Battlefield Ride (April 27, 2014)

 Beautiful day for a motorcycle ride on April 27...and turned out to be the best ride of the year (so far anyhow). Headed up the road (that road being the expressway unfortunately, but fastest way there). Had been past it but had never been to Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville battlefields. Rode there on a 60 mile ride from Richmond, and did some more riding there to get to the two places. There are actually four battlefields there (also The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House) but those will have to wait for another time.
This is the Pennsylvania monument at Fredericksburg National Cemetery where some 15,000 Union soldiers are buried. Most died in all four battles over the years, and were moved there in 1865. Most are unknown as well. The cemetery is at Marye's Heights, the most famous (in my opinion) of the battles. It was really an epic day, and quite the engagement even for the Civil War (which had many such battles).    

While most of the walls at Marye's Heights are replica, this section is original to the battle. The wall also at a place called  "The Sunken Road" had heights behind it. It was a very strong position and withstood repeated attacks by Union troops under the command of General Ambrose F. Burnside. There were also a few original houses in the area, though 150 years have brought a lot of changes to all the areas.
Rode next to Chancellorsville a few miles up the road. Road was very busy and traffic was pretty fast, rangers though gave good directions and was easy to find.    

Chancellorsville had a driving tour which I rode...pretty easy to follow and some interesting sights. I have put a few more photos on my photo page, and will also have some more on my Richmond and me page.
This monument is not far from the spot where General Stonewall Jackson was shot by his own troops. Though a Confederate victory the loss of Stonewall Jackson was a major blow to the Confederate cause.
I don't think that cause ever had a chance, the North was much bigger and much more industrial. Plus as one historian once put it the Confederate "cause" was one of the worst that anyone ever fought for. Slavery is not exactly something that most nations would defend even then....England and France gave little if any support to the South.
From this battlefield, I headed back down the highway to the "Jackson Shrine".     

After being shot General Jackson was taken to the Fairfield Plantation. He rested in the outbuilding to recover from the bullets to, and the loss of, his arm (believe it was his left). Six days after being shot, he dies of Pneumonia The office building is the only remaining building but is original as is the bed he died on and some other items in the room.
All in all on a 70 degree day got in a 150 mile and very interesting ride into some more of the most dynamic period in American History (with the possible exception of WW2) and some great time on the motorcycle. If this is the real start of the riding season, 2014 is going to be one hell of a year!    

Bike Night (April 23, 2014)

 Second ride of the week, and second since I got the motorcycle back from the shop. Went back to Quaker Steak and Lube in Short Pump (a suburb of Richmond, VA) for Bike Night. It was the first time I had been to it here, was always a hell of a thing at the Quaker Steak and Lube in Concord, NC. My bike is in this row of bikes here (second from the far end). Due to being early, there was not a huge crowd there, and was not when I left either, but it was starting to build. I like that restaurant, they have good food, good prices, and they like to do a lot of special events.   

 Saw this Ducati with a Honda 750 Nighthawk in the background. I think its an S4R (least that is what I remember on the side). Ducati makes some remarkable motorcycles...what I find amazing is that there is no Ducati, Triumph or BMW dealers in the general area...to get these bikes takes quite a drive. We had a bigger assortment of dealers in the Charlotte area, but thankfully those three are some amazing motorcycles. Course, I am off the opinion that anyone who rides and whatever they ride is a brother or a sister to me. Course again, you do that when you don't ride Harley-Davidson; which are fine bikes but not really for me (not yet anyhow).

As far as wild things, this is about as wild as it gets...the Boss Hoss. I have seen a few of these, and yes, that is a Chevy engine under the fuel tank. To each their own...but they are some kind of special machine.
As for me, did not get a whole lot of miles on this ride...but had a good time. It was some great weather and sure was fun to be out after work. I took the long way home, and all in all the ride and the visit to Bike Night was around three hours (with about 2/3's of that spent riding. I do plan to go back, and looking forward to it. It was a good time on two wheels!  

Back again!

Oh yeah....got the call before Easter (but was closed Saturday, besides I was out of town in Louisville, Kentucky) that the bike was done. Went to Velocity Motorcycles who did the work, had a lot done, but wanted it to be safe. New tires and some other work, cause if you take care of your motorcycle it will take care of you.
Like this old 900 Kawasaki-those were some great bikes. Velocity does some great work with some old classic motorcycles, and at nine years old, mine is getting there. Very pleased with the work I had done today! 

 Here is my Vulcan, at a celebration lunch at Buz and Ned's. Great place to eat BBQ, in fact in Richmond it is my favorite. Good place and after the repairs I had a good ride. New tires so did not take it very far or very long, but had a great ride. 

Went for a ride in Richmond, for this day, fun city to ride around in. After the weekend trip though got a small taste of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, and looking forward to many more this summer. Its good to have the motorcycle back again. 

Downtime (April 12, 2014)

Oh well, sure to happen. My nine year old bike and I went for a ride last week (was on April 4) and a guy in a car said, "Hey, your turnsignals are falling off". I thought it was a joke...it wasent. Had to string them up (got that at a nearby Lowe's) and get it back cutting the ride short.Today, took the motorcycle on a short ride to Richmond, VA (about five miles from the apartment) to get this repaired. What happened was vibration over time broke the two bolts holding the turnsignals on. Going to have that checked out, also (while they are at it) the brake light and license bracket (just in case).

