Daytona Beach Road Trip
Yesterday morning, we woke up to glorious sunshine, after a week of stormy showers. Checking the forecast to make sure things were going to stay good for the rest of the day, we took a trip to Daytona Beach, if only to feel the road under our tires and the wind in our hair.
The first 52 miles of the 80 mile route to Daytona Beach comprised entirely of the I-4. And even though we missed the famous Bike Week by a mile (and Biketoberfest by half a mile), it was nice to see a huge sign declaring “Daytona Welcomes Bikers” as we entered the city limits. Just a block after the airport we passed the Nascar Daytona International Speedway, and then one of the bridges from the mainland to the beaches after crossing Highway 1.
On E International Speedway Blvd, just a block before the road turns to sand, we stopped at a traditional Irish Pub, where I had an extremely welcome pint of Guinness. At the beach Tave went for a swim in the sea, while I unintentionally ordered the worlds largest mint-choc-chip icecream in a waffle cone, that took me 20 minutes to eat while I hid in the shade. Cruising parallel to the beach for a short ride, we also found an authentic Indian Restaurant, where we wolfed down curry for dinner before riding back to Orlando.
About halfway back, we came off the interstate at Sanford for fuel, and rode along the lakeshore. It was a pity that the sun had already set, so we couldn’t see as much as we would have liked, although the vegetation seemed to have that lovely after-the-rain smell as we rode by.
Arriving home we’d covered almost 350 miles between both Harleys. Total cost for the day trip, including fuel, Guinness shipped from Ireland, dinner for two, and the worlds largest ice-cream cone: $70. Back in Worcester, that would have covered a return taxi fare to the city centre for dinner at Wetherspoons on beer-and-curry night if we were lucky. I love America 