The Ride(s) of Friday (October 27, 2017)

 Nice day to get out. A little chilly but not bad when I first started out. Got out to see Beaver Dam Creek and Gaine's Mill Battlefield plus wandered some around Cold Harbor Cemetery. Lots of monuments there: from New York, Pennsylvania and also a big one to the unknown Union graves there. It was a sad sort of place, so many gave so much. Another great part of the ride though was those fantastic roads back there, which is some of my favorite rides in the area.

This is heading back to Richmond, not far from the Richmond International Airport. Followed the guy on a Harley and the woman on a (believe its a) Honda for quite a while. On the way back home made a stop at Stone Brewing and then some lunch at McDonalds before getting back to the house.
Ride was around 40 miles I believe and rode from 11:00am to 2:00pm but with quite a few stops. A good day to wander around a bit. 

Friday night went to dinner at Chick-Fil-A and that was nice. Like riding when the sun is going down, though it sure does change things a lot when that happens.
After dinner, got out and rode a bit to Riverside Drive which I guess in Richmond is THE favorite ride. Took this photo of the James River as the sun was setting. It got real dark as I got back up the road but enjoyed the ride a great deal. Got a 25 mph speed limit on that road and I certainly did not push that in the dark.
As I got off the road and back toward Forest Hill Avenue came across a doe. Could not get a photo for one because it was real dark and for another I don't think the deer as fond of the noise (though the pipes are stock) the motorcycle made. She did take a little time to look me over before bounding off. That is something at dusk and dark as well as early in the morning in that area to watch for. Deer are out there.
When I got back to the house had a total of 51 miles (for the day) on the trip meter, so tonights ride was somewhere around 10-11 miles from the total. It was a wonderful time on the motorcycle! 

Ride in the Country on a Sunday (October 22, 2017)

 Nice day for a ride, even though late the fall, it is still really warm out with temperatures approaching 80 degrees. Got going after a cool morning and started with a ride along Riverside Drive. Always nice on an early morning....this being around 10:30 when I took this photo.
From Riverside and via some back roads got on Midlothian Turnpike and ended up in a town called Cumberland, VA. Nice place with some old buildings and a very cool firetower. I used to climb one in Indiana as a boy. 

Heading back saw a road (I believe it was Highway 13 if I remember right) going to "Tobaccoville". Passed though some small towns including that one. Just outside of Amelia, VA came across this military cemetery. Of note, no civil war graves there. Had to stop to check it out and pay my respects. From there, went on to Amelia and then to home via Highway 360. A very nice ride and was surprised to see I covered some 113 miles. After the visit to NASA Langley yesterday (some photos of that on my "Richmond and me" page this has been one remarkable weekend. As for this ride, a very fun day in Virginia on the Triumph. One thing I have noted though is that as of yet, probably due to the warm weather and the lack of rain of late, very little fall color to see yet in the area.   
   

Sunday Afternoon Ride (October 15, 2017)

It was a gray and gloomy day, but turned into a sunny and dry afternoon. A good time to get the motorcycle out and for the first time in just over a week get it out for a bit and see some sights around the RVA.
Vacation was nice. As noted in the previous post rode a Suzuki Marauder around Ohio for some 60 miles last week. Been going like crazy on vacation and just felt like relaxing a bit but sometimes these motorcycles just call you...and this did today. 

Stopped early for a quick photo by the pumpkin patch just up the road. Did not get one (as they are a bit hard to carry on a motorcycle) but enjoy seeing them. I love this time of year: the fall colors, the pumpkins, the decorations (some are pretty scary) and the cooler temperatures. Well, as to that last, it was pretty warm today. In fact was sort of pushing 80 which was a surprise. However, I will take it, and enjoyed getting out in the breeze. Was not quite as windy as Ohio was but a good wind. 

Road around town mostly - went up Riverside Drive across the bridge and past Broad Street. I rode past the Richmond Folk Festival and headed out around the Boulevard/ Highway 1 areas of the city. Just out on some side streets.
Rode around this park, have been here before and it was a nice ride. Wandered out back via the Boulevard and Cary Street with a finish around my neighborhood.
Got a fuel light so got a little fuel while I was out. Nice to do that and just see the sights. There are hints of fall color though not anyplace near peak season. Still, its pretty and was fun to hear the engine and see the sights on this very fine Sunday.
I sort of did a comparison with the bike I rode last week....not a whole lot of difference. Nice to have the lighter bike than the old Kawasaki Vulcan I had for some 11 years. Lots of good memories with that great motorcycle but wanted lighter and more fun in turns. I do not miss floorboards...the Triumph like the Suzuki I rode days ago is a whole lot more fun on a twisty road. Nice day out and though just went 26 miles it was a beautiful thing indeed!   

