Ride to Hampton, VA (June 28, 2014)

 So...on Saturday June 28 had an idea to ride to Hampton, VA. Wanted to see Ft. Monroe, an important part of US history, and besides...I had never seen it. Got to see the building that was General Lee's quarters (sign at right) before the war (it was a duty station for him) and also where Jeff Davis was kept (for a while in chains) after the war.
Cool place but getting there was wild. Traffic was unreal, at times I-64 came to a complete stop. I finally got off early, and was able (by luck to a great degree) to get to Hampton, and back on I-64 close to the Fort.  

It is a cool thing to see, dates back to Colonial days, and was operated till 2011. Read the plan is to turn it over to the National Park service but for now I believe either Hampton and/or the US Army are running it. Very nice museum inside the Fort (which is free as is admission to the Fort). I put a lot of photos on my photo page and greatly enjoyed the visit.
Having toured the fort, got back on the highway to a place I had been a few years ago...Hampton Air Park.   

Like the Fort, admission here is free. That is my motorcycle and some of the planes. Noticed from my last visit that they were in a lot better shape, seem to have been doing a better job of upkeep. There was a guide from Hampton, Va and he had a lot of good information about the aircraft and rockets. As there is a major Air Force Base and a NASA facility nearby they have some cool stuff to see. It is a spot by the side of the road, but a good stop as its one I have made before and plan to make again. Also again, more photos on my photo page, but not of every item there.  

Ride back was even worse than the ride up..go a few feet and stop. Go a few feet and stop. Glad to have a water cooled engine. Finally after what seemed like forever got to Williamsburg, VA and was able to get on VA5. That is one of my favorite roads with a lot of things to see, some good curves, and best of all..it was moving. At a water stop, saw these motorcycles; just a few of the many I saw on this beautiful day.
Was not very humid or hot and during the day covered a grand total of just under 185 miles. Nice place to visit even for a short time....my second trip but not my last. 

Back to the River II (June 27, 2014)

 Good day of riding on Friday June 27...once again took a ride to Riverside Drive...a fun twisty road with a lot of trees (even saw a deer in a yard which I got a photo of on my photo page) and of course great views of the James River. It is a fun place to ride.
I got the motorcycle inspected; had gotten ready for it before with new tires and brakes (needed both it seemed) before having that done. Was a quick and easy process therefore...got the inspection done in a matter of minutes.

As I noted some beautiful houses, hard to see with all the trees, but big houses and this one is right on the James River. Like the views a lot, also the road which is twisty. Has a low speed limit (which puts the cruise in cruiser but that is not a bad thing. It was fun to explore this road again, from the previous visit on the last ride it was well worth another look, and I am sure that I will be back in the future many times. It is also close to my apartment which is nice as well. 
From this ride went to Richmond where I saw a few sights. Not bad running around there on a Friday!

Photo below is from Grace Street, and later in the day took a night ride to Richmond as well. That was cut short when I saw some lightning, but got no rain in the area.

Monday Ride (June 23, 2014)

 Just a short ride on June 23...wanted to get a few miles in after working on Saturday and a rainy for the most part Sunday...which turned out to be a good movie day.
Seen here is the view from the bike pulling out from McDonalds where I grabbed a quick meal....that is a neat business ahead of me....good place I am told to rent a Kayak for a trip on the James River, they provide transportation and guides (I think on the last, sure on the first).
Was a nice day to ride, low humidity, low 80's and sunny blue skies. 

On the ride rode along the river. Went to see what is called the "Z-dam" walked past some trash cans in the photo and saw this bird. I think (though am not sure) this is a Egret, but seems to like me taking its photo...did not move, though did shortly after I took it.
Love riding along river roads...always some cool things to see. The James is a beautiful river, and there are a lot of neat things to see there. Love going (though did not this ride to the Pony Pasture where there were a lot of motorcycles parked as I went past to where I took this photo.

