Touch of Spring Ride (February 21, 2018)

 Been awhile since the last ride, mainly due to an amazing amount of rain over the past few days. It was enough to really make the James River flood. However the rains have tapered off and the rains have stopped for a while. Got out the Speedmaster for a nice ride on a beautiful Wednesday.
Ride started at Forest Hill Park with a photo at the Stone House. Rode up Riverside Drive and though downtown Richmond to Shockoe Bottom and Church Hill. Rode out on Nine Mile Road and out near the airport to Highway 5.
It was a good day to ride. All the rains have dissolved the salt from the winter storms but a lot of sand and other sorts of road skud still remain. Potholes are also something to really watch out for though they are easy to avoid. Richmond also is doing a pretty good job of filling them, though it is an on going process. Still, during the ride the temperature was very close to 80, so it was a wonderful time to be out.

I went to stop at Stone Brewing for a quick glass of "refreshment" but they do not open in the winter until 4pm. Legend Brewing is open though so made a stop by there for one beer. Nice to sit out and enjoy the view which you can see at left.
From there rode around the neighborhood for a short while and then headed home. Total ride was 30 miles, but it was a wonderful trip. Doubt this great weather will last but looking forward to this soon being the norm. Spring and Fall are my favorite riding seasons..and Spring is not far away.

Speedmaster(s), Rockets, Jail, and airplanes (February 8-9,2018)

Scoot Richmond where I purchased the 2016 Speedmaster had a preview of the new 2018 Triumph Motorcycles on Feb 8. I did not ride there, but looked over the new motorcycles including the updates on the new Triumph Speedmaster. It is now water cooled (mine is air and oil) and is a 1200 (vs my 900 sized engine). Great looking motorcycle, really impressed with the line...and the one I have too!

On Friday we got sunshine and it was at 50 degrees. Taking advantage of a pretty good day in what has been a very cold and snowy winter here in Richmond I got the motorcycle out for a ride. Started out on Jefferson Davis Highway where I got this photo of my Speedmaster in front of this rocket at a local business there.
Have been real fond of rockets all my life and have always enjoyed this one. It was a good day to ride as the traffic was really light and dressed for the ride so was very comfortable.
Forecast for the next week is above normal temperatures and a whole lot of rain....pretty much a good rain chance all week long. Yes, I have ridden in the rain and no, I don't like to do so.
So this was a good time to get out and about and see some of the amazing sites to visit here in Richmond, VA. I do enjoy riding here and have also come across some remarkable people along the way.
From this point continued down Jefferson Davis with no real destination in mind.     

After a while made a stop at at Chester to check out some of the historical sites there.  Along them is the old jail which dates to 1892 and was in use for 70 years. I think the old stocks are also pretty cool, which can be seen in the lower right of the photo on the porch.
Lots of cool places in that area, and it is a nice ride there. Course on a motorcycle any ride is a good ride. 

Final stop was at the Chesterfield County Airport where I snapped this photo of a plane getting ready to take off. No real reason other than I thought this plane was very cool, and I like visiting the airport there. For the ride covered a distance of 36 miles and had a great time on this Friday.

Retirement Day Ride ( February 1, 2018)

First ride on the first day of my actual retirement from working....photo at top was the start and the photo to the left was taken at Legend Brewing where I stopped for the first spring beer of the year (which also just came out there today). Before the ride checked tire pressures and added air as it has been very cold lately and that can really change tire pressures (and did). Nice to get out for a while. Temperature was in the 50's though very cloudy.   among places I went was Monumental Church which is very historic (and that is common here in Richmond). John Marshall was instrumental in getting it built and the designer also designed the Washington Monument among other things. Edgar Allen Poe was among the people who attended this church. Google Monumental Church in Richmond for more information on the history of the building.
Ride was short over a distance of some 15 miles on this day, but as usual enjoyed the ride a great deal. Expecting a small bit of snow tomorrow which seems to be typical of this crazy winter weather this year. .