Downtown RVA and Malvern Hill March 10 ,2013)

 Just a wonderful day here in the RVA, with a temperature in the mod-60s, and blue skies it was time to ride. Got the bike out and headed to Byrd Park where I stopped by the lake for a while. Was a big crowd out there, lots of people on two wheels and four had the same idea as I did. It was been pretty much winter like for the last few weeks so nice to get out and get a little touch of spring. It seems like forever since my last ride, but spring is just around the corner; in fact the first official  day is March 21. I am looking forward to some better weather and an end to winter. 

 I rode though downtown, but also rode out highway 5 to the Malvern Hill Battlefield. This was quite the battle, was part of the Seven Days Campaign (the first Union invasion of Richmond) but this one did not go well. As the Union Army retreated to the James River (and back North) Union forces lined up cannon and stood off Confederate attacks. In fact this battle was one of the classic uses of cannon in the Civil War. The Union Army would come back, but this invasion was the end early in the war. The Seven Days Campaign was one of the most interesting of the Civil War. 

 This is one of the cannon looking out toward what was the Confederate advance. As it was a cannon battle, they have a lot of cannon at this battlefield. Highway 5 has a lot of country, a nice view of the James, and a lot of old houses. It is a good route to Williamsburg; I think the battlefield is like 14 miles from downtown Richmond. I had driven it with the car, this was my first time on the bike down this road, and it was a lot of fun. Unlike many roads in the area, this one was pretty much clear of potholes. On a Sunday like this it was very fine indeed, and I greatly enjoyed it. 
Finished my ride with a stop at Poe's Pub where I saw this very cool looking bike. All in all, covered some 55 miles and was out some three hours, with time for a few stops along the way. It was a great ride!  

Down the "Lost Highway" (Feb 24, 2013)

Yesterday watched again (for the umpteenth time)  the movie "Wild Hogs" Final song is "Lost Highway" by Bon Jovi, with the lyric "in my rear view mirror, my life is getting clearer", and that certainly describes my life at this time. On a nice day in Richmond, took a ride don the motorcycle around town. Nice to get out, it has been awhile since I have been on the bike, it is after all still winter here in the RVA and between work, the cold and the rain riding has been difficult of late. However, today was not "too bad" though sure looking forward to spring, and the promise of better weather in Richmond.

I rode around downtown mostly, made a stop by Rocketts Landing, where I took this photo of Conch Republic there. Actually I did get a short visit in at nearby Poe's Pub, and got a frosty cold beverage there. I like that place, meet some interesting people there, and today was no exception. Rocketts Landing is an interesting development, when I first got here there was little there, but it is now apartments and condos and a number of really good restaurants have popped up. While I did not go here today, I have in the past, this is a neat place right on the James River.

Friend of mine and his girlfriend are renting this house in Church Hill, which is one of my favorite areas to explore. Lots of cool places there, a lot of history and of course gas lanterns all lit up, as well as cobblestone streets. St John's Church where Patrick Henry gave his "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech was made still stands near here. I like being here, and over the next few years will do some serious exploring around here and around Virginia, now that my favorite mode of transportation is here with me.
The change in my life is not of my wish, but dealing with circumstances as they have happened. I plan to make the best of what life, and my soon to be former wife, has made my future, and to enjoy the things here that over the last few years I have found so wonderful. If I am to be exiled from my home,. there are certainly a lot of worse places to be than Richmond, Va. I have been amazed with the quality of the people that I have found here, and I find myself excited about the future to come!  

Richmond - Ride One (February 15, 2013)

 So on a workday, but a day which reached 62 degrees, took my first "real" ride in the area. No, was not long, but a short ride is better than no ride, and it was a beautiful day to get out. This photo at left is from Forest Hill Park, stopped to get some photos with the motorcycle there, and took this just before getting out on the roads. Richmond will be interesting, noted during the ride (as I have driving) that the roads can be rather rough. Good idea to keep a close eye on the surface. Drivers (again some long experience) tend to be ok, though traffic can be heavy at times.

Rode around Forest Hill Avenue, also took a ride around Riverside Drive - a very scenic drive beside the James River, and headed into Richmond. I took the photo at left at Tredegar, which was the armory for the Confederacy during the Civil War. It was a real good start to what will be some interesting and fun riding. I have been on a number of roads thinking "this would be great on a motorcycle", well due to unexpected circumstances, the motorcycle is here. I plan to take full advantage of it, over the next few years. This is a fun and interesting town, and there is a lot of cool things to check out in Virginia.  

Vulcan in the RVA (February 2, 2013)

 Well...my wife of 23 years has decided that we should split (a new boyfriend helps for her). She always thought I loved the motorcycle more, finally she is right. Anyhow, got a ride with some friends from work (thanks guys!) to Concord on a Friday night, and on Saturday morning bundled up and rolled the Vulcan down I-85 toward Richmond, VA. It was bone chilling cold...something like 40 degrees when I headed out. Though I was very bundled up, had to make a few stops to warm up, such as at this rest area in North Carolina. It was a very good ride though, and sure is more fun than in a car. 

