Monday: The Way Its Meant to Be (October 3, 2016)

Very nice day. As you can see from the photo, awoke to Sunshine. That has been a while to be sure. In fact clouds did not even show up until later. I had a dentist appointment and that was my first stop. That went well, and then rode to lunch. Tried something new at The Pub which is part of Wegmans. That is a heck of a grocery store (though just looked around) Ate at The Pub though which is also really nice and some very tasty food.

Noted there had been a lot of rain, and that was reflected in a ride on Riverside Drive. The James River is really up, and in fact was much higher a couple of days ago. Surprised it has not overrun its banks (and perhaps it did though nothing showing on the side so perhaps not too) but it is way up there.
Nice ride along it though and for sure the rapids on the river would have been a real adventure. Did not see anyone trying them out though.    

Today was not a big huge ride...just a little short of 50 miles. The motorcycle is in this photo and at 545 miles I think I have maybe one more 50 mile ride before taking it in for its first service (at 600 miles). So far have had zero problems and it has been a real hoot. Sure is a lot of fun on a curvy road. Taking it easy on the engine and sticking real close to the break in on it. Having a great time and looking forward to a whole lot more fun further down the road.    

Sunday Airport Brunch (October 2, 2016)

 Well...been one rainy week. I mean to say the vast majority of the week. Wanted to ride some on Saturday and did get out in the car but still a whole lot of standing water on Saturday. We got this amazing set of storms- something like 7 inches from Tuesday to Friday.
Saturday in Carolina (where the rain has been less) group of my friends rode to an airport for dinner. Got to see a P-40 Warhawk (from WWII) painted in "Flying Tigers" colors. Inspired me, and made a trip to the Chesterfield County Airport. Skies were supposed to clear which they did (much much later) and there was supposed (being the operative word) to be no rain. That was not the case. Still, it was good to get out and enjoyed the dinner there. I had eaten there before and the staff was really good and the food was too. I enjoyed the brunch there.  

From the restaurant this was the view (well some of it) and that was really nice. Plus got to see planes take off and land. Hey, I like aircraft so what can I say? At any case was sure good to get out and enjoy a bit of time out in the breeze. That said I am off on Monday and HOPING for a bit longer ride. Course the new bike is due for its first service in 102 miles (as it stands now). That may be tough to get with news of a possible hurricane coming this way as it looks right now over the weekend. Will see how that turns out in a few days.

Sunday Putt (September 25, 2016)

Nice ride today....looked like it would rain just about any second for a lot of it, but when it would lighten up. I did not plan to go far, and I did not though the bike was fine. I rode out to Hollywood Cemetery. Had a visitor from Atlanta, and only got to show him a few things last night (he worked all day in Richmond) so got a few things shot and sent to him. I have been there many times and have a lot of photos from there, here are a couple more.

This is from Hollywood....photo of the James River from there. It is a pretty place to end up with some nice views of the area. Peaceful and very historic. As I told Ben, two and a half US Presidents are buried there...2 US and the only CSA President.
Spent a little time there and wandered around a bit both on wheels and on foot. I do love history and today was a good time to do that. Had a busy and aggrevating morning so this was nice.  

Made a stop at the State Capital. Wandered there for a bit. While there I got this photo. Hate to blow my own horn, but this is a damn good photo. Course its a pretty impressive building which was mostly designed by Thomas Jefferson.
While riding I visited a friend and we walked down to an Italian Festival in Shockoe Bottom (just outside of Church Hill). After a visit there, headed back to my house to go to a concert. More on that on my Richmond and Me page tomorrow. I had a great time though, and a pretty fine day.  

Historic Ride in the RVA (September 24, 2016)

Went to this event last year, free Museum Weekend in Richmond. While not a lot of miles nice to be on the motorcycle. First stop was Agecroft Hall off of Cary Street. Toured a few rooms of the house which was built in Lancashire, England in the late 15th century. It was moved from there to Richmond, VA in 1925. Was an amazing place with a recreated English garden to wander around. Nice view of the James River from the house as well.

Also brought from England by another family is this house called Virginia House which was originally a Catholic Priory. Henry VIII confiscated many Church properties in his dispute with the Church and it was turned into a house. It was also moved to Richmond just before being torn down in England also around 1925. No tours were offered of this house, but I did tour the gardens outside. It is right next door to Avecroft Hall.

Did get a large and very nice tour of Wilton. This Colonial Era house was in use for a long time. George Washington spent a few nights here after the Second Continental Convention and Lafayette stayed there inside the house with his soldiers camped outside prior to the action at Yorktown which ended the Revolutionary War. Got a very extensive tour of the house and enjoyed the look at the grounds. It is a short distance down the road from Agecroft Hall and Virginia House.

I also took a ride down Williamsburg Road to visit the son of a Navy friend visiting Richmond. We went out on the town later that night. On the way back from the ride made a stop at the Richmond National Battlefield. Still was a warm day but a good ride.

Sunday on the Jefferson Davis Highway (September 18, 2016)

 After a busy Saturday and a foggy Sunday morning got the Triumph (still not used to typing that) out for a ride for a few hours. Getting ever closer to the first service. Today, before the ride put some chain lube on the chain...first time I have done that on a motorcycle in years (the Vulcan was shaft drive). Ride started and ended on Riverside Drive. Photo taken here while stopped (note the speedo) but love a scenic and twisty road. This bike is fun on these sort of roads.

Headed up Jefferson Davis Highway....nice ride on a Sunday. There is not much traffic on Sunday morning, and it was still cool out. Was supposed to -and did - get warmer quickly. Our last few days Fall preview is ending for a few days. Will be back and forth for the next few weeks. Still, this is going to be some of my favorite weather and got a preview of that on the last ride Friday.
Took photo at left at Colonial Heights City Hall which was my furthest point today. Nice building and wanted to get a photo the times I have been past it, so today I did.
Turned back and stopped at two places. Chili's for a noon lunch, and it was really good. I have not been to one in a while, will have to make a return trip. I also stopped and got a photo at the Halfway House. Not open this afternoon but a cool place. Dates to 1743 and former diners include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Lafayette, US Grant and Robert E. Lee (the last last two did not dine together though. I have eaten there in the past and have to say, it was really, really good. It is not only a very historic place but the food is outstanding in my opinion.    

On the way back made one last stop at Fort Darling, on what is called Drewry's Bluff. From those heights on May 15, 1862 the fort held off 5 Union ships which included the ironclad Monitor from heading up river and shelling Richmond from the James. The Confederate guns could shoot down but the Union guns could not elevate upward. This is an 8 inch Confederate gun, the only one there. While all the wood buildings and works are all gone, the earthworks still remain.
Had a great time on the motorcycle, I have been enjoying the rides on it. Different then the old Vulcan, but a great deal of fun. It is a lot lighter and great in the curves (the Vulcan floorboards tended to scrape the road when leaned over). Bike as it gets miles on it and gets more broken in is a lot more perkier. Had a lot of "perk" to start with. Getting ever closer to the first service.
Ride was fun though and covered a total of 49 miles today. Not a big ride but sure had a lot of fun. Expecting rain tomorrow (actually tonight) and tomorrow will be doing some things to get ready for the work week ahead.  

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.