This is the Z-dam which is what I wanted to get a photo of. I rode on down the road, onto Cherokee Road and then Old Gun Road past some remarkable houses. They were some amazing sights and I think that area is where a lot of money in Richmond lives! The road itself was a lot of fun with a lot of twists and turns and a nice canopy of trees.
It was a good day for a short ride, but as I often say a short ride is better than no ride at all. Nice way to relax after work and I had a great time. When I next go out on the motorcycle I will be on vacation, and looking forward to exploring some further points in Virginia!

Father's Day Ride (June 15, 2014)

 Beautiful Father's Day and what better to do than ride the motorcycle. As seen in photo at left I was not the only one to enjoy that....that is a fine looking motorcycle there. Saw that on Midlothian Turnpike as we sat at one of many red lights there.
There were a lot of motorcycles out on that Sunday and it was good to get a few miles in. Have been lucky to have not had much rain (that ended on the weekend of June 21-22 when the rains came....a good movie weekend for that one but it has been like a six weekend straight run of good weekend days...even low temperatures and humidity).

This is a replica of the mining equipment at the Midlothian Mines in Midlothian, VA. Site is the oldest coal mine in North America. One of the old buildings survive (sure to have posts here either at this site or my Richmond and Me blog) as I have been a few times. Just got this shot today...will walk the trail again later. Some of the miners back then died in an explosion in the mine and are buried at the site. It is a very interesting place but this state which is one of the oldest in the USA (and even the pre-USA) is full of such sites.  

This photo was taken on Three Chopt Road (love this building) turning onto Cary Street. I was coming from Moe's Southwest Grill...had not eaten at one in some time, and the one on Three Chopt ever..but I will be back (was fun and good too!). Turned on to Cary Street past the big houses to Carytown...one of my favorite parts of Richmond where I had a frosty cold beverage at Mellow Mushroom. Both Moe's and Mellow Mushroom are chains but a cut above the usual in my opinion.
It was a good ride, not a lot again in the way of miles or time, but a great time out on the bike. I was glad to get out and enjoy the miles -any ride is a good time to me and this was no exception.
As I noted, following weekend (which is when I am writing this) did not get to ride, but have a vacation coming up and spending that in Richmond. Looking forward to some great rides...I have some good ideas and some plans for some new sights this upcoming time.

Pre and Father's Day Rides (June 14-15)

Good ride on Saturday June 14, for one thing it was not raining (had all week) and was not humid (ditto) in fact temp was barely over 80-a great day to ride. Went down West Broad Street, to Quaker Steak and Lube. Nice ride, traffic not bad....was a rough week at work and frankly not in the mood for a big monster ride. Nice (very nice to get out though).
Like Quaker Steak, also liked the one in Concord, NC and used to go to that a lot. They had a big bike night in Concord, went to the one here, was there early...maybe too early, but will check out that site again soon.

This was the food stop at Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue. Bike in background is owned by the owner (an HD V-Rod) but that is my Vulcan in the foreground. Nice ride to there, and great food...its my favorite BBQ in the RVA (with Alamo BBQ in Church Hill a very close second). Nice time there and a great meal.
After the two visits got in a bit of a ride , doing a few miles and went out toward VA360 via a very roundabout route. Had time, had gas and have a very fine motorcycle.   

Went to Steel Horse HD...saw some bikes out there, and enjoyed checking them out. Like this bike with side car I saw. Was a great ride.
On Sunday, did not plan it, but being another beautiful day I rode again. Did not have a real plan, but went to a few places and enjoyed the ride a great deal.
Noted when I put the bike up that I am under 50 miles to hitting 30,000 miles; got a feeling that will happen on my very next motorcycle ride. Sure enjoying riding this Kawasaki Vulcan, and it has been a great motorcycle. Ride Safe everyone, and see you soon!  

