Good Friday Ride (March 29, 2013)

Another ride which was once again on the chilly side. Decided to avoid the highways (a good rule anyhow) and stick to some slower roads. In this case went up Midlothian Turnpike. Wandered up to the Westchester Mall and (seen at left) Chesterfield Towne Center. Not to shop but just to look - had not been there in some time and just wanted to ride out that way. As I am finding, it sure is a lot more fun motorcycling the area then it is to drive it (though that is ok too)..but all things are better on a bike (well, maybe not cooking). At any case, was a fun time out that way.  On the way back took a ride via some cool back roads to Forest Hill Ave (my current stomping grounds. Got this photo below of the Bon Air water tower. Cool neighborhood, has some very colorful and interesting houses there: like to check that part of the area out.

Finally, got this photo of the Dogwood trees- saw a number of them blooming all over, and these were pretty representative  of them. Nice to see Spring coming, though it sure is taking its time (though it is "offically spring") getting here. We have been below normal temperatures (normal high is around mid-60's this time of year) all month. Thankfully, there are signs that it will be changing soon. Still, bundle up a bit, watch the speed (wind chill on cool days is a factor of speed) and you have some good riding. Did see a lot of motorcycles out, and got to do a bit of waving, which is something common to both NC and VA it seems.
I think I got in another 30 mile (or so) ride; nothing remarkable but a short ride is better than no ride at all. It was a great day to get out, missed the 20% rain chance, and felt good to get my knees in the breeze. Good Friday was a fine day here, and just a couple of days till April. I plan to ride April 1, when I am told the temperature will be (gasp) 70! Will love to see that, and will take full advantage of it! See you then! 

Hull Street Ride (March 23, 2013)

Good day for a ride in Richmond, 4th day of "official" spring, but not really all that warm, but not bad either out in the breeze. Brought my new bike ramps from NC and much better getting the bike out from where I store it (also better getting it in). Rode up Hull Street, had a few things I wanted to see on that road, did not have a great deal of time (ended up doing under 30 miles) but made a few stops and rode all in all around 2 hours. It was a good day to get out, and with the forecast for tomorrow being a 100% chance of rain and also some snow possible, it seemed like a good idea.  

Went to HondaHouse out there (photo above is my bike at Sunday Park which is a really, really pretty place) but these are Spyders at HondaHouse. Interesting rides, a real variation on trikes, and in fact I know a couple of people who ride them. They have two locations for this dealer, out on Hull Street, and one on West Broad. I think they would be a lot of fun to ride, very sporty and also have some of them equipped for touring which is pretty cool
I am more of the two wheeled type, but think these would still be a lot more fun than a car. 

 Pricy as a car, but a hell of a thing is the new Honda FB6 which is the latest take on the Gold Wing. It is sort of a "bagger" and has more air passing thru it than the Wing does. Rode one of them a few years ago, to me it was just like a two-wheeled car. This would be a lot more motorcycle like. It comes in just under 20k, so it is really on the high end of a bike, but then again that motor is said to last virtually forever and I have no doubt that it does with reasonable maintenance. Honda makes some remarkable motorcycles, and has a lot of brand new ones for 2013. There will be a lot more to see here in the weeks to come.
Honda House also is now selling "Star (aka Yamaha) Motorcycles, and they have a good line up. They are very interesting (I had a Yamaha way back when) and enjoyed it a great deal. This is a pretty new change, but is pretty cool as well. A couple of them can be seen below. 

Finally made a ride to Steel Horse Harley-Davidson, which opened last year, and this was my second visit. I do like the Harley line up, though then again they are sort of pricy, but sure would be among the most loved motorcycles in America. You don't see a lot of people getting Honda tattoos for instance! I do enjoy some of the bikes,have been a big fan of the V-Rod for instance; course I tend to like shaft drive and watercooled motorcycles.
At any case, some nice places to visit and a great ride on a day that I really needed it. Been a tough year and the weather is not all that great, but felt good to get out and enjoy a ride in the RVA!

Downtown RVA and Malvern Hill March 10 ,2013)

 Just a wonderful day here in the RVA, with a temperature in the mod-60s, and blue skies it was time to ride. Got the bike out and headed to Byrd Park where I stopped by the lake for a while. Was a big crowd out there, lots of people on two wheels and four had the same idea as I did. It was been pretty much winter like for the last few weeks so nice to get out and get a little touch of spring. It seems like forever since my last ride, but spring is just around the corner; in fact the first official  day is March 21. I am looking forward to some better weather and an end to winter. 

 I rode though downtown, but also rode out highway 5 to the Malvern Hill Battlefield. This was quite the battle, was part of the Seven Days Campaign (the first Union invasion of Richmond) but this one did not go well. As the Union Army retreated to the James River (and back North) Union forces lined up cannon and stood off Confederate attacks. In fact this battle was one of the classic uses of cannon in the Civil War. The Union Army would come back, but this invasion was the end early in the war. The Seven Days Campaign was one of the most interesting of the Civil War. 

 This is one of the cannon looking out toward what was the Confederate advance. As it was a cannon battle, they have a lot of cannon at this battlefield. Highway 5 has a lot of country, a nice view of the James, and a lot of old houses. It is a good route to Williamsburg; I think the battlefield is like 14 miles from downtown Richmond. I had driven it with the car, this was my first time on the bike down this road, and it was a lot of fun. Unlike many roads in the area, this one was pretty much clear of potholes. On a Sunday like this it was very fine indeed, and I greatly enjoyed it. 
Finished my ride with a stop at Poe's Pub where I saw this very cool looking bike. All in all, covered some 55 miles and was out some three hours, with time for a few stops along the way. It was a great ride!