A Little History Ride (March 17, 2016)

Sure is a lot of history in this region and it goes way back. Rode to City Point, VA which is part of (but was not always) Hopewell, VA. At one time, that time being the Civil War it was one of the busiest ports in the world, and the supply depot of the Union Army. This cabin, of which 10% is original, was used during the period by General US Grant. City Point has a number of fortifications, period buildings, and one amazing cemetery in the area. I have been there before but always enjoy my visits to the area. One reason is the history, and the other is that the ride to City Point is a damn fine ride.    

From City Point went to Petersburg, Va which is another historic Virginia city. The fall of this city lead to the fall of Richmond and for all practical purposes the end of the Civil War. This is the old Train Depot that is being restored. Nice area is Old Town Petersburg with a lot of cool old buildings and some very good places to eat. In fact I had lunch at an Irish Pub there and it was very good.
After the stop there, headed up the road. Rode through Colonial Heights, and Chester before making my next and final stop.    

The place was Drewry's Bluff and the fort was known as Fort Darling. The site was the scene of a major battle on May 15, 1862. A Union fleet which included the USS Monitor (one of the first Ironclad ships) attempted to sail past the Confederate fort to shell Richmond from the James River. They were stopped at this point and no further sea action happened during the war (though the city was taken by land). These mounds are what remains of the fort today.
Another amazing day of riding though a little less than yesterday....covered some 80 miles. It was a bit cooler with highs in the 70s but another very fun day on the motorcycle.  

To the Parkway and beyond (March 16, 2016)

 We're back! On what is (to this point) the warmest day of 2016, in the last few days of winter took my motorcycle to the amazing Blue Ridge Parkway.
Took a nice ride via I-64 from Richmond. The roads were not bad and the ride was very pleasant. Temperatures during the day would rise into the 80's.
This is the first lookout from Exit 99 and always a nice view. One of my favorite places to stop during trips to the Parkway or even while going down the road to visit Louisville, Ky. I just want to and always have to stop here for a short visit.

Being March most of the Visitor Center's were not open, but many of the exhibits were. Of course the views were still remarkable.
Of note and a pleasant thing being winter and a week day traffic was very, very night. I saw a few cars and a few motorcycles but not many of either. That made for a very wonderful drive.
I rode around a bit, got to see a few views such as these, toured the old farm there (very remarkable and very recommended) and just took it all in. I was grinning the entire trip and just had a fantastic time. It is, and will be, one of my favorite places to ride to...and I do so a few times a year.

Heading back I made a stop in Charlottesville, VA. Had been there a few years ago with some friends when we went to a University of Louisville/University of Virginia football game. Was struck by the beauty of the school and took some time to walk around a bit and checked it out again. The famous Rotunda was designed by Thomas Jefferson and is undergoing renovation but was still cool. Just a fun school to explore.
Very old  and a fine school and sure enjoyed the time I spent there.
Plus with the mountains nearby it is just a very fun place to get out and wander around.  

Finally made a stop at the Downtown Mall where I had lunch outside. Again, while a good crowd it was not overly crowded which is has been on previous visits.
Had a great time there, but headed back to Richmond. Following a quick stop at home for some rest and supper I went out again that night for a short nighttime ride around Richmond.
When all was said and done the entire days riding came to 260 miles. I don't make as many long rides as I would like to, but this one is always one of my favorites.    

Sunday Ride to Short Pump

 We have had some remarkable weather here in Richmond the past few days...a long period of 70s and 80s. Sadly, I have been sick for much of it though was able to keep working with what might have been the Flu.
However on this Sunday, felt good and though it was an overcast day with predicted rain later on (which did come but thankfully well after the ride) I got out on the motorcycle.
It was a great day to ride, with temperatures well into the 60's and early on stopped near the house to visit one of my favorite places which is The Stone House in Forest Hill Park.

 I headed out to Broad Street and then down that to West Broad Street and went as far as Short Pump Town Center which is this massive mall in the Short Pump section of Richmond. The last time I looked at this scene I was also on the motorcycle but it was December and there was a Christmas Tree here.
The mall exterior in this section has been re-done over the last few months with fountains added and a lot of seating (including rocking chairs).
Traffic on this Sunday was not bad getting there and it was a good ride on a very fine Sunday. I like riding on Sunday mornings, and made a few stops besides this one.

One of the neatest things to find was the newly opened Carolina Ale House. Formerly a resident of North Carolina there was one of these in Concord, NC that I enjoy going to, so it was nice to see this has "followed" me here. Very nice restaurant with a whole bunch of televisions. Will be great to visit here for sporting events.
Likewise on the way back to my house I stopped and had lunch at Zaxby's which is another Carolina restaurant (though unlike Carolina Ale House not sure it is "based" there) but a first for this area.
As far as miles got in a bit over 30 for the day, but it sure put a huge smile on my face today. It has been a fantastic weekend in Richmond on the last weekend of Winter. Spring is officially a week away.  

Post Work Ride (March 1, 2016)

Was the third day with temperatures in the 60s...I did not get to ride this weekend, but had a good day at work so got home...got my riding gear on..and hit the mean streets of Richmond.
Started off where I went for a walk last Sunday...down Riverside Drive. That is the James River in the background behind my motorcycle.
Noted the river was up a bit though not over flood stage but high yeah. One of my favorite places to ride and traffic was light though there were a lot of people there at Pony Pasture (I am just past that in this photo).      

Rode from Riverside via a number of roads to Libby Hill Park where this photo was taken. That once (before buildings) was where one of the founders of Richmond saw this view which reminded him of an area called Richmond in his home of England. Hence the name of the city.
I rode here via Cary Street, and through Carytown and a number of other places. Being between 4-6 (start and end of the ride) that was some heavy traffic and at times was a handful. Still got in 37 miles and saw some nice sights and visited some nice places. Next few days forecast does not look real great (even a chance of snow Thursday-Friday though not much expected) so glad I got this in. Had a big grin on my face that lasted some......37 miles.

