Return to the Blue Ridge Parkway (May 23, 2015)

If I have one favorite ride, the Blue Ridge Parkway is it. I loved it in North Carolina and went there many times in the 14 years I lived there. Now that I am in Virginia the love continues.
Getting here is easy...just get on I-64 West and head up the road to Exit 99. Takes a bit over an hour though I did stop for fuel in the (also interesting) Charlottesville. Once there was rewarded with views such as at left.      

Being the Memorial Day weekend, there were a lot of police pulling over a lot of cars as well as Rangers clocking cars on the Parkway. On the Parkway the speed limit is 45. Actually not bad though cause you don't want to miss the views. I believe that is Spy Mountain in the distance. I was at 99 miles from the apartment to the start of the Parkway, I rode on it for some some 50 miles. Was actually sort of cool, which was wonderful with temperatures in the low 70s and low humidity. Being a holiday weekend there was quite a crowd there and on the highway getting there but it was not all that bad for the most part.

This was one of the last photos I took up there, There are lots of pulloffs and a lot of special things to see and do. As I noted saw a turnoff to VA60 which I knew runs to Richmond, so got off and headed on that. For the first few miles that mountain road was quite a twisty challenge and a lot of fun. Was from where I started at the Parkway to Richmond a total of 122 miles. So the total ride was some 261 miles to Richmond and then another few to the apartment. At the end the trip meter said 276 which I think was a pretty good days ride. I could not have asked for a better day, or a better place to ride. Looking forward to my next visit there.

Rides in March 2015 (March 2 and 8)

 Got in a good ride on March 2; rode out on VA 5 to Malvern Hill, a very historic battlefield in Richmond, VA (actually just outside of it). Here Union Forces retreating from the first effort to take the city of Richmond engaged forces under Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Confederate forces were repelled and the Union Army retreated.
It was one of the many battles in the Richmond area which was one of the major centers of the Civil War.
I am very impressed how these sites have been preserved for over 150 years since the war ended.   Made a short stop the same day to the Virginia Aviation Museum to see the SR-71 Blackbird. They have a nice collection of aircraft at the museum, and fun to see these amazing machines.

Took a ride also to Short Pump love this area with both shops and apartments...had lunch there. Prior to that went to Hanover, Virginia (the Hanover ride and the Short Pump visit were both on March 8. The Hanover Courthouse dates to the pre-Revolutionary War period...Patrick Henry argued cases in this court house. Photos from these rides and others can be found on my Richmond and Me page as well.
Been lucky to have some very good rides this month, weather has been sunny for the most part and temperatures have been very nice. Spring is one of the favorite times to ride!  

Return to Petersburg National Battlefield...and a Sunday ride (April 18-19, 2015)

Have been able to ride the last two weekends..last week was a ride around the Richmond area. On the warmest day (so far) of the year rode to Petersburg to the Battlefield. It is my third visit, but an amazing place. Actions here basically ended the Civil War. This site was where an early breakthru occurred. A part of General Grant's army took this position but did not press on. Only 3,000 troops were in Petersburg but during the delay Lee sent more troops and the war drug on. All the earthworks are the original fortifications. There were also wood works around them, but they are all gone.    

This was the mine tunnel entrance at The Crater. During the siege General Burnside (and yes, that is the guy Sideburns were named for) had the idea of building a tunnel , packing it with explosives and blasting a hole in the Confederate defenses. To everyones surprise...it worked. However, they went down in "The Crater" and no one had ladders to scale the now 30 foot walls. The Confederates rallied and captured or killed the attackers. Burnside and another General were "retired" after this.
Amazing place and a wild story. There are a lot of them at this battlefield, it is a remarkable place to visit.  

I also stopped at nearby Blandford Church which has a lot of Civil War dead. In fact it has a lot of dead as it dates to 1735. There are even graves dating to the Revolution. Amazing place and it is right next to the battlefield and played a role in it.
The ride was a lot of fun, went down I-95. Got a new helmet earlier that day, and got to say it is one of the most comfortable I have ever worn. A bit of luck there, but like it! Stopped by a tavern in Chester, VA on the way back, where there were a slew of motorcycles...it was the end of a Poker Run. Tavern was "I dont know sports grille" and I will be back (was there a few years ago under different ownership). On an 83 degree day went some 75 miles and had a very fun time. Made a local ride on Sunday morning to some places in Richmond, but due to the gathering clouds cut that ride short giving me just under 100 miles for the weekend. The rains came around 3PM.    

