Roaming the Backroads (September 16, 2016)

Finally some cooler weather. In fact for the first time since last Spring, I wore a jacket on the ride. Instead of the usual 90+ it was in the low 60s when I got out for a while. Left around 930 and had plans to go to Tappahannock today. First thing I ran into on Forest Hill Avenue was a line of traffic. So turned around and rode though Richmond.
I headed through the city, and stopped to take this photo on Monument Avenue. I think this was the Secretary of the Navy (Confederate) though not sure. Mostly Confederate monuments though they do have one of tennis great Arthur Ashe. There are also some really nice houses there, its a fun road to ride up.
From there went to Church Hill and up 360. That would take me to Tappahannock. However, as I went down the road traffic got faster and faster. Normally I don't mine speed but as my bike is still in its break in period, I got off there and went rolling down some new backroads. Old Church was the name of the road and went past a lot of farms. Was a nice curvy two lane road and it lead me after a time to....    

New Kent Winery. Was not my destination but made a stop and even even had a glass of wine. Wine...its not just for breakfast anymore I guess. Anyhow, after that, headed down some more backroads. I could have gone down I-64 but there is that break in thing again and besides....backroads are more fun. Ran into 60 and that road took me back into Richmond. Was just in that area a few days ago, even went by the airport. However soon I was downtown.  

Rode into downtown Richmond where I passed this very cool building. I think it used to be the old City Hall (the new one is pretty boring in my book) and continued up Broad Street. Then, I got off that and headed up Staples Mill Road. I went WAY up Staples Mill road. Pretty nice ride and wonder where it goes. However, did come across highway 50 something and a sign that said Ashland, so I went down that road. Today was a day for some new routes and enjoyed that.  

Got to Ashland, which I have also been to a few times in the last few weeks. This is Randolph Macon College. US Representative Dave Brat was a teacher here. Even with that I think its a good school. At any case wandered on foot around there for a bit, and then took the Triumph back home via Highway 1. Love that road and always a nice ride on it.
For the day went around 130 miles which is not bad. I am now 220 miles from first service on the motorcycle. So far very happy with the Triumph.

Monday Aviation Ride (September 12, 2016)

Getting there weather wise....finally some lower humidity and normal (as in 84 for this time of year) temperatures. It was nice. Been one blazing hot and humid Summer. There is still a bit of Summer to go. Do I think this is the end of the blazing hot days. Oh hell no...sure to be some more.
Did enjoy the ride today though, felt good to get out and see some sights.
Last Saturday took the car to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Chantilly, Va. It is the addition to the National Air and Space Center in Washington, DC. Saw some amazing sights and got some photos from that on my Richmond and Me Page.
This was a visit to the old Virginia Aviation Museum at the Richmond International Airport. Wanted to ride and was wondering if the F-14 was still there. They closed the museum a few months ago. The answer is yes...yes it is and I was glad to see it again. Love me some aircraft and this is one of my favorites.    

If you have seen the movie "Top Gun" you have seen the F-14 Tomcat. Flew mostly during the 70's-early 80's and is one amazing fighter jet. Later it was also used as a bomber and got the nickname "Bombcat" in that role.
Was a very maintenance intensive jet though and was finally retired due to the number of flight hours needed to get it flying...at least that is the story the Navy told.

Also still at the Virginia Aviation Museum is this A7 which is probably on loan from the Air Force. The A-7 was used both by the USAF and the USN (and that would include the USMC). Subsonic but a very good aircraft. Unlike the Tomcat single engine. It kind of resembles the Crusader which was a fine Vietnam era plane.

Leaving the airport I rode around a bit and came across this movie house not too far from the airport. It is on the National Historic Register and according to the sign near the door was built in 1938. Very cool.
I enjoyed riding around that area, went down some new roads and was heading in the general direction of Richmond. Traffic was pretty light, enjoy riding on Monday's as there is not a lot of cars and this is a new motorcycle for me.

I also rode out to Richmond International Raceway. The big race there was Saturday night, which is it as far as NASCAR for the year. I also went by the A.P. Hill statue (the general is buried under it) and even got in a ride down part of Riverside Drive before heading home. Just before the Riverside Drive ride stopped in Carytown and visited Galaxy Diner there. I like that place a lot. It was a very good ride, Not a lot of miles today (a bit over 50) but some favorite sights with some new ones tossed in.

Lunch Ride in the RVA on a Hot and Humid Friday (September 9, 2013)

While Labor Day is officially the last weekend of Summer, it does not seem so. Another blazing hot day here in the RVA with a heat index approaching 100 degrees.
Still, it is a beautiful day and I got out on the Triumph early...excited to see what I really think of this motorcycle. At the end of the ride today still under 200 miles (so far) -exactly 192 to be exact. Do enjoy it a great deal though. It is quick and fast and a lot of fun to ride.  

