Speedmaster(s), Rockets, Jail, and airplanes (February 8-9,2018)

Scoot Richmond where I purchased the 2016 Speedmaster had a preview of the new 2018 Triumph Motorcycles on Feb 8. I did not ride there, but looked over the new motorcycles including the updates on the new Triumph Speedmaster. It is now water cooled (mine is air and oil) and is a 1200 (vs my 900 sized engine). Great looking motorcycle, really impressed with the line...and the one I have too!

On Friday we got sunshine and it was at 50 degrees. Taking advantage of a pretty good day in what has been a very cold and snowy winter here in Richmond I got the motorcycle out for a ride. Started out on Jefferson Davis Highway where I got this photo of my Speedmaster in front of this rocket at a local business there.
Have been real fond of rockets all my life and have always enjoyed this one. It was a good day to ride as the traffic was really light and dressed for the ride so was very comfortable.
Forecast for the next week is above normal temperatures and a whole lot of rain....pretty much a good rain chance all week long. Yes, I have ridden in the rain and no, I don't like to do so.
So this was a good time to get out and about and see some of the amazing sites to visit here in Richmond, VA. I do enjoy riding here and have also come across some remarkable people along the way.
From this point continued down Jefferson Davis with no real destination in mind.     

After a while made a stop at at Chester to check out some of the historical sites there.  Along them is the old jail which dates to 1892 and was in use for 70 years. I think the old stocks are also pretty cool, which can be seen in the lower right of the photo on the porch.
Lots of cool places in that area, and it is a nice ride there. Course on a motorcycle any ride is a good ride. 

Final stop was at the Chesterfield County Airport where I snapped this photo of a plane getting ready to take off. No real reason other than I thought this plane was very cool, and I like visiting the airport there. For the ride covered a distance of 36 miles and had a great time on this Friday.

Retirement Day Ride ( February 1, 2018)

First ride on the first day of my actual retirement from working....photo at top was the start and the photo to the left was taken at Legend Brewing where I stopped for the first spring beer of the year (which also just came out there today). Before the ride checked tire pressures and added air as it has been very cold lately and that can really change tire pressures (and did). Nice to get out for a while. Temperature was in the 50's though very cloudy.   among places I went was Monumental Church which is very historic (and that is common here in Richmond). John Marshall was instrumental in getting it built and the designer also designed the Washington Monument among other things. Edgar Allen Poe was among the people who attended this church. Google Monumental Church in Richmond for more information on the history of the building.
Ride was short over a distance of some 15 miles on this day, but as usual enjoyed the ride a great deal. Expecting a small bit of snow tomorrow which seems to be typical of this crazy winter weather this year. .

First Ride of 2018 (January 26, 2018)

 Hard to believe, but this was the first time I have been out in the new year. Reasons? Well, record breaking (as in 100 year records) cold, plus roads that was covered in salt and sand from road crews to deal with two big snowstorms. Finally it rained (the kind of wet you don't have to shovel) and temperatures hit the 50 degree mark. I had to get out. Got this photo just across the Mayo Bridge as I went into downtown.

Bike is 15 months old, and today during the ride I reached the 5,000 mile mark (purchased brand new in September 2016 as a 2016 model). So far so good, no problems with the motorcycle, just a lot of fun.
Nice way to get around Richmond and sure enjoy the places I have been as well as looking forward to the places I will go. It is a sporty ride and keeps me smiling. .   

Made a stop at Canal Walk where I got this photo while out and about. Nice place to see some sights near the end of the ride today.
For the record I went 22 miles...again not a far ride and certainly not fast. 50 degrees in not a toasty ride but I was well dressed.
Looking forward to doing that again soon, and hopefully this warm weather trend will continue. However, it is "almost" February and that will remain to be seen. 

Last Ride of 2017 (December 28, 2017)

 Made what turned out to be the final ride of 2017 on December 28, 2017. It was planned to have the normal New Years Eve and New Years Day rides but the amazing 100 year cold snap (beating lows and highs set in 1908) made that impossible this year. So this ended up being the ending year ride. Rode first to Hollywood Cemetery for the history of the place and also this great view of the James River from the road. 

Then I rode to Church Hill and got this photo from the lookout there. It was a very good ride with no problems. Added a few pieces of gear and that made this ride better than the last one. Temperature was just a hair higher than on the last ride with a high of like 36.  I was warm though did have of course to watch the speed. Distance again was not much with a hair over 14 miles being done. Have been on some amazing rides this year. That said...looking forward to Spring. Looking also forward to the end of this national cold snap.