Back on the Road Again (March 21-22, 2015)

As noted from the last post....most of February was for the most part a hard blast of winter, as was early March....with a number of days of snow, rain and some brutal cold. I think after the ride to Williamsburg (last post) it barely got over freezing. Plus all the salt and sand, and overall all I got to do was look at my covered bike.
Saturday though, the first full day of Spring it was in the 60s (upper 60's at that) and spent the morning working on the motorcycle. Got in the oil change, changed spark plugs and rear gear oil. Cleaned it up, checked the air in the tires and got out on a ride. Wanted to make sure everything was good so was more of a test ride, but had a great time and covered some 30 miles.
The next day (today actually) I took the photo at left in Shockoe Bottom (a part of Richmond) headed to the Church Hill Irish Festival. Was supposed to be a much cooler day but turned out to be just about as warm as yesterday (Saturday) was and a good day for a ride.

The Festival was a lot of fun, and enjoyed checking out the band(s) there. Even ran into a local weather caster (Carrie Rose on WTVR). Made her laugh when I told her I get up with you every morning. There were bands there, beer and good food, it was a lot of fun.
After the event I went out a bit more, everything running perfect. I took the battery out of the motorcycle when the really cold weather came, I think (and really hope) that should help prolong the life of the battery.
At any case though not a lot of riding, it was a fantastic day to be out.  

Strange time of year, forecast for the rest of the week is sort of up and down temperature wise, but still will be some warm days with one day in the 70's....though that day also looks to be pretty wet.
At any case though, with some curves sure to come its the start of riding season and I for one am ready to get out and do some exploring on this two wheeled wonder as we have done together now for some 10 years. Hope all are also out and enjoying this, and hope to meet up with some of you out on the highways and byways of this great country.

Winter Miracle....Feb 8 Ride

Actually should say there were two really remarkable rides. On Saturday temperatures got into the 60's and got in a good ride around Richmond, VA. Sunday though was even more special, with temperatures close to or at 70...and I took full advantage!

It was a great day to ride. As I headed out toward Yorktown, VA I noted that a LOT of motorcycles were also taking advantage. In fact at stops during the ride talked with a lot of fellow motorcyclists, and did a lot of waving as I passed a number of them.Everyone was grinning from ear to ear too. It was a remarkable day to ride.

I rode up VA5 which is a beautiful road past a number of plantations (one which was owned by President John Tyler), James River views, farms, trees (lots of trees), curves, and just a great two lane road to Yorktown.
To get to Yorktown got there via the Colonial Parkway. Its a great road...sort of (to me) like the Blue Ridge Parkway but without the mountains (damn the luck). What it does have is remarkable views of the York River, these stone bridges (pulled over to get this shot) and it connects Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. I have in the past been to all three places...all are remarkable and in fact I am sure there are earlier posts from my rides there in this blog.
The road is concrete and kind of rough in spots but well maintained. Going into the Yorktown Battlefield there is a really neat and old Yorktown Victory Monument..plus a lot of really old houses which date to Colonial days. Though the off season it is a lot of fun, and had quite a crowd there...again a lot of which were bikers.
 

This is a view of the York River, amazing in that there used to be Naval battles on it. Just a big beautiful river and Yorktown has a beach (though I believe it is fresh water) and tends to have a lot of jelly fish (as there are warning signs in the area).
Lot of neat shops to see, and also some really good restaurants. I ate at the Yorktown Pub at Yorktown beach...very nice place to dine. Usually can't hardly get into it, as Yorktown Beach gets packed...but was just able to squeeze into a spot at the bar and get some lunch. Price was not bad and the service was excellent !This is Grace Church which dates to 1697. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence is buried there. I will put that grave photo on my Richmond and me page with some more photos from the ride.

 Rode back down the Colonial Parkway to Jamestown and rode the Jamestown Ferry (which is free) to VA10 and that is route I took back to Richmond. The ride is known as "The Five and Dime" and was my second time to do this. First time was on a date with a woman biker and we rode our bikes on this route (but not in February).
Total ride was some 165 miles (though I did a little extra riding around Yorktown) and just could not believe I was able to do this. Has been a moderate winter (have been able to get a few rides in) but nothing for a lot of weeks quite like this!