I am also going to have them check the brakes, change the anti-freeze and the hoses (on the hoses, just in case as they are also nine years old), front and rear tires, and get it inspected. Got big plans for the upcoming year riding wise, and want to be safe. Vulcan has not been an expensive bike to upkeep...sure this will be a good sized bill, but worth it...beats a medical bill for sure!
Velocity Motorcycles is on Marshall Street not far from Buz and Ned's BBQ and The Diamond (AA baseball park) in downtown Richmond. One of my favorite places to go, has a lot of unique motorcycles. I have been a fan of their restoration projects, they specialize in older bikes, and have a lot of cool motorcycles to see (such as this Ducati seen at Left). I had some work done at Ultimate Cycle (which has now moved to Powhatan) previously wrote about...took three times to fix an oil leak. While finally they were successful, ready to try this shop, and sure hope I have better luck with this repair (and I do think that I will). Not sure when I will get it back...hopefully soon. 

The Vulcan is seen here at Velocity at far right...will be resting here for a while. Looking forward to some great 2014 rides, looking at having a big year on the motorcycle, it was getting off to a really good start.
I will of course be checking out some motorcycle events in the area, and also going to enjoy some other things (Richmond has a lot to offer) while I am "grounded".
Be sure to check back here, and also my" Richmond and Me" blog while we wait to get our Knees in the Breeze. Ride safe, and will be back in the wind real soon!

Victory Test Ride, Concord, NC (April 5, 2014)

First a quick note....on a ride on my Vulcan April 4 guy in a truck told me "your turnsignals are falling off". I kind of blew him off, but did pull over and guess what...they were. Both bolts that hold it on, had broken off (mounted on the rear fender). For that and some other work, bike will be going in the shop next weekend.
Spent the weekend on a visit with my son (I am from there) in Concord, NC. Knew they were having the Victory test ride, and thought...what the hell, its a good way to get to ride again in Concord on a motorcycle, and check out a Victory Motorcycle. 

Wanted to check out the new Gunner, but they did not have one, but did have most of the others, including The Judge. All have the same air /oil cooled 106 CI V-twin engine, and  Judge is much like the Gunner (and the 8-Ball of that matter. Good light bike-this one had a small windshield, basic instruments in a single cluster gauge. Like the handlebars, and the bike had a 6 speed transmission. Seemed to be smoother than previous bikes in that line I had ridden. The windshield did cause some buffeting when we really got going down the road, not sure I would like it, but the size was good.  

 Here is the bike, once again the Victory Motorcycles "Judge". Good looking bike and pretty basic. Belt drive, and has foot pegs instead of boards (as my Vulcan does). Nice lean bike, pretty narrow, but fit me well. I liked the mag wheels (the Vulcan has spokes) but still not real sure about an air cooled engine. Like water cooled engines, though have read (via Motorcyclist Magazine) that they are going to come out with a water cooled Victory engine. Know Harley now has two..the V-Rod type and now the 750/500 (two versions of what is the same engine) on that new bike.  

It was a fun bike to ride. Group was pretty good to ride with though they all rode in a side by side (I would have preferred a staggered formation. Was really cool getting to ride again around Concord....used to think that is the best way to see it, and this ride did nothing to change that opinion I have. It was a whole lot of fun, and a really great time.
I like the motorcycle overall. They are kind of pricey, though less than Harley Davidson in general, but more than Japanese bikes (in general..there are exceptions to both ). I like the quality of it, think it would be fun to own one, but not quite yet. First order of business is to get mine fixed, problems with the Vulcan have been few, and I sure have a great time with that motorcycle. Not having a payment is also a really big plus in my book as well!    

Glory of Spring (April 1 and 2, 2014)

 An absolutely beautiful day was April 1 (no April Fool joke here) with very warm temps, and blue skies. Went for a ride ended up on Laburnum Ave...a very interesting Richmond road. Made a stop at the Virginia Aviation Museum at the Richmond International Airport, where I saw my old friend the SR-71 Blackbird. Nice museum, visited it this winter, which is not the first time I have been there. This trip though was a quick one to get a photo and to ride on down the road. Was a great time though, and a lot more to see as the ride went on. 

Stopped at Richmond International Raceway where I snapped this photo. Great track and again not my first visit (have even been to a race there, though it was an Indy car race, but also love that series) and have made a number of visits there.
The Petty Experience also makes stops at this track, I have done that (though in Charlotte, not in Richmond) but if you ever get the chance it is worth checking out. Think that is as real as it can get for most people...you will for sure get to feel what it is like to go around the track in a Nascar type vehicle at speed.
Neat ride to get to the track- came off of Highway 5 and past the mails, a Nabisco factory, and the above seen museum (and the airport) to get to the track.
It is a fun ride, but there is more to come, as I got out even further on my way back to the apartment. I also saw the statue of A.P. Hill, a famous Confederate general on Laburnum Ave...and the general is buried under it by the way!   

April 2, was even better. Temperatures were in the 80's of all things. I took this photo at a red light on Broad Street looking at Church Hill (which you can see why it is named that) which in my opinion is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Richmond. I liked a stop there at Patrick Henry Tavern, and fun to ride around that area,. though traffic was pretty heavy on my second day of riding. It was a great ride and just a remarkable day for it. I have a few more photos posted on my photo page on what was a truly great day on the bike..which went well with the other great day on it.    

Course a good bike makes for great experiences. Saw this bike at Patrick Henry Tavern (and it had a Antique Virginia license tag) which is a BMW R90. Love those old boxer twins and very unique engine (and did you know that BMW made a number of aircraft engines? 
At any case, a fun pair of days and more to come very soon, as we have more great weather to come. Spring has sprung, glad to see it, and its well overdue!