First ride of 2016 (February 20, 2016)

 Finally! On February 20, the temperature got into the high 60s close to 70 in fact. Got my bike out and took to the roads. Headed through Richmond and down Highway 5. Five is one of my favorite roads, which goes South past a number of plantations, battlefields (from the Civil War), farms, and the James River. Got to the Colonial Parkway and rode that beautiful road to Yorktown, VA. This is not snow in the photo..its sand for that is Yorktown Beach. It is nice because it is easy to get to and a fun place to hang out. Plus and this goes without saying or it should that it is a great ride.    

Stopped at the Yorktown Pub in Yorktown. While it is the off season there, there were a lot of people inside the Pub including a large number of motorcycles. The ones seen here are only a few. In fact you would almost guess it was a motorcycle rally in the town.
Did stop for a beverage and watched some of Nascar qualifying for the Daytona 500 (which was the following day) and the end of the Louisville/Duke game which Louisville won. Nice place with good food. I did not get any of that as they were slammed, but take my word for it. In fact there are a number of good places to eat in Yorktown.

 This is one of the very old houses (roof is not original) but the house dates to the 1700's I explored some of the beach area, some of the old buildings (some are recreations) and just generally sucked up just being there.
About midafternoon, I headed back down the road. This time via a different route skipping the Colonial Parkway. Ended up in Hampton and visited the NASA facility there (but did not go in but got a photo from the outside) and headed back toward Richmond via I-64. As usual, traffic was heavy with it being a parking lot heading back toward the beach. Luckily I was headed in the other direction.
Stopped for lunch in a little town (Burger King, and did not try the new hot dogs they have but will before the year is out. Nice ride, and did make a quick stop.
One of my favorite places in Richmond is the Virginia Aviation Museum which is on the grounds of the Richmond International Airport. They used to have an SR-71 outside there, but that has been moved to the Science Museum where it will be displayed. I did get this photo of the F-14 Tomcat at the museum and of course, my ride.
It was a really fantastic day. At the end of it, which was actually around 11:30 PM as I went out with some friends for a few hours before riding home, had traveled a bit over 180 miles.
Nice good start to the riding season though sure to be some cold weather still before Spring really pops. This is still winter and there are a few more days of official winter to go. I also took a few more photos and some of the those will be on my Racing with the Wind blog page.

Downtime Thoughts (February 14, 2016)

Havent been riding for a while, In fact the last ride was December when I moved the motorcycle from the apartment to the house. Since then it has been sitting in the little house. Reasons? Salt/sand from the snow(s) of late, rain and cold.A far cry from last December..but signs of Spring abound.
Sadly this is Velocity. Great motorcycle shop in Richmond and was open for 15 years. I dropped in there on February 13 just about cleaned out.Told the owner "did not want to put any more money in it. Great work and fair prices, it will be greatly missed.

I also went by Scoot Richmond. Started out as a Scooter shop, added Moto Guzzi, Zero motorcycles (electric) and Triumph. What you see here in a new 2016 Triumph Street Twin. Its the only one in (yet) of the new Bonneville line. That line will have three engines...a 900cc high torque engine (which is what is in the Street Twin, a 1200 High Torque (which will be in the T120 models) and a 1200cc High Power which will be in the Thruxton models. And yes, that is a radiator-all the engines are water cooled (though read the air fins on this motor are also functional). From my impression a sharp and well made motorcycle and a very interesting addition to the Triumph line. It is a bike that looks both to the past and to the future. While not in the market right now it is a motorcycle I could look at in the future.

We got some snow this morning, but the temperature is going UP tonight from the deep freeze of the past few days. Plus getting some rain which will wash a lot of the crap off the streets and it is possible that for the first time in a long time I may get to ride this weekend when the temperature is due to hit....61. Hopefully anyhow. Have been starting it and moving it and so far so good. A ride would sure be wonderful :)

Very Late Fall/Early Winter Rides (January 3, 2016)

 Interesting period of the last few weeks since my last post here. Have been on a few rides, and some were different to say the least. Take for instance this late November Christmas light motorcycle ride which is something I have never done. Frankly thanks to some very unusual weather I got to ride during the day on a good long ride around some Civil War battlefields and the associated very interesting backroads and on that Saturday night took a night ride and saw some amazing Christmas lights. Those photos I will be posting (well, those and others) on my "Richmond and me" blog page.  It was a lot of fun, and in fact did some Christmas shopping on the motorcycle too during the holiday season.  

This was another ride, did not get to ride every weekend. While the heat was there (with some days in the 70s) there was also a good amount of rain. Still, sure made for some really good motorcycling. This is taken in my new neighborhood....have moved during this period though still in the same area. Looks like Richmond is going to be my home from now on, planning after retirement to stay here. It is a very fun and very interesting city, and has a lot to offer. It is my intention to remain here for the remainder of my days. I have come to really enjoy and love Richmond, VA.

Took this photo at Rocketts Landing over the early winter, nice place to see Richmond and the James River in the background. Most of my rides have been fairly local, with a few that covered some distance.
The "warm period" may be over for a while as the winter season is really starting to kick in. Still...who knows? Last year in February I got to take a ride to Yorktown, VA on a warm day then, so remains to be seen what the rest of the winter will bring.
So far though, late fall and winter have been pretty remarkable. Looking forward to some more adventures and some interesting places in the weeks to come, I also am looking very forward to Spring, though snow is pretty it sure is not for riding on two wheels.
At any case, hope all of you reading here had a very Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year.