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Things To See In The Sunshine State
Daytona Bike Week
Every spring, hundreds of thousands of bikers, mostly on Harleys, gather
by the ocean in sunny Daytona for the ritual known as Bike Week. Born
of simple beginnings, it is a rally that defines the Harley lifestyle. Even
though it's unmatched in size, it grows bigger every year.
Main Street is the center of the action. Whether you're looking
for custom bikes or cold beer, loud music or loud pipes, hot
pizza or hot women, chaps or chains, you'll find it here.
I wish I had all the money I ever spent on bike raffles. So far, no win.
The variety of bikes at Bike Week is incredible. Every make,
model, year and brand is there, not to mention custom bikes.
Since July 1st, 2000, Floridians no longer have to wear helmets.
Everything at Bike Week involves waiting in some sort of
line, whether it's getting a drink or just getting down the road.
While visiting Florida, keep an eye out for gators. Apparently, they even eat stuffed animals.
It's illegal to take your scoot to the water's edge, but I couldn't resist. This is the
original site of the races, up the beach then down A1A. And on March 13, 1936
Joe Petrali set a new World Land Speed Record on a Knucklehead, roaring right
past where I'm sitting (but facing the opposite direction). This was shot in '94.
"Dog is my copilot". There's no shortage of interesting sights at Bike
Week. Because this is a PG rated site, I can't show you all of them.
A warning to all who visit Daytona: lock your bike! Every year,
scores of Harleys disappear from motels and restaurant parking lots.
Custom Chrome's Dyno Shootout reveals the powerful and thought-they-were-
powerful. Standing this close for any length of time starts to get to your ears.
On the road to Daytona. See? My bike can tour!
This is the first in a series of increasingly interesting photos, none of which you'll be seeing.
500,000 bikers in one place. That's a lot of people. If you plan a visit, make sure you have
reservations. This year, the nearest motel vacancy along the coast was sixty miles away.
Yet another shot down Main Street. Notice the overwhelming percentage of Harleys.
Dirty Harry's is another popular bar on the strip.
Biketoberfest
| Debbie and I wanted a shot of the two of us together and asked a little old gray haired lady to take this shot. There should be a bubble over Debbie's head which reads "does this lady know how to use a camera?" The quality of the pic speaks for itself, but at least you can see us together.
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Main Street at night is where the action is. How those cagers
managed to weasel their way on to the drag is a matter we are
going to take up with the Daytona Chamber of Commerce.
Though Daytona is traditionally Harley territory, every year
more and more oriental "cruisers" (a word I detest) find their way
into the mix. Their owners are amazed that we see a distinction.
Froggy's Saloon is one of many happening watering holes on Main Street.
Drinking and riding is the rule rather than the exception in Daytona.
Traffic on Main Street is stop-and-go, so it pays to remember Harleys are
air cooled. I change my oil as a matter of course before & after Daytona.
When this guy isn't riding his Harley-Gatorson, he probably walks around
with a parrot or large lizard on his shoulder (or both). It worked; we noticed.
Day or night, into the wee hours, all you hear is the rumble of
Harleys. But with each passing year, a larger percentage of that
rumble is trailered in by those wishing to emulate we who ride.
And here's Debbie (Pigasso) looking down Main Street. If anyone
was born to ride, Debbie was. And she's as American as apple pie!
Debbie at the bar on the corner of A1A and Main Street.
Just finding an empty barstool is a challange at Biketoberfest.
You'd think with all the money we send Harley's way
they could afford to keep all the letters in their sign lit.
This was taken in the graveyard across from the Boothill Saloon. But, no,
the graveyard isn't called Boot Hill, it's called the Pinewood Cemetery.
Looking south down the Halifax River, which separates Daytona Beach
from the mainland. Main Street is on the left, Daytona HD's on the right.
Be sure to see the California Stuff page, too!
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