A baby alligator... in the sunglasses aisle 🐊

I was just stopping in to grab some spare lenses and a couple bottles of water on the way back from the sand track. I walked into the sunglass aisle and saw this little guy just hanging out on the white retail shelf. It is a pretty wild contrast seeing a reptile right next to the polarized stuff. Usually we are looking out for these things in the drainage ponds by the starting gate or near the wash bay at the private tracks around here. Seeing one sitting in the air conditioning was a first for me.

If you look at the shelf height in the clip, he is sitting exactly where you would reach for a pair of mid-range shades. My hands were still a bit shaky from the long motos we put in earlier that morning, so trying to keep the camera steady for this was actually one of the harder things I did all day. I know it is not a clip of me hitting a triple or dialing in my suspension, but it is part of the reality of training down here in Florida.

The main thing I took away from this is that you always have to stay alert. Whether you are coming hot into a corner or just walking through a local shop, things can get weird fast. Sometimes the environment is just as intense off the bike as it is when you are on the track. It was a good reminder to keep your eyes up even when you think you are in a safe spot to relax.