As I did on the last ride on the Vulcan (which I did not know was the last time I would ride it, it was not my intention to buy a motorcycle last weekend) went to Carolina Ale House. We had those in North Carolina (duh) but is a good restaurant with a very impressive beverage selection. It is also a great place to watch sports which I have done from time to time both here and in Concord, NC. Anyhow, a good time time there for a while.  

Had lunch though in Carytown, one of the more interesting sections of Richmond. Some really good restaurants there. My intention was to get some BBQ on West Broad Street but they were slammed at lunch time.
While in Carytown stopped at Mellow Mushroom and got the pizza and salad special with a tasty Guinness Stout. Have been to Carytown a lot over the years and am sure to be there quite a few more times in the years to come.    

Got home and before putting the bike away I cleaned it up (not that it was all that dirty), put a little wax on on it, and some armour all on the seat. Sure is a nice ride. Impressed that the fenders are steel - think that is pretty cool. As I said so far so good.
Will be out again in the next few days...have something special planned for tomorrow and that will be n my "Richmond and Me" page. Thinking about a Monday ride, and giving the destination some thought. Supposed to be a whole lot cooler and less humid. Looking forward to fall weather and the great riding to come.    

Fredericksburg Labor Day Ride (September 5, 2016)

Brought the Triumph home on Friday, but we had a bunch of rain from the Hurricane (Hermine) on Saturday and Sunday went out with friends Talked about that on my "Richmond and Me" blog.
On Labor Day though got the bike out and really wanted to give it a shakedown ride.
Made this stop at The Stone House in Forest Hill Park to get a photo of the bike. I have been enjoying it though really had a good time on this ride. Ended up being 140 miles via Highway 1. 1 runs all the way to DC - perhaps even further - but my destination was Fredericksburg.
No problems with the ride as traffic was light this Labor Day. Heat and humidity were also low with not a cloud in sight.
I headed out around 10:30 and got back to my house just before 5PM. Of course I had a few stops along the way. Fun thing was I got to see a favorite place I had seen before  but also a number of new things in the very interesting town of Fredericksburg, VA. Wanted to make this trip while passing through during a trip to West Virginia a few weeks ago and made it today.          

This is at the battlefield which I have visited before. The Union troops are buried there..quite a few thousand and most of them are unknown.
Battles tended to have long aftermath periods and sometimes armies returned to battlefields to fight again, and came across the remains of troops from previous battles.
It was a very sad time but in my opinion one of the few necessary wars and accomplished a great deal in making this country one.  

This is actually part of the original wall. Much of the wall is a recreation, but this is actually what troops stood behind while waves of Union attacks tried to take the position. All of the attacks were unsuccessful and it was a terrible slaughter.
I have often wondered though after Fredericksburg what drove Lee to attack a position much like it at Gettysburg? The result was the same.  

I also toured Chatham. Interesting house which was owned by a rabid rebel who owned many slaves. The house was seized by the Union Army attacking Fredericksburg and from its heights the city was shelled. The slaves were freed, it was used both as a headquarters and a hospital. Many Union dead were also buried there. The house was largely in ruin when the war ended but was restored and is quite interesting to tour which I did for the first time today.
I also came across the Confederate Cemetery in Fredericksburg and toured the old town. Some of those photos and others will be on my "Richmond and Me" blog page in the next post there. As for the ride as noted...problem free and a whole lot of fun. Looking forward to the next ride and among them a return to this area in the future.    

The Last Ride...and the First (September 2, 2016)

 Funny today....was just another day of riding. Went out this morning because the forecast is calling for a hurricane in the area for the next few days (the main part of it will miss us) and I thought it would be fun to get out. Always is and once again got on my trusty Kawasaki Vulcan. Has been my ride for the last 11 years and a great ride it has been. No complaints at all...perhaps the finest motorcycle I have ever owned.
I was going up Broad Street and stopped in the Honda dealer there. Saw some good bikes (there is also a Yamaha dealer next door) and then went on to Carolina Ale House.
Headed back decided to stop into Scoot Richmond. Did not expect to do this, nor did it seem like the plan, but ended up getting a 2016 Triumph Speedmaster. Found prices are good in the fall, and this was no exception.  

Here they are for the first and the last time. Traded the Vulcan in on the bike and it was a bittersweet thing. On the one hand excited about the Triumph and the adventures to come, while at the same time sure enjoyed riding the Vulcan. However, the age of the bike and the miles are starting to take a toll on the motorcycle. Just felt like it was time for a change. Plus to be honest the age of me and the miles on me are starting to take a toll as well.    

