Amazing Day for a Good Ride! February 12, 2017)

Amazing day. In fact it got up to 81 today. That just does not happen in February, but I will take it with a smile. Got to Chester, VA around 1030 and rode for a while with a friend (Adam) from work. He is by the truck and has the Suzuki Hayabusa. Needless to say, he has a "slight" horsepower advantage. Kidded him that he was going ahead of me looking for cops. Actually it was like having a jet fighter (his) vs a biplane (mine) but a good ride. We had lunch at The Tilted Kilt and then headed our different ways.
 

I rode to Hopewell, to City Point (was not far from that). Nice place and was a giant port for the Union Army during the Civil War. This is the plantation house that was there. US Grant also had his HQ there. From there, took the long way home on what was just a wonderful ride. Ended up getting in some 90 miles and enjoyed every one of them. I will be glad when this weather is the routine, but this is February, so don't expect a whole lot of this for a while. Enjoyed the hell out of it though.

35 Days Later (February 5, 2017)

 It's been awhile. My last ride was January 1, which was a really nice day. Think if I remember right might also have been to this place. After a check of engine oil and air pressures in the tires I headed out. The day was somewhat cool being on the low side of 50 but it was sunny and just warm enough to get out for a little bit. I stopped at Zaxby's for a late lunch. This was a favorite of mine when I lived in North Carolina. Fast food, but good eats.  

I also stopped at Carolina Ale House in West Broad Village which is in the Short Pump section of Richmond. That is a mixed use area with both apartments and condo's which are also the home of a number of businesses. That also can be found a lot in North Carolina and I think that idea is neat.
This is a view of some of them, usually apartments/condo's above the businesses which are below. Makes it awfully convenient to get things done, and sure would save wear and tear on cars or for that matter...Motorcycles!
I enjoy going to Short Pump, it is one of the big retail and commercial areas of Richmond, and includes some of the largest malls. It also includes of some of Richmond's heaviest traffic but it was not too bad when I went there on Sunday. Might have been a matter of timing.
Coming back on Broad Street they had a lot of cones out, and are apparently planning some major road work which did back up traffic. I got off of that road and wandered through some of the side streets to Church Hill/Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond. Some very old houses and places there which I enjoy seeing.  

Coming back I did make a stop at Shiplock Park which as part of the old Canal System had locks which got ships into the James River from the canal (or the reverse). Nice old park with some really interesting sights. Not via motorcycle but was a favorite place of my wonderful dog Mollie who died not too many years ago. Many happy memories there, and frankly a lot of history from Richmond with many interesting things to see. I ended up riding around 45 miles. Was not a day to really get some distance, or to get all that fast in the breeze but it certainly was a wonderful time out on the motorcycle. I am really enjoying riding the Triumph and it is a great deal of fun out on the streets. Seems to get a lot of attention and complements too which is really nice. Looking forward to Spring and the great rides to come - though will take advantage of any more winter opportunities that happen to come by way.

Ride One, January 1, 2017 (January 1, 2017

Got out on a much warmer First day of 2017, and more sun than the day before too. Have been doing a lot today as it is my last day of Christmas vacation, but figured lunch would be good and no better place to get it. Loved these in North Carolina when I lived there, and there is now one in Richmond. So I got my gear on and hit the road again. Once again rolled down the Broad Street area, and stopped in for one of my favorite fast food meals.

Rode on and back toward my house. Just wanted to get a short ride in. Wanted to do 50 miles yesterday, only did 30...so this was a 20 mile ride.
This photo is Monument Ave which is a very fun street to ride (and has been beautiful at night this Christmas season)  but was on my way back.
When I got home had 1500 miles on the odometer...on the button! Was a great ride and looking forward to many more this upcoming year on the Triumph.

Last Ride of 2016 (December 31, 2016)

 Last day of 2016, and had to get a ride in. That said it was really chilly. I was bundled up, but the clouds built and the temperature was in the high 40's (at least that warm for a while. Wanted to get 50 miles in and had to settle for 30. Warmed up at Hooters for a short while. I had been watching the LSU/Louisville game and Louisville was getting beat when I headed out to ride. As I saw at Hooters...that did not change.  

Anyhow, rode a bit more. Basically it was up Broad Street and then back. I did make a stop at the Virginia War Memorial for a while and got this photo at left. I enjoyed the ride a great deal even though it was chilly. Been a while due to the Christmas holiday since I have been out, so that was wonderful.
No feeling on earth like riding the motorcycle. Big change from the Vulcan but it sure is a lot of fun riding the Triumph. Very sporty and takes me back to the things I enjoyed about riding again.

Motorcycles in Richmond and Louisville (December 28, 2016)

I have not been out in awhile on the motorcycle due to weather and travel here (been a lot of rain of late) but have been on the road (the travel part a bit.
Photos directly below were taken at Richmond Harley Davidson on December 9.

The next photos were taken at CC Powersports in Clarksville, Indiana. They are also an Indian dealer.

  Finally some more Harley-Davidson's at Bluegrass Harley-Davidson in Louisville, Kentucky.

Triumph Bobber Event

I did not ride to this, but went to the Triumph Bobber Event at Scoot Richmond on December 13th at Scoot Richmond in Richmond, VA. This is the place where I purchased my 2016 Triumph Speedmaster a few months ago (Labor Day weekend to be exact). The new bike, and a few of the new 2017 models can be seen in these photos below. It was a great time!

Saturday Ride in Early December (December 3, 2016)

Nice ride on this Saturday. A bit of a cool day, might have been 50 out, though could have been a little under it. Still got out and went down Osborne Parkway to Deep Bottom Park. Got this photo at left there of the James River. During the Civil War this was a major crossing site for the Union Army. There is a sign there with a lot of information on the three battles at this site and even a photo from the time of the bridge. I like it because its a nice ride in the country to get there.  

Rode Osborne Parkway to "5" (one of my favorite roads) and then back to Osborne Parkway from 5 and into Richmond for a little bit. I also rode downtown for a little while and then into Oregon Hill before rolling back to the house. As you can see by the photo at left I was dressed for the ride. Was a good time. Cuttently on this first ride of December I have a total of 1449 miles on the Triumph. Today's  ride was by my odometer 40.5 miles. Put a huge smile on my face for sure.
Before the ride checked and added air to the tires, the cold really changes the pressure. I also rechecked and readjusted the chain. I have it dialed in now.