Ohio Suzuki Marauder Ride (October 7, 2017)

Flew into the Dayton, Ohio area. Lori and her boyfriend rode to see me (and their friend/my girlfriend Debbie) on their matching Suzuki Marauder 800's. Lori let me ride her's and I took it for a cruise in Ohio. Took this photo at a red light, it is Ben on the other one. The bikes are 805cc, water cooled, 4 valves and chain drive. They were developed from the shaft drive Intruder and were made from 1986-2005. I considered this when I bought my Vulcan in 2005.   

Took this photo at a red light also. It was a very windy day when we went out but the motorcycle did fine. Good performance on this motorcycle, and has a lot of features in common with my Triumph Speedmaster. My engine is a little bigger  and maybe a hair stronger. Not enough to make a huge difference. What these bikes have is that famous Japanese reliability...both were used but Ben and Lori have had no problems with them so far.
Ohio was fun to ride in, passed though some little towns (Troy, Ohio was very interesting to see) and past a number of farms in this area outside of Dayton.
While the skies were sunny, rain was in the forecast and we soon saw a line of very dark clouds. Headed back and actually made a wrong turn (Ben was giving us directions) so for the second time that day returned to the Dayton airport (as I had flown in earlier). We decided to come back via the highway. Traffic is generally much heavier than Virginia but a nice ride and the bike handled the speed well. I really had a great time on the motorcycle and was very impressed with the handling and performance. Like my Triumph had footpegs..and I like that better than floorboards.     

Here I am at the house again, post ride. Though no helmet law in Ohio I wore a borrowed one. Don't have a problem with people not wearing them, but I only have one head and it has taken enough blows over the past 61 years of my life. This was a wonderful thing to do, and I enjoyed it a great deal. Nice to get a ride in and for sure this area makes for some very interesting riding. Love to explore, love to ride and this was a very fun way to see the area that my girlfriend lives in.

Nice Way to Spend a Friday Morning (October 6, 2017)

 Cool morning but a warm day....summer is making another comeback this day. Got riding around 10am. Did not need the big heavy coat but this have helmet, gloves and a light coat. Made a few stops early on for some things I needed to get done, and no better way to get there than the Speedmaster on a beautiful day. Stop here was at the Barber Shop. I also went by Lowe's and got a little early lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

 Love riding along the James River and enjoyed the ride today. This is at the Z-Dam but was a nice day. Mornings are great (weekdays especially) as the traffic is real light. Riverside Drive is one of the most popular areas in Richmond on the weekends. Followed that road for quite a while. Lots of beautiful houses, beautiful views, rocks, rapids, and some fun curry roads. Watch the speed though, it is also a popular road with the Richmond Police Department. 

NO tickets today though (in fact...knock on wood, none in Virginia so far). Stopped on Old Gun Road to see the old gun seen here and the gun mold. Sign under the gun mold says they were found in 1962. Date to the Civil War. Rode out to Midlothian and then back via some back roads to the house around 130. Ride was 45 miles and just a beautiful day. I have a lot of great times on that amazing machine and this was another one to add to the list!     

October First Ride (October 1, 2017)

Was very cool early this morning....51 at the usual doughnut ride time on Sunday. So I headed out around 1130. Made a first stop and ride around Church Hill. As you can see, it is named that for a reason. Beautiful day to ride and I was dressed for it so no problems. Made a stop also at Chimborazo Park. That was the site of an old Confederate Hospital back in the Civil War. All that is long gone, but the park is a beautiful place. And no...this is not a view of that park. 

This is The Diamond. Home to our AA baseball team. I was in the area and had just stopped at Hardywood Park and then had a quick lunch at Boulevard Burgers and Brews. Hoped there would be food trucks at Hardywood (there was not) but figured that a burger would be great at Boulevard Burgers (and it was!). Rode around a bit getting into Carytown via some back roads and that was a lot of fun. Nice area to ride around is Carytown...a very lively street. 

Rode up basically along Byrd Park, some streets I don't travel often. In some cases may be the first time. Came across Mt. Calvary/Riverside Cemetery. I have never been there, and was really amazed. Had to be one of the nicest pair of memorial gardens I have seen here. Very well kept and interesting.
From there, rode back to my house. I was out a while but spent about as much time looking at things as I did riding. Covered 26 miles today but had a great ride and a wonderful time.