Riding Around Daytona

On the only full day we had, we rode our bikes down to Ormond Beach, over a bridge to the island then along the island and back over to the club.  From there we rode all around the other direction to see the harbor district.  This was a great trip of about 20 miles which is a long way on our little folders!  We really liked the little towns along the shore but were a bit disappointed in the beach side.  It was a strange blend of 50 year old motels on one side, tired large hotels on the water side interspersed with new high rise condos and hotels.  It was nice to see some places were still affordable for families albeit small, older rooms.  If you want to go to the beach, the room is only for sleeping so size isn't important.

These trees have all their foliage leaning away from the wind, not from pruning.
You commonly see this along windswept sea coasts.  I'm glad we didn't
experience the wind like that this day.

One neighborhood we rode through clearly had a sense of whimsy.  The huge
old oak was covered in resident's donations of gnomes and gnome related items.

Just some of the things around the base.  There were also gnomes on the
branches and in the crooks.  There were gnome playgrounds, cars and
gnomes of all types and sizes.  Hard to quit looking for what else there was to find.

This new dock was being built near one stretch of parkway.  It looks like
the kind we've seen that allow short term tie ups for boaters to visit the shops ashore.

Daytona has several bridges and we were impressed at how attractive
each one was.  The designs combined beauty and functionality.  

Each support had a mosaic all along the base depicting different sea creatures.

Even the sides of the bridge were beautiful.

We don't usually see the ICW identified on road signs, only the river being spanned.

A view from the top of the bridge.  It was one of the 65 footers
so we had a commanding view.

Turn about is fair play.  We were held up for a sailboat to pass under.
You can clearly see the open architecture of the road bed so water
doesn't stand on the roadway.

Another view of the bridge under construction.

A real treat for us was seeing a family of manatees.  That little side node
is a baby clinging to mama.  If we hadn't ridden over the tall bridge, we
would have missed them.

It wasn't just one boat but a parade of trawlers .  The all slowed down
for the manatees.  It looked like they were traveling as a group.  They
all had looper and Motor Trawler Owners flags.

Another manatee diving down as a boat passes.