Sunday ride in the RVA (April 30, 2017)

 Sunday at 10am, took to the streets again on what was going to be another hot day. Mentioned this in my last post. Got bunnies, but this one (think it was the same one last night) is absolutely fearless. I got the bike out...all the noise and all and he still stayed there. Got the motorcycle out front, got my camera and he just posed for the photo. As I was getting ready to head out, looking out the back window and saw he was still....there!  

This is the Egyptian Building in Richmond. It was was used as part of a medical school and is now still used for that as a part of VCU. Designer made it in "Egyptian Revival Style" and has been used for that continually since it was built in 1845. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. As to using this style if building it was done because one of the first doctors of history was Egypt's "Imhotep". It is also very near the VCU Hospital.    

Photo here was taken where I stopped before turning on to Grace Street. While out wandered a bit around the city, with a stop at Sugar Shack for some great doughnuts and just to see the sights. Love to ride on a Sunday morning as the traffic is light and that makes for some very pleasant riding.
Much of the city is fun to see especially when it is a quiet Sunday and with remarkable weather. I did want to get in a bit early today due to the heat and to see the race at RIR later this afternoon.  

Got one last photo, and this is a first time one of the Stewart-Lee house. This house was built in 1844 and was the residence of Mrs. Robert E. Lee and her son after they lost Arlington (when the Union Army seized it and turned it in the famous cemetery). General Lee did live there for a time from April 15, 1865 to the following June but left due to all the visitors that came to see him after the war.
Lots of history here in this city. Had a great ride, in fact an amazing three days of great rides. A bit hot than I would have liked...very unusual getting 90's in June. I also got a lot of Sun on Saturday, but was more ready with sunscreen today on this last day of April 2017.Looking ahead to the weekend forecast for next weekend (and for Monday for that matter) that is probably a very good thing. It was a great deal of fun though. Riding is one of the great joys of my life.
Fun thing today...got the comment "nice bike" from three people...two men and a woman. Nice, got very few comments on the Vulcan though that was a great motorcycle too. Triumph is a great deal of fun though and added another 30 miles to the weekend total. Looking forward to the next riding day(s) on this very fine machine!

Saturday Ride in the RVA and Beyond (April 29, 2017)

Saturday was a toasty day....during the course of the ride the temperature got well into the 90's. Bright sun and the heat took some getting used to. I got out to see a few things. First stop was at "Woofstock" and it was fun. Miss my dog who passed over a year ago  and good to hang out with many and their people at the mall on Midlothian Turnpike. I like dogs and the people they take care of. There were all sorts of booths and bands as well. It was a good time!

Rode all the way out to Petersburg as there was a restaurant there I wanted to see..but some kind of event was going on in town and with the massive crowd and no parking I passed. Headed back to Richmond and went to the Craft Fair at Hardywood Park. All sorts of crafts and of course....craft beer! Good combination though I was light on the beer park. Still, some neat things and a well attended event. After that, headed home for a few hours.

At dusk bot back out on the motorcycle for a little night ride. Went to see the James River after all the rain last weekend, and it was still up though kind of think it was higher a few days ago based on a few things I saw. Usually see some critters but none really today though one of the neighborhood bunnies was in my yard when I got home. My motorcycle did not seem to bother him, For the entire day just over 100 miles and some very good riding on a Saturday in the RVA.  

Church Hill at Dusk (April 28, 2017)

After a previous weekend of rain it has been a week to the day since I rode last. Luckily, this weekend is looking much better although it will be hot with temperatures in the 90's. That is toasty for this time of year.
Nights are cooler and it was warm today but as the sun was setting got out on the Speedmaster and did a few miles. Here while waiting for the red light, got this photo on Broad Street heading into the Church Hill section of Richmond. Lots of neat things to see there.

My bike is in this photo. A very old section of the city, was told a while back that the elevation of the city saved most of its buildings from the fires that consumed much of the city when Richmond fell to Union forces in the Civil War. Lots of very old places and cool streets. Speaking of those cool streets you need to watch riding on cobblestone as it can be tricky. Luckily (and knock on wood) it has never been a problem-but I do know some who can't say that.  

