Winter Miracle....Feb 8 Ride

Actually should say there were two really remarkable rides. On Saturday temperatures got into the 60's and got in a good ride around Richmond, VA. Sunday though was even more special, with temperatures close to or at 70...and I took full advantage!

It was a great day to ride. As I headed out toward Yorktown, VA I noted that a LOT of motorcycles were also taking advantage. In fact at stops during the ride talked with a lot of fellow motorcyclists, and did a lot of waving as I passed a number of them.Everyone was grinning from ear to ear too. It was a remarkable day to ride.

I rode up VA5 which is a beautiful road past a number of plantations (one which was owned by President John Tyler), James River views, farms, trees (lots of trees), curves, and just a great two lane road to Yorktown.
To get to Yorktown got there via the Colonial Parkway. Its a great road...sort of (to me) like the Blue Ridge Parkway but without the mountains (damn the luck). What it does have is remarkable views of the York River, these stone bridges (pulled over to get this shot) and it connects Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. I have in the past been to all three places...all are remarkable and in fact I am sure there are earlier posts from my rides there in this blog.
The road is concrete and kind of rough in spots but well maintained. Going into the Yorktown Battlefield there is a really neat and old Yorktown Victory Monument..plus a lot of really old houses which date to Colonial days. Though the off season it is a lot of fun, and had quite a crowd there...again a lot of which were bikers.
 

This is a view of the York River, amazing in that there used to be Naval battles on it. Just a big beautiful river and Yorktown has a beach (though I believe it is fresh water) and tends to have a lot of jelly fish (as there are warning signs in the area).
Lot of neat shops to see, and also some really good restaurants. I ate at the Yorktown Pub at Yorktown beach...very nice place to dine. Usually can't hardly get into it, as Yorktown Beach gets packed...but was just able to squeeze into a spot at the bar and get some lunch. Price was not bad and the service was excellent !This is Grace Church which dates to 1697. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence is buried there. I will put that grave photo on my Richmond and me page with some more photos from the ride.

 Rode back down the Colonial Parkway to Jamestown and rode the Jamestown Ferry (which is free) to VA10 and that is route I took back to Richmond. The ride is known as "The Five and Dime" and was my second time to do this. First time was on a date with a woman biker and we rode our bikes on this route (but not in February).
Total ride was some 165 miles (though I did a little extra riding around Yorktown) and just could not believe I was able to do this. Has been a moderate winter (have been able to get a few rides in) but nothing for a lot of weeks quite like this!