Saturday and Sunday Rides (September 9-10, 2017)

 Second day of riding on Saturday. Like Friday it was 70 degree weather (cooler when I started around 9am) but a beautiful ride. Rode up the very busy VA360 but it soon thinned out. Got out in the country section of that and down some beautiful roads. This was a return visit to Amelia, VA which was a site on the Lee Retreat tour. Following the fall of Richmond the remains of his army stopped here for food. There was none and they continued on to surrender a few days later on.
 

After wandering in the country headed back the same way I came...down VA360. Made a stop for lunch at Glory Days and watched a bit of the hometown Louisville Cardinals defeat the North Carolina Tarheels in football (just a bit of the game, saw the rest later when I got home). Actually, both could be considered home as I spent 14 years in North Carolina thanks to a job relocation.
After lunch, rode to Steel Horse Harley-Davidson to see the new 2018 motorcycles. Always sometime later to see the new Japanese and British (as well as the Italian) motorcycles but the Harley-Davidson's come out soon in the fall.
Saw two...one of the new Heritage models and a Fat Bob. Both looked pretty nice. Harley is getting a lot of grief from the faithful but to me still keep the classic looks with a lot of modern features. Better lights, more power and supposed to handle better...with some weight loss thrown in. I liked them, but then again thats just me. Course, I have never owned one...have had a string of Japanese motorcycles and now this Triumph. Very fond of the Triumph and for the three days as for the past year...no problems to report. Ride in all covered some 84 miles.    

Sunday I headed out at 9am. Goal was to get some breakfast and a ride. Ride part started at Riverside Drive, went to see if I could come across a deer. That is common on this road and sometimes even get a photo. Not today though, no photo or deer.
As with Friday and Saturday, Sunday was a beautiful day. Maybe a bit cooler but as with the other two days I was dressed for it. Got warmer quickly.

Made a stop at West Broad Village. Reminds me of a place in North Carolina (Birkdale Village in Huntersville). Places to live along with stores to shop in. A few favorite places to eat at. I did not eat there, but did make a prior stop in Richmond at Sugar Shack. Doughnuts sounded good and they were. Plus as figured most of the places there were not open yet when I got there.
Got going and wandered on up the fast growing West Broad Street. It is still expanding outward with a lot of new places opening up. The road though eventually turns into country and it was a stunning ride. Got out as far as Oilville and then returned via VA6 to Goochland and back finally into Richmond. Being on VA6 got off and headed up 150 to Stoney Point Fashion Park. Had a light lunch at Anchor Bar (famous for their wings) and then headed back. A little less than the Saturday ride with a total of 75 remarkable miles. Enjoyed the Triumph on the twisty roads in the countryside on a remarkable day. For the three days I went somewhere around a total of 215 miles. Not sure exactly but do have to say it was one of the best three day periods on two wheels I have had in a long time. So glad to see this weather...cooler temperatures and clear blue skies!

4000 miles and beyond (September 8, 2017)

Awoke to a beautiful day. This is the season I am looking for (a little early) as it was in the 50's when I went riding. Warmed quickly to the 70's but only just to it, and that is when I enjoy riding the most. Got my bike to the neighborhood auto repair shop and got the state inspection done for next year. That out of the way rode out to the Triumph shop just to stop in and say hello. A quick pause but did get a photo of this Triumph Bobber. Cool damn motorcycle.  

Rode out to the Hanover County Airport and got this photo. Dale Earnhardt, Jr's airplane was also there. While there hit 4000 miles (well, shortly after but in the area) on the motorcycle. It sure is a lot of fun and to this point now with a year and two weeks, zero problems!

Rode out to Ashland, VA. Took this photo of part of the wall mural. Stopped in for a while at The Caboose Restaurant . Got to Ashland via I-95 but rode back via VA 1 which is one of my favorite rides. Scenic and sort of country but rolls quietly into Richmond. While there stopped at Boulevard Burger and Brew for lunch and then headed back to my house. Damn nice ride which covered 54.5 miles and kept me grinning the entire time.  

First Annual Triumph Anniversary Ride (September 3, 2017)

Got my Triumph Speedmaster on September 2, 2016 and wanted to celebrate its first year with a good ride. For the year I put 3780 miles on it due mainly to weather this year. It has been a blast though, that Bonneville engine is a jewel!
Anyhow Saturday due to Tropical Storm Harvey we got boatloads of rain, but it cleaned and got sunny on Sunday and I went for a ride. Ended up in Hampton, Virginia where I got this photo of the (fairly) new NASA sign at the center.  

While in Hampton I stopped at Hampton Air Park. This free site is a favorite of mine and hell..even Mollie dog liked her visit here a few years ago. Anyhow got a nice collection of aircraft and rockets such as this F-89 Scorpion fighter and the Jupiter rocket.
Nice museum and looks like they are doing some work on it, lots of things underway there and a fun place to visit.

While in Hampton visited Ft Monroe which has a long history. One of the (may even be The!) largest US built stone fort in this country. Had a lot of history prior too and after the Civil War, but especially after. It is a very interesting place to read about, and I encourage you to do so.  

Fort has some low areas, but was well constructed. Jefferson Davis was a prisoner there after the war for a time, and saw that they hung an American flag in the cell with him (and I like that) to remind him that he....lost! Robert E. Lee also while in the US Army (until he left it to join the Confederates) did a lot of work there. It is a fantastic place to ride around and explore and there is a lot to see inside and outside of the Fortress.

