Daytona Beach Florida

The ride down to Daytona was a wet and dreary one. A slight rain the whole way which did not make for good photo opportunities. I had planned to take picture of the sailboats in the water in St. Augustine, and a few snapshots of the beautiful beaches along the way but everything just looked sad and sorrowful with a heavy fog. 



I arrived in Daytona to a warm welcome from a friend that lives in the area, so the first night I stayed there. The next morning I had to go to an apparel shop called Cycle Gear, https://www.cyclegear.com/stores/cycle-gear-daytona-beach-florida-store-87, to buy a vest because I left mine at home. I then went to a little place called Honor Park.There's a cozy little pond with a fountain, a gazebo, and several benchs to sit on around a short walkway, a small butterfly garden, and even a restroom. It's a cute little dog walking spot pretty much, small but well maintained. I imagine it would be a beautiful little spot for a picnic in the spring. 

Riding around town and waiting for the sun to come out was enjoyable, but I really wanted to get some nice beach photos. So I went to the Ponce Inlet Jetty. Even with the overcast day it was a sight to see. Hundreds upon hundreds of birds everywhere. Not many people, but that's to be expected this time of year. I walked to the very end of the Jetty, there was a dedication plaque on a concrete bench.The waves were calm but noisy. I took a few snapshots and some videos of the birds, then decided it was time to eat. 

I found a small place called Hidden Treasure Bar and Grill, https://hiddentreasurerestaurants.com/ . It's an indoor/outdoor beachside restaurant with some great scenery and atmosphere. It feels like a laid back surfers hangout almost. I ate the fish and chips, which was excellent. As im sitting there eating, the sun decides to peak out a bit. I'm hopeful it will stay out for the rest of the day. 

I leave the restaurant and head north. I turn to cross a bridge and see the city in the sunlight for the first time, so of course I pull over, snap some photos and take some videos. There was no way I was gonna let the chance pass me by.Not even ten minutes later the clouds came back and a slight fog set in, so I rode around town for the rest of the afternoon. It was a chilly ride as the temperature dropped quickly just before sunset. I did manage to find a rather large Bass Pro Shop. I go in and there's everything that every other Bass Pro has, just twice as much of it.I explore everything and all I end up buying is a camp stove and some fuel. 

By the time I leave the sun is well on its way to setting so I decide to head to camp and make some supper.

The sun finally decides to shine on Wednesday, and I take full advantage of it. I was told of a scenic route that is popular with bikers, so of course I had to check it out. https://www.daytonabeach.com/things-to-do/outdoors/the-loop/?svap=101015&msclkid=f89b367cc93011c7748c5478c39541d9&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Attractions&utm_term=the%20loop%20daytona%20beach&utm_content=The%20Loop%20(S)

There are several parks and scenic pull offs along the way.Tomoka State Park was the one I decided to check out. https://www.floridastateparks.org/tomoka/

It's a very wooded and quiet park, even with it being right next to the highway. Dirt roads and small walk paths throughout the entire park with wonderful access to the river from almost anywhere in the park.All along the scenic route there are massive houses and fancy sports cars in almost every driveway. The trees curl over the road and the sunlight cutting through creates awesome backdrops for postcards, family photos, etc. The roads themselves are in mostly great shape, not many pot holes or soft spots. Be careful on High Bridge, there are sudden and sharp 90⁰ turns that if you miss you will end up in the river, go slow. From there I headed to Our Deck Down Under https://www.ourdeckdownunder.com/

A river themed restaurant with excellent food and service. Outdoor and indoor seating, a bar, motorcycle parking around the side, all while you enjoy the view of the Halifax River from under the bridge. 

There is entirely too much for me to see, do, and write about in Daytona and the surrounding area in just one week, but I will do as much as I can while here. 

Thursday rolls in with a chill in the air in the early morning, but quickly warms up to a nice 60⁰ to 65⁰ afternoon. At 3 pm today the Kennedy Space Center is shooting off a rocket. I have to head about an hour south, straight down Hwy 1 to see it launch. I'm told it's a sight to see, we shall soon find out. I found a small boat ramp with two docks to set up at. I was there early so I took a few photos of some things that caught my eye and waited.About 15 minutes before launch, more and more people started showing up. I met a man and his wife from Colorado. They just heard about it at lunch and decided to watch on their way up to St. Augustine. We talked about bikes and the Colorado Rockies. It's true what is said about bikers, we can always find a friend no matter where we are. So the countdown begins and everyone is watching the horizon. 3....2....1.... I hear the ignition way off in the distance, then nothing, no spark or anything for a few seconds. Someone points it out and I see a small bright light, like a shooting star in reverse, and a cloud trail left behind as it disappears into the atmosphere. It was cool, but I would love to see it at night.

Friday did not start out great as my bike didn't want to start, but I had a few things I wanted to see so that didn't stop me. I made my way to Mt. Dora, a small town with big attitude it seems.I didn't stay long because the only way to get around was walking because there was some sort of party going on and entirely way too many people around. There was a few very nice houses in the historical district, however, so I snapped a few shots here and there. 

On my way back to Daytona proper I came across Blue Springs State park. https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park

This is a very large park where the manatees come for winter. The river is as clear as glass, you can see all the way to the bottom. Many different fish and fauna everywhere.The park is obviously a very well known one, because many people aren't from Florida. Even with all the people here there is no trash anywhere, it's quiet, and it doesn't have that crowded feel to it. All in all it's a great park and I would highly recommend coming here, although if there's this many people here on a Friday in February I imagine it is much more crowded during the summer. Saturday was a chill day, just hanging out at the flea market most of the day. There is a massive leather shop there, the smell of new leather engulfing the area. I found a jacket for a much more reasonable price here than at Cycle Gear. 

Sunday I packed all my stuff first thing in the morning and was headed home by 11 or so. This is the first of many trips to new and exciting places. I had a great time in Daytona and will definitely return one day soon. Until the next adventure...