New Helmet Test Ride (June 7, 2014)

 Got a new helmet this week (gives me three of them, like to rotate them. They also are best, each in their own way, under different conditions. Wore the half helmet today. Anyhow, went to Ashland, VA which is not real far from Richmond. Got there via VA1 and part of I-95...was a real good ride early on (started the ride at 10am).
This is the old train station, now used for a info and tourist center (though the trains do stop there, and you can buy tickets on the train). Believe this dates to  the 1920's. Cool town, have been there before and will be back again.

This is the Strawberry Faire Festival in Ashland...figured since I was there...and enjoyed it. Was packed to the gills with booths,and had a big crowd. Much larger in both areas than I thought it would be...and had a good time.
From the festival, rode back toward Richmond via VA1 this time all the way. Riding that road is a lot of fun and have been a good distance over the years on it. Fun road south and a fun road north as well.
    

Stopped at Richmond International Raceway where I took this photo of the sign (and my bike). Like going  by the track, and got a few photos there and checked out the things going on.
Seems to get a lot of use, as there was some sort of thing going on with firemen, a racing sort of event (involving drifting which I have done in a car...that is wild) and that was neat.
In fact there were also a number of motorcycles there, in the photo below. I also have a few more photos on my Photo Page and there is a link to that on this page. 

These are the motorcycles I mentioned at RIR.From here went into Richmond where I had lunch at Buz and Ned's, and then rode around Monument Avenue and even some on Riverside Drive before heading home. It was a very good ride (and some good walking as well) though only covered some 60 miles, I enjoyed it and was a nice sunny day for it with low heat and humidity.
Looking forward to the next ride!

Richmond Greek Fest Ride (May 31,2014)

Wonderful Saturday, and one of the two big food fests called for a visit this weekend. Went to the Richmond Greek Festival on Malvern Ave....always a good time. It is also always packed to the gills...but not so much at 11am when I took this...opened the event. Shortly after lines were longer than one could believe. Great time though and a fun place with fun people.
I have some photos posted on the Photo Page, taking the car to the next event (on June 1) and will have that one on my Richmond and me page.  

Here at Mellow Mushroom in nearby Carytown, stopped in for some refreshment a bit after noon. Good restaurant (but did not eat, as I did that at the Greek Fest) but love eating there...some of the best pizza in Richmond in my opinion. Ate at the first one (its a chain) in Asheville, NC and also always visit the one in Louisville, Kentucky when I am there.
Good pizza can be found in Richmond there also at Bottoms Up and Mary Angeloes (both local chains) with some very good pizza. A week without pizza is a long seven days in my opinion.  

This caught my eye while riding, stopped and got a photo of this Kawasaki 90. Not this one, but had one as my first motorcycle back (way back) when I was 16. My Dad got it for me for Christmas. It was the start of something big.
Bike is a two-cycle, single. As far as top speed it did not have much, but sure had some great times on it. Did not take long to upgrade to a bigger bike...was the first of three two cycles I owned, but sure were good bikes. EPA pretty much ended those engines, but they were reliable and in bigger versions also fast and always fun.   

 Made a stop at the Virginia State Capital, just a beautiful building, and it was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Dates to way before the Civil War, which it survived, and there are tours of the building (which I have taken) and its very, very interesting as well on the inside.
From the visit there, went down to Highway 5 again (was there on a recent ride) but not so far. Wanted to see some Civil War sites.
This ride was not a big huge one, mileage wise but sure was a lot of fun. Wanted to see some sights and have some food and fun....sure did that.  

Last stop was at the Ft Harrison and Ft Gilmer sites on VA5, very nice forts (mostly Earthworks now) from the era. Union troops captured Ft Harrison, Ft Gilmer (which is where I am here) was abandoned when the lines were broke and Richmond fell.
Wonderful day for all the riding. Before done, cleaned the bike up and cleaned the air filter (got a K+N filter for it when the old one needed changing...a great purchase). As noted was not a big long ride, but a good day for it, with low heat and humidity a big plus. Looking forward to the next ride in the area soon.