Winter Riding (January 25, 2015)

Have not posted in a while...too long in fact. Course it is winter in Richmond....and that makes riding at times range from difficult to impossible We have been lucky here in that we have not had any real snow (did get some on the grass a few weeks ago) but nothing of note to this date. February though is a difficult time, and tends to be much colder and the ground gets coated white. Still some days in the 50s have happened (and I have even rode in the 30s). Took this photo a few weeks ago in front of the new GWAR bar ( a Richmond based very hard rock band) during one ride.  

Was not riding when I took this photo (was at a bar for one of the NFL playoff games) but did see this very fine Kawasaki Ninja. Its an older one (you can tell by the non-digital cockpit as well as the design) but a classic nonetheless.
You see people riding in almost all kinds of weather....and that is very cool. I am often one of them, but I do have my limits. You can bundle up to a point-but the point does come where almost nothing works. Still, even a short ride in the very cold is better than no cold at all. The motorcycle is also one of the best battery chargers out there.  

Took this photo on January 25, it is Richmond as seen from one of the vantages at Church Hill. Was a good ride in that I got to that location, went via West Broad to Short Pump, and then back down to Monument Ave. Most of the rides so far this winter have been around Richmond. I did get in a very good ride on New Years Day, and so far have been able to get out once a week (with a few exceptions). By the time I get off work, the sun is going down, and so is the temperature.
 

This was also taken on the 25th....this is Monument Ave. Some fantastic houses there, and some cool monuments (this one is to Jefferson Davis). Most Civil War and Confederate though there is one to Tennis legend Arthur Ashe as well. Fun road to ride and check out.
I hope to get some more rides in this winter....though the forecast tomorrow is for the first measurable snow this winter so far (as noted, nothing but a trace so far this winter...was there in the early morning, gone by around 9am that day) and that has made us very very lucky.
One of the things you have to watch out for in winter on icy (we have had some of those  days) is salt and sand. Salt because it is very corrosive to bikes (and cars for that matter) and sand cause on a bike it is very slick.
Riding in the winter calls for some different skills, some serious cold weather gear and some first rate preparation to get ready for what is, and what may, come up during the ride. As always....ride safe.    

Blue Ridge Parkway Ride (October 25, 2014)

 To the Blue Ridge Parkway...told it was peak color and frankly hate those times I have not made this trip (the very few there have been). This was my second time this year to make this ride..got up early for a 7:30 am start time. It was a rousing 41 degrees, had to stop a few times to warm the hands (did a good job on clothing but the gloves could have been a bit warmer). Rode up I-64 to Exit 99. Was told the traffic would be bad, but frankly was a very pleasant ride, and riding on the Parkway was not bad at all...busier than the last ride there, but still could cruise. Photo at left was the first stop there.  

One of the stops was of a Mountain Farm....not really a replica though cause while brought from other places are all original buildings. There were a number of places to see there.
Up on the Parkway I rode a total distance of 60 miles...30 out and 30 back. Made a lot of stops to see the lookouts and some of the sights.
Must have been a Porsche rally there, passed a large number of large groups of cars there (going the other way) which was pretty neat.
At any case, was fun to ride down those roads...felt sort of like flying at ground level. Great curves, good pavement (had been repaved since my last visit) and views not to be believed.

 This was another shot, one of many. Headed back out after a few hours and back on I-64. Lots of dead deer on the side of the road-apparently they have been breeding a lot, but still have a lot of problems with that car/truck thing.
Ran at a pretty good clip, keeping up with traffic meant not running at the speed limit. I was not in a hurry, but everyone else seemed to be. Not being in a mood to get run over I ran along with them. Few police to be seen and if the semis went flying by...figured I was pretty safe.  

Stopped at Michie Tavern in Charlottsville to eat there (building dates to the late 1700's). Like that place, but there was a good line (found it was homecoming at Virginia...they lost to North Carolina in the football game that day) so ate at MickyD's (also in Charlottesville) and gassed up the bike for the ride back to Richmond.
Beautiful day, temperature in the 70's (a little cooler in the mountains) and a beautiful ride which covered a total of 258 miles beginning to end (thanks to the trip meter).I was so glad I did this..have been on a lot of rides since my last post but this was one of the longest in some time. I have more photos on my Richmond and me page.