Ft. Monroe even has a beach of sorts and it is a pretty good size one. While there could see across the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk and got a photo of some aircraft carriers there.
Lots of things to do there and I found the time to visit too short. I will however be back.
As for the ride today, covered a total distance (thanks to my trusty trip meter) of 195 miles. The motorcycle did not miss a beat and is just an absolute joy to ride. Looking forward to the next adventure!

Sunday Ride to Colonial Heights (August 27, 2017)

 Sunday morning ride...been awhile since weather and vacation kind of got me off it. Was a bit of a hairy ride, early on had a close call. Kept my attention level up for the rest of the ride, mainly was due (in this case) to my fault. Turned out ok, but would have really been bad if it did'nt. Need to keep your focus 100% at all times on a motorcycle. I know that rule and just let things wander for a bit. UGH!
Once I got calmed down (took awhile) rode out to Colonial Heights There I saw the Half Way Tavern which was founded in 1760. Had a long history. Half way is named because it is between Richmond and Petersburg at the mid point. There have been a number of famous people (Presidents and the like) who have eaten there.
The tavern was a Union Army headquarters during the Civil War (General Butler)  but survived that. Very interesting building.
Been a few years ago but I have eaten there. Food was really good too and I enjoyed being inside the old place. There are a few of them to check out in the area (well, the other is in Charlottesville) but fun to do that.  

Took this photo from an Arby's ..its an F-18 at the Defense Supply Center. Once a few years ago went by the road in front of it, but security told me "you can't take photos here"
I thought that silly and still do, but thank goodness for zoom.  Not quite a classified aircraft its a US Navy F-18 Hornet.  

Here on the otherhand at the same site is a F-84. This plane dates to the 1950's..subsonic but a cool plane in its own right.
Ride was uneventful from here to the end. Nice weather with temperatures under 80.
Of note the bike is currently at 3780 miles. Coming up on the first anniversary of owning this motorcycle and having a great time (even with the event today) with the bike. More coffee with future rides, but had a big trip the day before (car) and should have been more careful.
Anyhow, you live and learn. Hope you have some great rides and tell you what....ride safe!  

Monday Putt (August 14, 2017)

 Good ride today, was not a great looking morning with clouds building and a high chance of rain, but I pulled it off. I have ridden in the rain more times then I like on this bike, but avoid it when I can.
Still, nice morning ride with humidity taking a break this morning and cooler (at least early) then it was yesterday. First ride of the weekend and a good day for it.
Rode to Richmond via Riverside Drive. Was not going fast and far enough not to worry about but a deer crossed my path while driving. He stopped and we looked at each other. I wanted to get a photo but a car came by and he ran off. Shame, as it would have been a neat photo. I did get this one instead at left. Really enjoy that road but always a good idea to watch out around early morning and early night. Deer like to be out then. Have a few friends who have hit deer...not good for the deer, but also not good for the motorcyclist in most cases.
From there rode into Richmond, which was a pretty typical ride. I did not really have a destination so rode through The Fan area. Some rush hour (actually Rush Morning I guess) traffic but it was not too bad.    I really enjoyed being out and about.

Got one of those Facebook memory posts of me being about this time last year at Wilton on the Vulcan 1500. Liked that photo and thought I would take one of the Triumph in front of the same location. Nice place and enjoy the old house (built in 1753 I think) and sure enjoy the motorcycle. It is a nice area to ride around, with big classic houses and also some really amazing older houses.

I rode back to avoid traffic and rode around Carytown for a bit...even stopped for a few photos. Then stopped by this small park near the James River. It was reworked last year. Rode some around Canal Walk then headed back to the house down some familiar roads.
It was a nice Monday ride which only covered some 21 miles and a few stops during its 90 minute ride. Enjoyed that and it was great to be riding late into my weekend (which goes on for four days).  

Sunday Ride around town (August 6, 2017)

A few days after the bike bike wash, took the shiny machine out for a cruise. No real destination in mind but took a ride out to Shockoe Hill Cemetery. This is the grave of John Marshall, 3rd US Chief Justice of the US. Was a important one as he had a big impact on the US. He was also one of the earliest and I believe the longest serving Chief Justice. Lots of amazing historic figures buried in this old graveyard.  

From there rode around a bit, ended up at Richmond International Raceway. Always a nice fun ride out there. It was a beautiful day for it...a little humid but not bad, bright sun and not too hot either. We are supposed to be (with some upcoming exceptions I think) past the peak heat. Its supposed to get a big cooler on average every day, and I am sure looking forward to that. Its been a very hot summer.    

Stopped by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and also the Confederate Chapel on the grounds. Went into that as it was open today, and took a photo of the bike and this house while I was there. It was a fun visit and had a great time there.
Ride was very good....rode for 90 minutes and just covered some 25 miles due to stops. Just a few weeks away from the 1 near anniversary of getting this bike, and having a blast with it so far.

Bath Day for the Triumph (August 4, 2017)

On Friday for the first time in a while, did a through cleaning of the bike. Have cleaned it some during the almost year now, but did a very extensive cleanup with water and soap. After that took it for a 10 mile ride to blow out the water. Came back and waxed it and polished the chrome. I also checked the chain (do that every ride) and did the monthly chain oiling (didnt clean it this time as I did with the hose). Ready now for the next series of adventures with this wonderful motorcycle!