What I have is a bike with a lower weight but plunty of room still. Love the power of it, for it has better horsepower than the 1500 with a lot less weight. It is also very smooth and much easier to back up. I also like cornering with it much better. Missed over the years rolling though the turns. Floorboards don't give much clearance, but footpegs give more and the Speedmaster is much more agile than the Vulcan. Bring on the twisties and the adventures to come.  

The Five and Dime...Redux (August 28, 2016)

Had a good time. Met up with Will and Niki this morning. Will just got a 2005 Honda 1300 VTX.. Frankly a lot of upgrades and the price was amazing. Owner needed some cash to get a house. So...we went out on a ride. The intention was to go to Fredericksburg, but being a relatively new rider I thought the Five and Dime would be a better ride. Easier with less traffic and just seemed like a good idea. As it turned out it was though he did fine.  

Yesterday I rode a long time. Today we got to the Colonial Parkway but he was ready to start going back. Writs and back gets sore when you have not done that for a while (say nine years in his case) so we were waiting for the ferry.
Yesterday I saw no Indian Motorcycles at all, but today right behind us was this Indian Dark Horse and a fine looking (and sounding) bike it is. Lady who rode it was very happy with it, and enjoyed talking to her about it.    

Once again on the ferry and on the water which was very nice. It is a great ride across the James and a beautiful view. In the background of this photo is the ferry from "10" coming our way. Really a nice thing and the fact that it is free is even better.
Ride on "ten" was real nice. We were looing for a place to eat which there is not a lot of on that highway. Finally got to Hopewell which also was just getting going early Sunday afternoon.  

Lunch was at Hooters of Chester (Virginia of course) and had not been there for quite a while. Nice to see they have upgraded the restaurant and the menu. I got some "Daytona Wings" which were both different and very good. Enjoyed the lunch there and the company.
Visited at their house (which is very nice) and enjoyed the company. I got back at my house around 2pm. Total ride was a hair over 120 miles after skipping some of the sights. Had a great time though and will do that again. While the benefits of riding solo are many, it is nice from time to time to have some people to share the experience with.

The Five and Dime Ride...once again with feeling (August 27, 2016)

 Not quite sure what got me going, but made plans to get an early start to Yorktown on this hot and humid Saturday. So the night before, went to bed early and was up around 4am. After the necessary coffee and the preflight on the motorcycle (which is where I look over tires and oil level and check out all the systems) I was on the road at 7am.
Nice riding then for even in the heat it was cooler than it would be later. Headed for downtown and past Shockoe Bottom to VA 5. A very fantastic road. A sort of wandering country road and one of my favorites. I have been there many times this summer and have even been to Yorktown before.
Light traffic with the only problem being I was going East on the East/West road and into the sun. However, before too long I had ridden the distance and got to the Colonial Parkway out by Jamestown. As that did not open till later, made my way down that amazing road to Yorktown. Photo at right is of the Yorktown Victory Monument. It was raised to celebrate (though 100 years later) the victory of the Continental Army over the British Army and the end (basically) of the Revolutionary War.  

I made a trip to Yorktown itself...there was a farmers market going on there, some light traffic, and some of the usual sights. Not a lot was open as I was early. The battlefield and Jamestown did not open till 9 am so I had time to kill. Did that wandering the town, and walking along the beach. No better way to spend some time and few better places to do it.      

Around 9am went to Yorktown. Of course, that should not require any explanation to any student of history, even a casual student. A lot of history there. Saw this tent which according to the sign was a "national treasure" as the previous owner of this tent was George Washington. Lots of interesting things to see there, such as the earthworks used by the French and Americans as well as the British, and the surrender field where the British Army was basically defeated.  

Lots of really neat cannon, including at the Surrender Field those which were surrendered by the British. These at left are just some used during the war, though sure some date to the battle. Also a Civil War history at Yorktown..just an amazing place.

Rode some more on the Colonial Parkway this time to the other end and stopped at Jamestown. The photo at right shows a statue of John Smith and a recreation (based on excavation) of the church they used. The fort is also a recreation, but is pretty authentic as far as size. Many things (including people) have been dug up and it is a really remarkable place, well worth a visit. I have been before, enjoyed this visit as much, and will return again in the future.  

The silver bike at lower left? That is mine on the Jamestown Ferry. I came back via VA10 and to get to that you have to cross the James River. The ferry is free and a very cool ride. It was a good day for motorcycles, I saw a lot, waved a lot and even for a time got to ride with a lot.
Total mileage on this ride was 170.2 to be exact. It did get hot at the end...I expected to be back by 1, it was more like 3pm and probably close to 100 degrees. It was a fantastic ride though and I was grinning from ear to ear. I am putting some more photos on my "Richmond and Me" page, because for one I took a lot, and for another, it was just a wonderful place to be as well as to see. I will be back again.