DAYTONA BEACH, FL "BIKE WEEK"

[shoresr]

This was my first trip to Bike Week and I learned a lot. It was not at all what I expected. The featured event is motorcycle racing and I didn't know that, and I never saw a race!! The main races were on the last weekend of Bike Week, March 9-11, and I left on March 8th.

Poor recon on my part. They advertise it as the "AREA'S LARGEST MOTORCYCLE MARKET PLACE". That "AREA" must be SQUARE MILES, because it was really spread out. Harley's display area must have covered 3 acres Revzilla and J&P Cycles had good displays. I was really surprised J&M wasn't there. Their Rokker sound system is really popular with the Harley crowd, and boy, there was a lot of noise.

I did a couple of DEMO rides. I rode two BMW's, the 1250 RT and the 1600 Grand America. I never had to wait. I expected to have to signup for the next day, but I was out on a Demo ride both times in 30 minutes. I was really impressed with their efficiency and customer service. No I am not going to change to a BMW

Although, Bike Week wasn't what I expected I had a wonderful time. Dayton Beach and the surrounding area is fun and there is a lot to see and do. Fran and Brion, Rick and Brenda our friends from Virginia, who winter in Florida were great hosts.

Sorry Gary!!

Fran and Brion invited us to their beautul home for a fabulous dinner.

When I told Fran and Brion we were stopping at Santee, SC on the way down they suggested we stop at Clark's Inn and Restaurant. What a way to start a trip.

Must be an import from Sturgis!!

Since the "Market Place" covered such a vast area, I found it was easier to ride my bike than to walk. At Bike Week there is no admission fee, no registration, and no charge for parking. I found that quite refreshing. So many places you go everyone is trying to figure out a way to get money on of the visitors.

One of my stops was at the REVER booth. I had a nice visit with Bjorn. I have talked to him on the phone and I think he might be the CEO of REVER.

We had a nice visit and he gave me a hat and a pin for having logged so many miles on REVER. You may see my ride this summer featured on REVER, if I can remember to turn on my TRACKER.

Bjorn and Roger at the REVER booth

Cliff wasn't able to join the ride, but as a former Florida resident he suggested we eat at JB Fish Camp. The view and the food were outstanding

The alligator which most wouldn't try

Phyllis always had a smile and a kind word

We went to the Blue Spring to hopefully see a Manatee. We didn't see a Manatee, but we saw a beautiful spring and had a nice walk on the boardwalk through the park.

Steve said "I don't see no MANATEE's" !!!

This is the only Manatee we saw!!

We stayed at the Quality Inn in Orange City, FL

On our last night Fran and Brion took us to the DeLand Stockyards for a steak. We had another wonderul meal in a neat place. I ate my way through Florida. Of course, no dinner would be complete without ice cream

One more steak on the way home!!

Gold Wing Notes
I rode 1951 miles
I used 47.303 gallons of regular unleaded gas
My gas cost $154.22
My average mpg was 41.24 mpg
I stopped for gas 15 times!!!
The highest price I paid was in Buchanan, VA $3.599 The lowest price I paid was in Yamassee, SC $3.089

I didn't remember to start my tracker for the whole trip going down to Daytona but from
Santee, SC to Daytona Speedway was 344 miles Moving time was 6:47 minutes, with stops 8:27 minutes average speed 68 mph
Orange City, Fl to Lumberton, NC was 321 miles. Moving time was 4:48 minutes, with stops 5:50 minutes average speed 65 mph
From Lumberton, NC to home was 362 miles Moving time was 5:37 minutes, with stops 6:36 minutes average speed 64 mph

These are all logged on the REVER tracker.

We left on Saturday and returned on Thursday, 6 days. We spent 3.5 days travelling and 2.5 days in Daytona. It would have been nice to have spent more time in Daytona. Daytona and the surrounding area are beautiul and the weather was great. We had a great time.

(Because of cost and backup time these pictures will be deleted at some time in the future. Here is a link to these pictures and some others I took

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Xh1ePKcvJz4SZvXe7