Monday Ride (November 21, 2017)

 Nice time after the Virginia Beach trip with Debbie, a little post-Thanksgiving ride around the area. Took a little different ride to Riverside Drive and a section that I have not been on in some time.
Love the view from here, especially since the fall leaves have changed and largely fallen. Got a good view of the railroad bridge seen here in the background, and the James River.
It was a wonderful day with temperatures in the low 60's which made it about perfect.

Another view of the bridge can be seen here as I get close to it. Rode on that road for a while and then headed to different parts of town.
I did not want to be out for a long time, but sure felt good to get the breeze between my knees if just for an hour. It was early in the day but past the rush hour traffic so I pretty much had the roads to myself.
Total ride was just under an hour and the distance covered was less than a half mile under 20 miles. For this time of year, not bad at all! 

RVA Beer and Bunnies Ride (November 17, 2017)

Another bout of cold weather for the past few days, but got close to 50 this Friday and I got out on the motorcycle. Ride began around 3PM, and after a quick stop for a haircut I was out on the streets of Richmond for real. Headed across the so called "Nickel Bridge" (actually a 35 cent toll) and then a stop to Maymont to see the animals. Very cool place and in fact a favorite stop. Very neat old house to see, plus as a bonus a zoo. This photo at left was taken at The Farm which has a lot of critters...including bunnies to see and feed. 

 Took the photo by the lake (one of many) at Byrd Park. Richmond is at peak color for the leaves and have been enjoying that. Nice to ride around here and see the change in the season, though was easy enough to feel it. Still, I dressed well and was quite comfortable during the ride.
Made a stop at Hardywood Park for a check out with the Richmond Lager beer they are making. Stuck with my one beer limit but finally got to check it out and enjoyed it a great deal. Might be my new favorite beer there.   

From Hardywood went through Richmond and then after a dinner stop at McDonalds I went toward my house. Did make a short and easy ride down Riverside Drive. Riverside Drive is one of my favorite roads in the city though did have my eyes wide open as this time of night deer are very, very common. Hitting a deer could put a real bad end to my bike. Of note during this ride got two complements on the motorcycle. Everyone sure seems to like this Triumph (me included). For the ride, covered a total of 16 miles and had a remarkable time!   

Short Chilly Ride (November 10, 2017)

Nice day for a ride...which is to say anyday is usually (barring rain or snow and at times in my riding days even that has happened). Was just about 50 when I got out, so bundled up and got out for a few miles. Was not a big huge ride, sort of like last week got in a whopping total of 16 miles. Just a way to run the motorcycle for awhile and get some kinks out. The photo was taken at the Z-Dam on the James River while riding on Riverside Drive in Richmond.

Got a few miles in, got a little lunch. I did make a stop at Tredegar Iron Works. Civil War museum there is interesting with a lot of remarkable items to see. Square plate at left is from the Confederate ironclad CSA Virginia, the plating (bigger) at right of that is from the USS Monitor. They battled in the Civil War near here basically to a draw but changed how Navy ships world wide were built from then on.
It was good to get out, its that time of year when the big motorcycle rides are few and far between in this part of the world. Still fun though and its better to ride a little, than not at all.

Nice way to enjoy a Monday (November 6, 2017)

 Good day for a ride, which did not cover a lot of distance. Sun came out but then the clouds during the ride got thicker so it was a very (and too) short 14 miles. Still, a short ride is better than no ride.
Rain chances are pretty high today (as it turned out, as I write this it has STILL not rained) but then again had some things to do today and it still put a huge grin on my face.
Rode around downtown some, from my house seen at left to Shockoe Bottom, and up around downtown. Traffic was not bad, road construction was.
Finally got out to Monument Avenue, which was very beautiful. Fall is getting (finally I might add) more and more colorful. My tree is getting very pretty with the fall colors. Perhaps not so wonderful with the falling leaves, but you have to take the good with the bad.
Anyhow rode around Monument Avenue, past VCU (one of the campuses anyhow....they are all over the city) and just enjoyed the ride. As always the motorcycle was perfect. 

Rode back across the Lee Bridge and then got on to Riverside Drive. It is amazing this time of year and just a blaze of color.
The photo at left is part of some of the sights I saw there, and always a fun road to ride. Lots of curves and scenic views. Does not pay to go too fast, otherwise a close encounter with Bambi the deer is possible. Being well patrolled it is also possible to meet John Law. What makes that road amazing is the curves and the sights.   

Sunny and 80....November Ride (November 3, 2017)

 Had to get out on this Friday, for one expecting rain Saturday and for another...well you just dont pass on 80 and sunny in November. Beautiful day for a ride which started around 11 with a stop at Scoot Richmond. Went to see some of the new 2018 Triumph motorcycles on my 2016 Triumph Speedmaster. Nice visit though the new version of my bike is not expected to be there until January for February. Do like these Bobbers though, very cool motorcycles. 

 This is the lake at Byrd Park. Nice to hang out there for a little bit and see some of the sights in the very beautiful park. Nice memories there with my very fine border collie "Mollie" who loved to chase the birds. Saw a sign that they have border collies to do that very same thing (though have never seen them working there). Nice to see a bit of fall color finally coming to the area. Warm weather and a lack of rain have impacted that up to now. 

However, has been some rain and even some cool nights, and the color is finally coming to the trees. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I have not made my annual trip to see the color in the mountains. That is mainly because there has not been much this year, for many of the reasons mentioned above.
Still, Monument Avenue is a beautiful place to stop and look at some of the sights...the monuments and the houses are remarkable. 

Toured this for the first time. A Tudor style building which dates to around 1900. It now houses the "Branch Museum of Architecture and Design" and I took a few minutes to wander around the museum part and check it out. Was my first visit there and it was something to see. The museum was mostly drawings of places of interest in the Richmond area (and slightly beyond) and the rooms of the museum were very interesting also. Nice to visit!

I also made a visit to Legend Brewing Company for a quick refreshment stop. One of the best views of the City of Richmond can be seen from its deck and I enjoyed seeing that once again. It is not far from the house, but this was not the last part of my ride...no, not by a long shot. 

Made a ride down VA 5 to Fort Harrison. It was near the end of the war and the fort was taken by Union forces in a battle. A number of Confederate forts were in that area. Ft Hoke, seen at left was also taken but then abandoned by the Union who went back to Fort Harrison. Robert E, Lee attempted to retake Harrison, but was unable.
As for the ride today (and a short night ride as well) traveled just short of 60 miles. It was a fantastic day and a wonderful adventure.