Daytona Bike Week #2 Begins:

The Big Blow, Ugly Betty, & Watered Down Bloody Marys:

80 Hunker-Down Miles:

Riding a long bike sometimes has it's disadvantages, like when the wind is blowing 30mph. Most Harleys weigh more than the ABM black bike, & at just under 600 pounds, she gets thrown around a bit. Windshield dudes were shifting down at every other exit. The funny thing about those big shades is they're really great for breaking the wind, but only if the wind isn't blowing too hard to throw the bike around. When the 18 wheelers drift left & right a yard at a time, it's blowing us bikers all over the road. Finally, made it to my buddy's place, where she awaited...

Ugly Betty:

As the Black Bike rolled into the lot, they met for the first time: Ugly Betty, the FXSTI HD Softail Standard I bought at auction for 8500 bucks, looked softly at the original ABM Black Bike... I gently assured both that Ugly Betty was for my better half, and in no way were they competitors. Black Bike got assurances that Betty wouldn't be soaking up money normally available for new tires, brake pads, & cleaning materials, Ugly Betty was told about her pending new set Z-Bars, controls, gas tank, & fresh paint. The two became so cozy, they were told to break it off, or get a room!

Watered-Down Bloody Marys?

Jeff, say it isn't so! Leave it to our Canadian Bro from Thunder Bay to point this out to both the barmaid & yours truly: Drawing Bloody Marys from the spigot on a construction worker's jug without a method of keeping the mixture stirred, eventually results in all of the Bloody falling to the bottom, & all of the Mary rising to the top of the jug. "Hulk" asked why she wouldn't pour him one out of the top, which of course, she didn't do. There is, of course, always an answer, and through dilligent research, ABM was eventually able to find another bar pouring BM's the old fashioned way...(actually it was pretty much across the street)...at this time, we think your money is better spent at "Wise Guys" where they pour shots, rather than the "Full Moon Saloon", where they use the pre-mixed stuff. Either way, $2 for a mixed drink is pretty cheap in Florida!

Rides, Ideas, Deep Fried Fish!

Lots of bikers continue to ride "The Loop". Along the beach, then palm-laden marsh full of oysters, & sawgrass, across tiny bridges spanning lazy tidal creeks, where you can see the fish jumping, the loop eventually brings you back around to US1/I-95. You'll roll through the little town of "Korona", home to what may be Florida's oldest Biker Bar, the "White Eagle." For the second time in one year, they were out of "Coronas"... Maybe it's the sign at the town limits? The tiny town of Bunnell continues to serve up some fried opportunity for the munchie-inclined. Yesterday, the whole town smelled like southern-fried Grouper, Oyster, & Shrimp...yummy..one sandwich is all a normal-size person can eat, for around $5.99. Bunnel is on US-1, maybe 10 miles north of Destination Daytona. Bunnell also has a little Biker Bar called the "Dog Pound" on the outskirts of town. $1.50 large drafts, nice porch to kick back on.

Campers vs RV's:

On the ride out to the "Cabbage Patch" yesterday afternoon, we noticed not too many RV's parked in the Flea Market lot, although a nearby lot look packed. That seems to be just the way it is, some places are packed, some are not. We saw a few "vacancy" signs on area motels, away from the beach, but this may be normal for the Monday thru Wednesday period. Main Street/Daytona was packed, as always, & it took two passes to score a good parking spot. Last weekend, as is the custom, all cages were banned from a 6-block section of Main, but yesterday, they were back, clogging up traffic, & taking pictures of us... Hey cages, buy a bike & join the fun. I'll show you where to get some really "nice" pic's!

Unwelcome Puppies:

On the sunny side of Main, (the north side), you have a few bars with second story balconies. Last weekend, girls were "flashing", so we weren't too suprised to find a bunch of dudes wearing brightly colored tees with "security" watching over those naughty girls, girls, girls...

American Biker Minute

will continue to blog on Datona Activites, so check back often, & remember:

Only 16 days until the first day of spring--you'll be back on the scooter soon!