October Rides in Concord (October 3-12)

Got back to North Carolina for a week off, arriving on a Saturday morning (October 3) and did get in a short ride around the area. Was a nice sunny day, and cool...for the first time in a long time wore a jacket and gloves. Nice to get out after a longer than usual period. I got in another ride a few days later but ended up dodging rain showers, and that was less than an hour. That is where I took this photo though of the bike and the store I came across at left. Short rides, but good ones (better short rides than no rides at all). A busy week, with a five day visit to Louisville, Ky to see family and friends, purchased a new car (2009 Nissan Versa), and went to the Panthers/Washington football game.
Was wild being back in Louisville. Kentucky and Indiana have no helmet laws, and saw a mix of people; some with helmets on, some without. South Carolina (except for Myrtle Beach, which has passed a helmet law to stop the bike rallies, currently being fought in the courts)does not either. I don't have a problem with people not wearing them, though I don't ride without one. Have a few friends who have taken serious injuries without a helmet on.
Watched Sons of Anarchy while on vacation, really like that show. It has taken some interesting twists and turns of late, also one of the most popular shows on cable. Speaking of motorcycle gangs, the Pagan Motorcycle Club has been in the news in Richmond, one of its members got killed in a police raid in the Richmond area, they had a big funeral in town (all that while I was gone).
Two new bikes have caught my eye, and will be looking at them when they hit the dealers. The first is the long awaited Honda 1200 Interceptor with the V-4 engine. It has a lot of interesting features. I also like the new Kawasaki Z-1000 which has had a major redesign. Interesting that the bike manufacturers even during this recession (or perhaps better put in spite of the recession) are putting out some very interesting motorcycles.
I am hoping in my next visit home to get a good mountain ride in, from being in the mountains (between Charlotte and Louisville is Tennessee) saw the leaves even at the highest elevations are just starting to turn. That though will soon change. Makes for some great rides in the fall of the year on the remarkable Blue Ridge Parkway, and I hope to be there soon!