send someone out to clean the pool, which was a health hazard and hadn't been cleaned in weeks.

After that was resolved, I fell over by the pool (vodka was involved) and smashed my elbow open, blood everywhere. Then there was an issue with our hire car and I had to get it swapped out. Following that, we came home to find a snake in our pool area and I had to chase it out...

Then still eventful, but positive this time, we helped our friends we are here with get engaged over at the Gulf coast. Got out of the area just before mandatory evacuations began to be announced....

And now, due to fly home tomorrow (Thursday), our flight was cancelled and Orlando airport closed down. Now due to fly home on Sunday night and having to stay indoors as the weather worsens.

It has been memorable!!

 

[Mark T Jones]

Now that's what I call a holiday!

I got caught in a hurricane in StKitts it blew the hotel down

Have a 'good' trip home

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I got caught in a hurricane in StKitts it blew the hotel down

Wow Mark thanks this really fills me with confidence!

 

[Mark T Jones]

Wow Mark thanks this really fills me with confidence!

Always happy to help

 

[WaveJumper]

I feel like a hurricane has hit the UK this week, I could be wrong it might be the new PM. Hope you have a safe trip back.

 

[MBE2017]

I toured the world on a motorbike, only to have the Russians invade Afghanistan as I was passing through, luckily the bullets missed myself.

Very envious, might sound strange but I have always wanted to experience a hurricane.

 

[Red Wood]

I toured the world on a motorbike, only to have the Russians invade Afghanistan as I was passing through

Would love to hear that story. Bet you increased your average speed during that leg.

 

[MBE2017]

Would love to hear that story. Bet you increased your average speed during that leg.

Did the opposite, had to hide during the day and only travel at night, so it took several days longer than expected, but the local Afghans have eyesight like hawks, at the time if you were white, you were obviously Russian, and bullets would fly. Had three near misses, sounded like enormous mosquitoes flying bye.

I was glad to exit the country, it was a shame, lovely people.

 

[Paul Carmen]

@Gordon - Commercial Finance Hope all is well, it looks really bad over there

 

[IanSuth]

@Gordon - Commercial Finance Hope all is well, it looks really bad over there

I doubt he has any reception it looks like cell service is down in a lot of places

P.S. Despite my name - I didnt do it

 

[Scalloway]

On the night of 31 Dec 91 – 1 Jan 92 Shetland experienced the worst storm in living memory with wind speeds of up to 197mph recorded, causing widespread damage. My wife and I were out celebrating New Year and we thought it seemed a bit windy.

 

[Ian J]

P.S. Despite my name - I didnt do it

I am rather cross that they named a killer hurricane after me. As if that wasn't bad enough my birthday is on 9/11

Stay safe Gordon

 

[WaveJumper]

Just saw this on the news channel:
"Tampa airport to reopen Friday after Hurricane closure"

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I doubt he has any reception it looks like cell service is down in a lot of places

P.S. Despite my name - I didnt do it

I do have reception - thanks everyone for your concern.

The storm changed direction slightly last minute just before landfall, so Tampa bay didn’t get quite as bad as expected, but the storm was then due to come over our heads in Orlando on Thursday afternoon.

It was incredibly windy, and a lot of rain but it ended up passing by a bit further south and had lost a fair bit of vigour by that point.

BA cancelled the flights on Thursday but we’ve been rebooked on flights for Sunday. Car hire company were very accommodating, and BA were really helpful too. However, the travel agent we booked the villa with have been absolutely diabolical. They originally said they would extend our stay free of charge or find alternative accommodation until our rescheduled flights, but they later retracted that and threw us out of the villa without offering any alternative accommodation. We have now booked into a new place (much nicer!) for 3 days and will have to claim travel insurance.

The place we are in, although it’s beautiful, it’s very newly built and partially under construction. It’s mostly deserted (maybe because it’s new, as well as the hurricane?) and there are literally vultures going through the trash outside. Feels very apocalyptic.

Weather has now improved and should actually be really nice for the next few days. However, all I want is to get back home and see my children!