Daytona Bike Week -67- The Party Lowdown!

Smell the ocean, feel the breeze. You're no more than 60 miles from the ocean anywhere you travel in Florida. This year, March has been the 3rd month of our seemingly endless riding season. This year, resolve to see the real Florida. Ride the parks of Ocala's National Forest. Dive the turquoise aqua that is the Florida Keys. Blast past so many live alligators in the 'glades that you'll never want to take your boots off the pegs. Or, kick back for a week or two in Daytona with nothing to do but lay in a hammock. It's all good!

Free Pocket Guide:

Free map, events schedule. Available at many area Daytona businesses, at the Riverfront

Welcome Center, (Beach St., across from the old Harley Dealership), & at the Chamber of C.

All the bike shows, rides, all the official stuff will be contained in this guide.

Broke A- - Bikers Gotta Eat!

For veterans, and their friends, two excellent stops for good food, cheap. Eat at these motorcycle-friendly establishments:

VFW POST #1590, Daytona. (Mason Ave, south on Nova--Behind Taco Bell--252-5844)

(fri nite dinner 5-8, steak $11, Shrimp, $7.50--hey, it's florida, dude!-Fish $6-Sun breakfast 9-11a)

VFW POST # 3282, Port Orange (south of Daytona, SW cnr of Dunlawton Ave & Williamson Blvd)

(Tue-Spag-$5-Fri Fish/Chips $7-Sat-'Za-Sun-Breakfast 'n' Bloody Marys!-761-7217)

Bikers for First Amendment Rights, (a not for profit organization-144 Ridgewood Ave, Holy Hill, (a few miles north of downtown Daytona, 386-253-3993)

(Full liquor bar, Full Kitchen opens daily at 11am-Live music, good people, nice bikes)

Cole Slaw Wrestling, Female Style!

Sopotnick's CABBAGE PATCH-southwest from Daytona, cnr RT 4118(Pioneer Trail) & Rt 415(Tomoka Farms Rd), Samsula. 386-427-8969. About 15 minutes from the speedway-good traffic.

Down home biker bar-20 acres of free parking-do NOT let the pay for parking geeks surrounding the cabbage patch lure you in, head straight for the "Midway", where the tents are. Free parking there. There could be as many as 100 vendors. Two sound stages for nonstop hard core southern boy rock. Reasonable cold beer, full liquor license. Lots of cops out on the road--slow down or risk being frisked. To see adult females beating the daylights out of each other while immersed in the slaw pit is a sight to behold, the sort of entertainment normally reserved only for those of wealth & fame!

The White Eagle, US1 North, Korona, Florida.

(head north from Destination Daytona on US 1, a nice 60mph four lane ride, about 10 miles-if you're taking "The Loop", at the end, between Ormond, & Bunnell, Old Dixie Highway is where the Eagle Flies. On the big Friday of each Bike Week, they bring in a cool band, for free. This year, it's Nazareth. The next night on March 8th, it's a CCR tribute band. This is one of the oldest biker bars in Florida, & still has no pavement. Be very, very, careful while manevuring your bike in the soft sunshine state sand. Them pipes make a nasty burn when they burn on 'ya. This place has a few dozen vendors, a camping area, plenty of port-o-potties, & it's out in the country, far away from the Main Street crowd, some of whom wouldn't be "caught dead with those people". Its a reason we like the joint..

The Bantam--$5.99 deep-fried Grouper, Oyster, Shrimp Sandwiches...mmmmm....

My bro, Scott of A1A Cycle Service turned me on to this little eatery. It's so small, you'll never find it without me, so ... how much is it worth to ya? no, only kidding :} Headed north from the White Eagle (see above), after a half dozen miles, you'll come to the outskirts of a little town called Bunnell. Back down on the throttle. The town boys write quite a few speeding tix. When you get to the first stoplight (there are only two!), hang two rights in a row, quick second one, toward the courthouse, then look for the little two room shack on the right. You'll probably smell it before you see it. Yeah, they sell hamburgers too, but why, when you can have an Oyster, Grouper, or Shrimp sandwich. For $5.99, it's so big your wife won't be able to get her mouth over it, and you'll have the extra added benefit of not hearing her for at least 30 minutes! ha ha!

Hey Jeff, we're downtown, & the drink prices are outrageous! Help?

1) Main Street/Daytona/Full Moon Saloon/$2Bloody Marys all day long.

2) Beach Street Beer Tent: In the alley next to the old Arlen Ness Showroom. $2Btls/$3Coronas

3) For you rich people who bought 200/nite hotel rooms, throw a 12 pack in the sink & fill it up with free hotel ice!

4) We also like... Boot Hill Saloon, especially US1 North. Great crowd- hit it when the sun's going down... Dirty Harry's/Main/Barmaids, wet tee shirt contests, expensive beer, shots..

Destination Daytona

This complex just appeared, & took over Bike Week! All kinds of vendors, food court, bars, bbq joint, fuel, repairs, new bike sales of every imaginable brand. One of a kind. Many bikers we spoke with make this their one and only stop. Both sides of US1. Two years ago, I got a great deal on a T-Bag for my sissy bar over there.

Deland, Orlando, Tampa, & the Keys

They may as well begin calling it "Florida Bike Week". Many American Bikers spend but a couple days, then ride off into the sunset in search of the "Mouse", Busch Gardens (Tampa), The Everglades (Alligator Alley), Miami, & even the Florida Keys, all 120 miles to Key West, the most tropical town in the USA. You'll love it even more after escaping the 200-300 dollar Daytona hotel scene. Have fun, but be careful.

Campgrounds:

Ocala National Forest has primitive & restroom camping at reasonable rates. Some sites are on the water. The first annual bike week report party is 45 minutes west of Daytona w/pool, waterfront camping. call 1-877-LIFE'SOK for reservations. Caution: If the weather turns chilly, it may be a little cold out there. The warm air is near the ocean. Thunder Gulch Campground. Big saloon, live entertainment, vendors. A mile north of Bunnell (home of the fish sandwich) on US1. 800-7148388. Biker Friendly for RV's Tents, & scooter trash of all kinds.

Ride Safe, & we'll see you there!