Be nice though if she would have left me in the Spring, she does know I ride! At any case it was colder in Virginia and the clouds were gathering. I stopped at the Micky D's in South Hill, VA where I took the photo at left, and coffee got me the rest of the way in. I made it to where I will be keeping the motorcycle just before it started to snow! (Just flurries though). When life gives you lemons, ride your motorcycle to the beach I always say (though will be a while before weather is prime for that). Going to see some interesting sights in the State of Virginia, and going to do it via the best mode of transportation there is. It is going to be a fun year(s).

When Life Hands you Lemons.....(January 20, 2012)

 Photographed this guy riding on Riverside Drive in Richmond, VA. Got that photo while taking a walk to see the James River after four inches of rain over the previous week. Nice road there, one of the many in the area. Apparently I will be getting the chance to do some motorcycling in the Richmond area; my wife and I are going to part ways, the house in Carolina will be sold, and I will be remaining in the Richmond area. Over the past four years during the back and forth thing due to my job, the city has really grown on me. Now I will experience it the best way one can...on two wheels.

Saw this BMW at Crossroads Coffee while I was out wandering. It is a difficult time, my wife and I have had a lot of good years. Hope is that when it is all over that we part as friends. As for me, hanging in there, and hoping that once all this is over, and that I pick up the pieces, that the good times will roll once again. For now, these are difficult days, but it is always darkest before the dawn.
Hope all of you have good and safe rides. Thanks to all my friends in Carolina who have been so supportive. I will be continuing to keep the news, and adventures from the road (though as noted, new roads) coming here in the months to come. Thanks for visiting my page!  

A Warm Winter Day in the RVA (January 13, 2013)

 Nice day indeed, on Sunday finally got some of those promised 70 degree temperatures (did not quite pan out Saturday) and got out for a while. Of course did not have the motorcycle in Richmond (it lives in Carolina where I heard a number of "I went riding" stories) but I did get out to Buz and Ned's Barbecue in Richmond, VA. As places go, it is one of my favorite places to eat and not just because the owner (aka "Buz") is a rider....that is his Harley-Davidson V-Rod behind my dinner. His food did win a throwdown with cooking legend Bobby Flay though, and its some damn fine good food. Made a good start to my day, cause I figure that if I can't ride might as well enjoy watching some people riding.  Too nice to stay in all day, even with some outstanding football (which I made sure to follow) going on this Sunday. Good playoffs so far for sure, nice cap to a pretty good season (Bears and Panthers did not make it, so that is why I have to just rate this season as "Pretty Good".  

 Saw this guy riding his (believe it is an 800) Vulcan in the Church Hill neighborhood. There were a lot of big groups riding today, saw groups of sport bikes, cruisers...Harley and Japanese together and solo....just a lot of motorcycles taking advantage of this weather.
Not all that unusual to get 70s this time of year, rare for sure, but seems to happen sometime or even sometimes during the winter. Nice to see everyone out, even if I had to grit my teeth sometimes. Living in two places means some of the things I enjoy will be at either one or the other.  

While in Church Hill, saw this old BMW R75/6 which is a classic motorcycle. The old Boxer engine (and they go way back) has really only been updated twice; once with oil cooling some years ago (also all versions are air cooled, the oil is supplemental) and now this year they are adding water-cooling (but again in sort of a supplemental role). BMW's are just well engineered German motorcycles, with a very long history. I read a while back that the Boxer engine was developed by an aircraft engineer, BMW had a long history as an aircraft engine company, and made some great motors during the history of that company.
As I said, nice to get out, enjoyed seeing the motorcycles in this very interesting city. I also have some photos at my "Richmond and Me" page of some of the sights that I saw on this warm January 13.   

Chilly Ride to Morrow Mountain (January 5, 2013

 Another chilly but sunny day (at least at the start) and went to meet up with Phil and Tim at RideNow in Concord. Phil could not make it , but Tim rode in, and we checked out some of the bikes there. That included this 2013 Yamaha R1. The MotoGP version of this bike will be ridden this year by Valentino Rossi, and looking for some great things from The Doctor this year after a lackluster year with Ducati. At any case, nice to see some of the newer bikes, though some of the really good ones I am looking forward to seeing will not be out until later this Spring.   

These are our bikes getting ready for the ride, in the background is my Vulcan, in the foreground is Tim's HD. It is the 100th anniversary edition, which is one of my favorite schemes from The Motor Company.

We had a good ride to Morrow Mountain. It did get pretty chilly as the clouds built up during the day, and we missed the sunlight. Did see a Bald Eagle while we were there, and a few motorcycles did brave the conditions. Route we took was really good; NC 200 to NC 24/27 and then into the park. Morrow Mountain is one of my favorite destinations.
This will be my last ride for a couple of weeks at least (at least depending on weather) as I will be heading back to Richmond Sunday afternoon. Over the holiday break rode a total of 259.6 miles; not bad considering that its winter. I enjoyed some great rides with some very fine people, and I appreciate getting to ride with both of them. Looking forward to some more adventures on two wheels, very soon!