2 weeks 'til Florida's Biketoberfest!

Hot Sun, Cool Fun!

. BIKES-BIKES-BIKES!

Old School Ride In Chopper Show:

Young and old alike show off their one of a kind creations..last few years, we've seen $500 metrics made into works of anarchy. Street cred is not in short supply here. Thursday afternoon, we say get there early, this one is packed to the rafters, US1, across from Sonny's bbq, and the Publix shopping center. Ask anyone in town how to get to "Willies Tropical Tat Parlor".

Boardwalk Bike Show:

Always a fave, see mouth-watering custom bikes parked under the palms. Smell the salt air as you stroll among some of the best at the beach. Friday on the boardwalk. If you're on main, head toward the breakers.

Rat's Hole Custom Show:

Saturday, Daytona Lagoon, (water park). 1 of 3 Florida Rh's each year. One bike we saw at Leesburg last spring, a 'Nam era tribute, sported two "Huey" rocket pods.

Leonard Skinner, band's namesake, RIP:

Jacksonville, Florida:

A midnight bowl of ice cream, before passing away at 2am.

"Big Leonard" was a no nonsense, you kids get a haircut coach at Robt E. Lee high school, before eventually owning a few bars, after retirement. He was a reluctant rider on the Lynyrd Skynyrd band's bus of fame. He had no taste for rock 'n' roll, but enjoyed the notoriety that being a namesake provided.

How'd they get the name?

Skinner disliked long hair on men almost as much as rock music, once sending some kids to the principals office for violation of "school rules" for longhairs. (can you believe we once had a "no-bell bottom" jeans rule?) The gym teacher had a negative impact on the young dudes, and when one of them formed a band, they decided to poke a little fun at the stoic coach, thus.. Lynyrd Skynyrd. The rest is history.

F. Leonard Skinner: 1933-2011. Good run, but no rock 'n' roll? Ugh..

4Corners Hospitality Draws Bikers In-

Great Weather-Incredible Riding-Friendly Cops..What more could you wish for?

True: They want us here, that's for sure. Durango rolling out the red carpet, even bringing back their traditional "Biker Parade" after a two year hiatus. Camped out along rt 550, the "Million Dollar Highway", we could hear pack after pack of two wheeled drifters headed even farther north, toward Silverton. Along with the bikes, there's a lot of old, restored cages running the 6% grade up toward those 180 degree twisties.

Perfect Wx:

10% humidity, morning lows in the forties, highs in the 70's low 80's. Your leathers get a workout, only to be bungeed onto the sissy bar after 11am.

Hotel Fear of Bed Bugs?

Lots of us have decided to sleep in our own bedroll, and leave those little critters to someone else. It probably didn't help any when that west coast dude who was rushed to an emergency room made national headlines. Many bikers still don't know that camping is free inside some of the national forests. The only rules are to set up within 300' of the highway, and no closer than 100' to a stream or lake. It gets pretty cold at night, and the bears can get a little too friendly at times, but that's all part of the great story you'll take home to tell.

Ignacio Bike Week:

Down from the old days of 100,000 or more bikers, and reports of lawlessness, the town had some cops strolling down the sidewalk, something we hadn't noticed before, just one here and one there, usually riding inside a patrol car. Friday started off with a light crowd, before the bikes began arriving toward 2pm. The new Southern Ute casino is finished, and even has an rv park. We really miss "Moon's Cycle Shop". Locals tell me that the family was forced to move to California when his brother became ill. We wish them the best.

Musta been one heck of a Sturgis?

The plethora of cheap leftover shirts didn't make an appearance at Ignacio this year, yeah, they had a few, but most everything was bought up in the Black Hills. S-vendors we spoke with didn't buy the 700,000 crowd estimate. ABM thinks it was more like 550-600 thou, but bro, that is still one large biker crowd. We've been going for years and years, and never have we seen so many campers at the Buffalo Chip, never.

Bear Dukey?

Just down the hill from our campsite, near a lake. He got into some coolers, passing up on the beers, preferring full blown Cokes. Got a sweet tooth, we suppose.

Holy Crap, Lookit the Elk!~

Yesterday, we're following trucks & cages, when out of nowhere, 5 fuzzy-horned (male) Elk bounded across the road, nearly wiping out a couple of cages! There had to be a half ton of steaks between them, they were as big as cows, only taller. Good thing the 5th decided to turn around.. he woulda been a problem.

Awwww...do we have to?

Ugh. Soon it will be time to return to the beach. We leave knowing this place may have a few weeks of decent weather left, and then it's the deep freeze plunge. We'll be riding all winter while these bikers suffer. ABM hits Daytona Beach for biker paradise, and one big last run ahead of the cooler weather for "Biketoberfest", mid October. We'll cover it both on the blog and on our fine affiliates throughout America.

Meanwhile:

Summer is fading fast. Make this the weekend you get out and RIDE! Safety first.