Good Friday Ride (April 14, 2017)

Interesting day. For the first time in a long, long time went on a group ride. We were riding to Virginia Beach. Traffic was not a real surprise. Thought that the idea to ride to the beach via I-64 was a bad one. Ride leader found that there were huge backups and so we went via some backroads to the area. Took a while longer than planned. Eventually we got near the beach but due to the traffic and the time of day, I decided to break off and head out on my own.  

Did not make it to Virginia beach but did roll out to see the Atlantic Ocean here at Norfolk Beach. Not a lot of people near the water, as it was somewhat cooler than it was in Richmond (where it got up to 75). One thing was cool, though clouds were bad all day and looked like it could unload at any second, there was no rain at all. I like that though with a motorcycle and being outside sometimes rain  happens. It is a fact of life on two wheels.  

Heading back to Richmond I took a different route but still mostly highway. Got to do though some different tunnels and before that saw three aircraft carriers off in the distance at Norfolk Naval Base. Could not stop for photos being in a train of cars. Sometimes on I-64 traffic would get real, real slow but it never stopped. I did see the Hampton Air Park and took a short trip off to take a look at one of my favorite places. Nice collection of old jets and rockets...some very unique. Hampton is the home to Langley Air Force Base and the NASA Langley Center (which was featured in the great movie "Hidden Figures"). Ride back was certainly interesting and for the day total mileage was 297 which was quite the ride. With the traffic it was a real adventure. Seems that Good Friday is a big travel day. Had a good time and the group ride (what I did of it) was fun. Nice to be out and about on a very special holiday!