March 3 - 12, 2000 celebrated the 59th anniversary of BIKE WEEK in Daytona Beach, also known as BIKE WEEK 2000 by many. The weather for Bike Week 2000 was the best ever. Every day was sunny with blue skies and temperatures in the 70's to 80's. There were a couple of days where it sprinkled a little rain for about 10 or 15 minutes( or so it was rumored). BIKE WEEK is definitely a festival (also refered to as the biggest block party in the world) that an estimated 500,000 bikers were expected to attend. By the way, I took a count and I got way over 600,000. *heh* Just kidding...actually I believe there were 599,999 people to be exact.
The biggest bummer were the number of wrecks that resulted in deaths, more than any previous Bike Week to date. There were 5 bikers killed in 1999, compared to 14 killed in 2000. After that bit of sad news, we deserve a smile, so..."What does a Harley and a Dog have in common?" Give Up? "They are both man's best friend and they ride in the back of the pick up truck" : )))
Finally! Here it is! My pics from Bike Week 2000 in Daytona Beach, Fl. This took a while, since I thought my digital camera got stolen or was lost (what a sad thing after 3 days of picture taking) but low and behold, I was putting away my duffle bag one day and *BAM* there it was! Talk about excited! *OMG* You see, Bike Week 2000 was "THE" event of the year, and when my camera mysteriously "disappeared" it was a bleak day, since we didn't bring any other camera but the one digital.
My sister and I take alot of "mini-vacations" each year, but Bike Week has been a tradition for us dating back "many many moons". No Husbands, No Boyfriends, No Kids, Just Us Girls! *grins* And Ohhhhh do we have a good time! *Y-E-A-H Baby* So here it is, documented in pictures, for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.
We headed up on a Thursday night, thinking we could find a room somewhere on the outskirts of Daytona! *WRONG* So we ended up sleeping in the car at a rest area (with about 500 others doing the same thing, all headed to Bike Week). This was our "hotel" Thursday night (L) and here is my sis, looking for her toothbrush Friday morning (R) . Okay, so it isn't The Plaza Hotel or anything, but it worked for us. Luckily there was only the 2 of us, anyone else would have had to sleep on the roof! *LOL*
during one of our searches for munchies.
She was parked outside a restaraunt,
next to one of those Mercedes Sports Coupes,
which I happen to like alot
but she made it look like a car from the junkyard.
What a Beauty!
MAIN STREET
Main Street is pretty much abandoned in the early morning hours, but by 9:00 AM things really fill up! And as you see, here is the proof! Once my sis and I reached Main Street, there was no such thing as sleep for us...It was up at 6am for breakfast and we usually didnt get to sleep til 3am. So figure 3 hours sleep a day, if we were lucky. There just isnt time to sleep when you have "only" one weekend to take in ALL of BIKE WEEK in one 60 hour period! Fellow bikers-at-heart understand this dilemma, I'm sure. It's like being at Disney World and only having one day!
After a full night of parties and "whatever else", some bikers simply take a happy nappy on their "baby", placing there head against the handle bars, and lazily stretching their feet along the length of the seat. Just like a cowboy in the midday sun, this guy doens't have a care in the world (L). Some of the many pins and patches available along Main Street (R).
All the shiney, showy Harleys lined up along Main Street. What a Sight!
Bikes, Bikes...
...And MORE Bikes! They are ALL OVER! Everywhere you look, you see a Harley.
Standing Room only on Main Street as the bikes keep pouring in from all over the world for this 2 week festival.
Some bikers are very patriotic (L) while others put "Words of Wisdom" (R) such as "IF IT'S TOO LOUD, YOU'RE TOO OLD" "KEEP HONKING, I'M RELOADING" "IF YOU'RE NOT LIVING ON THE EDGE, YOU'RE TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE" "I'M A SCHIZOPHERENIC AND SO AM I" and "PARTY NAKED" for the whole world to read.
Sometimes attitude IS everything! So does this mean bigger is better?!?!?!?
Does it mean "He's available?" or does it mean "He left the old lady home?"
Or maybe SHE left The Old Man home!!!
Keeps you wondering, doesn't it? *LOL*
The best of the best line up outside and wait their turn to enter the show...
...They are judged on paint jobs and customizing, for starters. And it goes from there.
THE PARADE OF BIKES
Here they come...and there they go...The Parade Begins!
Some bikers sit on the sidelines and watch from there own Hogs as the parade rolls by, while others stand on the front line , and cheer on everyone with a zest to match a battle hungry warrior!
"REAL MEN DON'T RIDE MOPEDS"
As Bike Week draws to an end, the Spring Breakers roll in with their "2 wheelers"... Biker wanna-be's? Hmmm, maybe...maybe not.
But at least the mopeds get the kids from point A to point B, right? *LOL*