Editorial
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11-15-04
After buying a
motorcycle...
This fall, after up and buying a motorcycle,
I decided to attend the Daytona Beach
Biketoberfest. I took off on a Saturday
morning on Hwy 50 out of Spring Hill
alone, as my two bike trip compadres
wimped out. But have no fear, for it
wasn’t long until four other
bikes appeared from behind. We all
played a cat-and-mouse game, trying
to get ahead of the cars on the road
and make some time up Hwy 50. In Orlando,
two of the bikers split off and went
their own way, while the two guys from
St. Pete, O`Neil and Joe, rode with
me all the way to Daytona. In Daytona,
we rode around together for a while
until we got separated in traffic.
I met up with them again in traffic
a little bit later. We stopped and
took pictures and agreed to meet at
the Iron Horse saloon that evening.
The Iron Horse was so wild and crazy,
with what seemed like a sea of people,
that we never did find each other again.
Aside from all the expected goings-on
that are associated with an event of
this nature, there were unexpected
things, like concerts by 38 Special,
Lynnard Skynnard and Rick Derringer.
And there was something else that I
didn’t expect.
But wait. I decided that, before making
a pronouncement of this kind, I would
confirm it as truth by further investigation.
Therefore, I attended three more biker
events: the anniversary party at Tampa
Harley-Davidson, the Plant City Bike
Fest and Mike’s Dockside Bike
Night. The evidence is in, and it is
overwhelming.
Yes folks, it’s true. The Harley-Davidson
biker enthusiast crowd is the most
polite, well-behaved group of this
size that I have ever encountered.
From their outward appearance, these
people looked ready to stomp a baby
duck on a dare at a moments notice.
But looks can be deceiving; they are
as good a group of people as you would
ever hope to meet. I never saw one
instance of impoliteness, arguments,
or ill-mannered behavior at any of
the four events I attended. You couldn’t
get a group of politicians together
and get them to behave so well. Take
Congress, for example.
If you have never been to Bike Week
or Biketoberfest in Daytona, let me
tell you what to expect. There are
parties. There are gazillions of bikes
going up and down the road. There are
women. There are parties. There are
vendors galore. There are displays
of all kinds of custom bike builders.
There are concerts. And more parties.
And concerts with parties built around
them. And more bikes in the middle
of all this than you can imagine. Bikes
are lined up and down both sides of
the street while others are cruising
up and down the street. And those are
just the side streets! Did I mention
that there are parties?
It appears that Florida is bike central.
I have more motorcycle events going
on this weekend than I can count on
both hands. The biggest issue is deciding
which event to go to.
If you want to have a good time, go
out and get yourself a bike. Join in
the fun.
Jack
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