Christmas Day Ride (December 25, 2017)

 It was a rather nippy 36 degrees when I headed out on Christmas Day. Wanted to get a ride in on this wonderful day. It is something I like to do, but can't always due to weather or circumstances but was able to this year.
I dressed with some new winter gear I got over the Christmas holiday and was quite comfortable even in the cold. Not sure what the wind chill was...I guess it depended on the speed I was going. Rode out to Oregon Hill and visited one of my favorite local places. Of course, being daytime the lights were not on and believe me this is quite remarkable when they are but still pretty impressive.
I have a photo of this place lit on my "Richmond and Me" page if you would like to see it. Had a great time seeing the Christmas lights of Richmond and still do, day or night.
From here, rode down Riverside Drive and enjoyed that ride. With the leaves finally fallen it really now is a true and wonderful Riverside Drive as you can actually see it.   

I rode back up Forest Hill Avenue for a few miles and stopped at this house. There is also a really remarkable light display and enjoyed visiting that as well. Different during the daytime but still fun to see.
After that headed back toward home. There was very little traffic on the roads and virtually  nothing  was open but that made the ride which covered a distance of 14 miles in all just that much better.

Mid-December Ride December 16, 2017)

 The year is rapidly winding down, but got to get out a big on a somewhat warm Saturday afternoon. I think it was in the 40's but what the hell..it was sunny and warm enough if you dress warm enough.
Getting real close to the Christmas holiday and that is a very cool thing. There has been snow over the last few days and quite a bit of very cold weather. So this was a welcome change.
I put on my coat and the hoodie under that, the very warm gloves I got last week and even a scarf. Thought about wearing my insulated jeans (got those a few years ago from Bass Pro Shop) but did not think it was that cold...and it was not.
Bike started right up and that was a nice thing..always worry a bit this time of year. Two hardest things on a battery is the very cold days as well as..the very warm days. Still, it was all good and off I went into the wilds of Richmond, VA

 First stop was Isley Brewing Company. There a surprise, just yesterday (tied to the movie) was their new beer called "Mos Eisley" which is based on the cantina in Star Wars: A New Hope. Being a brown ale and brown ale is my favorite it was pretty good. This place is really nice. I have been here a few times in a section of Richmond called Scotts Addition, and this is a nice addition to the local beer scene here in Richmond. One and done and back on the road.

Stopped for lunch in Carytown at Zzaam which is undergoing some changes. Added a tea place as well as a new BBQ restaurant (still have the very fine Korean rice bowls). The BBQ was pretty damn good, I will be back. Did not try the tea. Some more additions there are coming up.
As for my ride just wandered around a bit for the rest of it. As is common this time of year not a lot of miles....total was 20 in all. As I often say though...a short ride is better than no ride at all. This one was a lot of fun on a beautiful RVA day.

Sunday on Midlothian Turnpike (December 3, 2017)

 Got out for a short ride on a rather nice Sunday. Made a stop by this "work of art" which is actually the local sex toy shop. It was not open (not that I have ever been in there...ha ha) but love the picture painted in front of it.
It was a good day to get out and get some wind between my knees and as always love getting to ride on a Sunday. Traffic is light and that makes for some really good riding in the RVA. Love to see the area and to explore places new and old.

Got out to Westchester Village where I got this photo of the mall Christmas tree. Love this time of year and fun to see the Christmas sights here in Richmond.
Few towns do Christmas quite like Richmond does. They seem to really get into it and some of the lights are really something to see. I took a few more photos while I was out riding of both Christmas things and other items. There was a lot to see and do. Went by the Northrop Grumman building (though they do not make aircraft there at this one) and also another Christmas site along the way.
For those interested I have some local photos of Richmond lights on my "Richmond and me" page and have seen quite a lot of them already this year.
Have not seen as many houses lit up as I did last year though in general. That is kind of sad, though the bigger places make up for that.   

I also got to test out my new gloves. They sell them at motorcycle shops, but I have found the ski shops also sell winter gloves which are anything much more effective than what the bike shops have and at a much lower price. In fact they are  good places to get a lot of winter wear. If it works on the ski slopes, it should work on the road.
As for the ride a great time which covered a distance of 30 miles at a temperature of 45 degrees. Not sure what the wind chill was.