Hello You All, I'm a brand new member. I go by Em (short for Emerson). I live in Laurinburg, NC. I got my first bike, a 65 Yamaha 250, when I turned 16 in 1970. Then bought a 74 450 Honda and rode it until our first kid came along in 1977. Needed the money to survive. We kept having kids. 4 of them. My wife and I said we'd get another bike when the kids grew up. In 2001 she took me to an AC/DC concert in Greensboro, NC, and on the way back home we stopped at Cox's Harley and couldn't resist so bought a 2001 Ultra Classic which we still have. We like long rides. Our longest was to Key West and back over a 10 day period. While watching a Daytona Bike Week show on TV several years ago and enjoying the partying and the good looking women, my wife asked me if I would like to go there. I said yeah. She said well you know I'm not much of a partier so you'll need to go without me. I said are you serious. Well, I'm looking to go in 2012. I would rather find other riders to ride down with (my bike will never see a trailer). Do any of you know how I can find out if there are others i can ride with? Thanks, Em.

Hey Em.

I too have a 2001 Ultra. A purple Shriners edition..bought it used.

Others to ride with...join your local HOG chapter as they organize rides and there seems to be a lot of couples and you may meet and make new freinds. I have never and will never join HOG and my wife is my favorite person to ride with. Otherwise you could start going to biker bars and for sure you'll find a bunch of people to ride with,lol.

The last Daytona I went to was the 50th back in 199somthing...oh the humanity and mayhem! Lines around and down the sidewalks of the Boothill saloon,Iron horse and any other popular watering hole. Don't even know whats out there any more. Better make your camping/hotel arrangements now, it might even be to late?

Also rode to Key West in 2009. Lots to see and do there. We went to Hogs Breathe Saloon, Mallory Square, Mel Fishers Museum,Pirate Soul,Jimmy Buffets swill hole and too many places to remember. We went in April so it wasn't to crowded and no problem with parking.Hogs breath saloon was cool because they had a web cam so we sat in front of the web cam and told our friends to go the Hogs breathe web site and they could see us..pretty cool,lol.

Why, BI63, you party animal! I don't know as I approve of rowdy behavior in motorcycle circles. Yikes, you could wind up kissing a girl you have no intention of marrying...

Thanks for the reply, Bad (may I call you Bad?). Yeah, Key West was a great ride. I've never had anyone on the back of my bike except my wife and daughters. She is pretty much the opposite of me, but she would go along to Daytona but I know she would just do it for me. Good idea about looking into joining HOG. I'll look into it. I don't have an official list of where all I want to ride to, but, Daytona is one. Sturgis is another but we'll wait until retirement for that one since we want to spend 2 - 3 months out west seeing all we can. Another trip on my list is the east coast up to Maine. Thanks, again.

Ride Safe,
Em

welcome em i'm also new on here .only about 50 miles from you between Sanford an Raleigh.my advice talk your wife into going.you'll both enjoy it.Main street is full of bars an bands an people,My wife and i started going to Daytona when Myrtle Beach said they did not want bikers anymore.Kinda glad they said that.Daytona is a whole lot better.Try El Caribe for lodging.not a 4 star but the rooms are clean and they're nice people.Ride the loop .very nice ride.Check out St Augustine, beautiful city.Lots of good open road riding down there.As for the partying we've seen a lot of people enjoying over priced beer an some really good bands.Don't think that we saw anyone actually drunk...to many cops an every bar has a lot of security.There may be some hard partying ,but i've never seen it.course not really looking for it.Go to Dirty Harry's.you can sit at the bar sip a 6$ beer and watch people duck walk thier bikes up an down main st.if you're going to just party i think you might be disapponted.if you're going for the ride.the bikes an people, you'll enjoy yourself.Not going down this year,planning on Sturgis in August,lots of good riding out there and lots of good people.ride safe Rebel

Welcome to the forum Em, great advice BI that is joining the hog chapter. Good place to meet some nice people. Me, I just go down to the local dealer hang out and talk to people make new friends real easy. You would be surprised on how many people are looking for someone to ride with.

Rebel and Glider,
Thanks for the advice. There was a day when I was a hard partier, but now days I'm a sipper, but I still like to dance, karaoke, etc., just being mellow, not drunk. I'm going more to see than to do, though my wife allows me to dance with other women when she isn't present. I've been to Myrtle Beach but got pissed when I was driving through in non bike week and saw the helmets required sign. We stopped going there and now go elsewhere. I need to see Daytona and Sturgis once and my life will be complete.

Be Safe,
Em

Reb,
I booked at El Caribe. Thanks!
Em

Em hope you enjoy the rally. let us know how it was when you get back.wind in your face sun on your back Rebel