View from Church Hill of Richmond, it is one of my favorite places to stop and get a photo. I do enjoy riding around this city which has a lot of sights to see and many things to do.
Have been living here now for the past few years and enjoy it a great deal. Looking forward to a really good weekend and have a couple of places planned for a ride on Saturday and also something planned for Sunday. Ought to be a lot of fun.

 This is close to the end of the ride, not far from my neighborhood here. I like seeing the bike at night, don't often ride at night but sure enjoy it when I do.
Started the ride up Riverside Drive and ended the ride the same way. Here I am getting ready to cross over Forest Hill Avenue not far from my house.
It was a real good night to get out. Not a whole lot of miles and in fact was just 15 from beginning to end. Spent a lot of time just putting around and looking at things.
As I noted going to be a very good couple of days other than the heat which will make it interesting. Still, looking forward to getting my knees in the breeze again and will enjoy the sights that are ahead. As always to my fellow riders...ride safe and enjoy the ride!  

Riding the Storm Out (April 21, 2017)

Short one, but longer than the ride last weekend....covered some 36 miles. Forecast is for storms ALL weekend but this Friday was a good day. Did all my outdoors work (lawnwork and some planting) and got out on the motorcycle. This was a stop at Beaver Dam Battlefield. Just found this a few months ago...at this site Union and Confederate forces battled.  1500 Condederate and 350 Union were killed, injured or captured during the battle. Peaceful place now.  

Enjoyed riding from there and down some nice roads ending up in Church Hill. Stopped at Alamo BBQ which I have not been to in a while. Nice early supper there (as this was around 4;30) and then sort of rode for home. Traffic was heavy during the ride but not terrible. I ended up putting the Triumph away around 5;30.
Some two hours later around 7:30 the skies unloaded. The rain with just a few pauses has not quit as I write this on Saturday and it is expected to rain through Monday.

Post Easter Monday Motorcycle Ride (April 17, 2017)

Posted the Easter Ride on my Richmond and Me blog, but the day after had a dentist appointment. It was another beautiful day and I figured that taking the motorcycle was a really good idea. Indeed it was. A bit cooler (and in my book nicer) than Easter Sunday as I am not quite ready for upper 80's temperature wise, and much less windy. I visited this shop which is moved from a previous location. Used to get things for the now X-wife there, was riding around and saw this place had moved a few feet away from the old location. Guess its good to remember.

After the appointment rode around for a bit. Took this photo in Bon Air, Virginia which is a very nice area with some really outstanding houses. Many of them are on the historic register.
As rain was in the forecast I kept the ride short and only covered 20 miles. Got the bike home around 11am and got a few things done for the week. Rain was expected between two and six, but by around 1pm it was pounding down. The motorcycle was long under cover. I love it when a plan comes together!

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!  

Sunday on the Bike in the RVA (April 9. 2017)

Beautiful day in Richmond, with temperatures in the 70's and under sunny skies. Got going around noon and made a stop at this site along Riverside Drive in Richmond.
Nice area below me, with rocks and the James River down a small trail. Beautiful area and a good start to the ride.
I have been down there in the past, fun areas to explore along the river which is one of the few cities with rapids on its river.  

Made a stop at Hollywood Cemetery. Here is the grave of Maury who was one of the leading Naval officers of the Confederate Navy. He in fact has a statue on Monument Avenue and was called "The Pathfinder of the Seas".
To his left in the light brown structure is President James Monroe who was one of the earliest Presidents as well as one of the founding fathers during the American Revolution. He is known for the famous "Monroe Doctrine"

Saw on the news a story on Bryan Park which back in the day was known for its Azalea Festival which up to 60,000 or more would come to see. The park over the years has fallen into decline but people are attempting to restore it to some level of its former glory.
These are some of the azalea bushes and it was fun to see the park which is undergoing some repair. Seems to be a popular place for soccer as the fields were full of some sort of league play and that was good to see. This park can be found in the lakeside area of Richmond just off Exit 80 of I-95.

I rolled into Ashland, VA and revisited this place after a visit to Hardywood Park which was having bands and booths to raise money for dogs...which to be a very, very noble cause. Had a great time at both places.
Following those visits had dinner at Zzaam in Carytown and then took the Nickel Bridge back to my neighborhood and home a little before 5pm. Total ride was a half mile under 60 miles on a wonderful day. Have not been out for a while and have to say it was fantastic!