Late Winter Ride (March 13, 2019)

 Finally. Today the temperature rose to 70 degrees, rains have washed the salt off the roads the past few days and while out in the car noticed all the motorcycles out. Thought it was a great day to join them. So, after checking the bike out for such things as chain slack, oil level, tire pressure and other items got out and got a few miles in for the first time in a long time.
It was fun as while at a red light across from the Air Force Base watched a C-17 take off. Did not see that in Richmond, VA. Rode awhile around Fairborn and then made a stop at this Trailer Park for a photo of the bike by the propeller.

After a short city ride out to the country I went. Made a stop at George Rogers Clark Park. It was the site of an Indian battle with forces lead by General Clark back around the Revolutionary War Period. Nice place which I have been to before in the car with my wife.
All in all was just a wonderful day to be out. Temperature was perfect, skies were blue and the whole ride had me grinning from ear to ear. The motorcycle performed perfectly.
The ride was just one hour as I had been doing some car maintenance earlier but sure had a wonderful time out in the wind and exploring Ohio. 

February Update (February 20, 2019)

 Its been an ok winter as far as winter goes. Snow wise I think last year we got larger amounts in Richmond, Virginia than we have had this year here in the Dayton, Ohio area. I should not cheer too much as it is not quite over yet. The roads are heavily coated with salt. Have to make sure I keep the car washed as that really eats metal. So have not been out since like the first week of January. I have been to the Air Force Museum in Dayton a few times and that is where I took this photo of this Orange County Chopper motorcycle on display there. During the cold weather, it is a place to be.

 

Main reason not to ride beside the salty roads are common scenes like this. While it has not been great amounts of snow, it has been pretty common. Of note also has been the cold. Being from the South the last couple of decades the cold here makes riding difficult. While you would see people riding in winter in Virginia and especially in North Carolina as the winters there tend to be pretty moderate, here you only rarely see people riding in these temperatures and especially under these conditions.
Good news though is that spring is not far away and the riding season will be not far behind.

I have started the motorcycle a few times and have moved it a bit during the past few weeks. I even have during winter got in a couple of rides. Breaks in weather allowed me to ride to Dayton and out in the county a couple of times and noted in earlier blog posts.
Will not be long till I get out and can get a few miles in. I am looking forward to getting my knees in the breeze real soon. To be honest, I sure miss that!  

Saint Paris Ride (January 8, 2019)

 Last rode Sunday, and it was nice with temps in the upper 40's. After a rainy Monday, got out on the motorcycle again but this time enjoyed 60 degrees. Here in the Dayton area I am told you don't get weather like this often this time of year. Can testify to that for as I write this the day after it is currently 28 with snow flurries! At any case, went by the Ohio BMV and got Ohio license plates for the motorcycle. After that took a ride to Saint Paris, Ohio. Ride was down a straight road out of New Carlisle, Ohio just to see what was there. Finally came across a four way stop with two businesses and turned back toward home. 

Even though a straight road, was nice as there were a number of farms along the road. This area grows a lot of corn and the fields are much bigger than what I used to see in Virginia. Right now they are ready to plant in a few weeks (or months, not much of a farmer). Road back into New Carlisle where I took the photo at left. From there headed back to the house and then put the new license plate on the motorcycle.
It was a very windy ride, the breeze here is another change from Virginia. High winds are common at least in winter and last longer here. Ride was a lot of fun, covered 39 miles on this time out.

First Ride of 2019/ First Real Ohio Ride (January 6, 2019)

 First Ride since (I can't believe this) October 22-23 when I rode to my new home on the motorcycle from Richmond, VA. Been a lot going on with the move, the holidays and frankly much colder weather than I am used to. This afternoon though, thanks to much warmer weather than usual for this part of the world, got on my warm riding gear and got a few miles in on the Triumph.
This first photo in almost two months is of one of the lakes within walking distance of my house. Was the early part of the ride, which then continued to New Carlisle, Ohio.

From New Carlisle, Ohio I rode on the highway to Ohio 4 and made a very quick stop at the United States Air Force Museum. There I got a quick photo of these aircraft outside. It is a favorite place of mine here to visit. I have been to the museum twice before since I arrived here and I guess this is the third visit though this one was just for the photo at left. One I got this I headed back out.
Rode a bit past the base of which the United States Air Force Museum is a part of. I had one last destination in mind which was something like 2.5 miles past the museum.

That destination is the Wright Brothers Memorial which was put up by Dayton some years ago. I think that Orville Wright was in attendance when it was dedicated. It is a very nice monument and overlooks the field in Ohio which was the first actual flying field in the history of aviation.
There is also a small museum there but it is closed due to President Idiots shutdown (among many other things which are also shutdown) for his stupid wall. I am not a fan of the President and think the wall is nothing short of silly. Figure people will go around, under or over it. Money for nothing in my book.
At any case, was a good ride and I enjoyed it a great deal. Got in a few miles and got an awful lot of smiles. Living here in Ohio now will be dealing with some serious weather much colder then I was used to in either North Carolina or Virginia. However, I did encounter this type growing up in Louisville, Kentucky so know how to deal with it.         

The Big Ride Part 2 - West Virginia to Ohio (October 23, 2018)

 Once again after a great nights rest got the hotel breakfast and then headed out on the Triumph to Ohio. It was a short ride down I-64  from Cross Lanes, WV to the Exit onto Highway 35.
Highway 35 is quite a road. It is a combination of two lanes and four lanes. Heavy truck traffic but fun to ride with a combination of farms and fields. Not a lot of towns there but there was one I spent some time in. Point Pleasant, WV was a good stop. There I explored the riverfront where I saw some cool murals, the famous Mothman statue (you need to look up the Legend of the Mothman) and some cool monuments and buildings (one at the left). There was also a River Boat Museum but it was mostly boarded up but some cool items outside to be seen. It was a nice break before heading out. Temperature wise it was a bit warmer then Monday, and that was fine, though again my clothing served me well.   

Near Point Pleasant is the Ohio State Line and rolled over the Ohio River and into that state which is soon to be my home. The ride was really nice through Southern Ohio which once again took me past farms and fields. It was a good time to just kick back and ride. The bike performed perfectly and I had a grin on my face. One thing about the cooler temperatures was the bug count was greatly reduced.
I have been to the area quite a few times but did get a bit lost the way I came in. Even referring to the GPS was not a great help. Then I saw an Air Force C-17flying and I hoped it was near the Air Force Base. Amazingly it was and from the base I was able to find the house. After stopping by there, rode out to Mel-O-Dee Restaurant to get a very good bite to eat before parking the motorcycle "for a while". The total of the two day ride ...530.4 miles. It was a remarkable experience.
As to how I got back to Richmond, well that can be found on my "Richmond and Me" blog. Took a different method to get back to the RVA then what took me from it.   

The Big Ride Part 1 -Richmond to West Virginia (October 22, 2018)

 Due to weather this year have not ridden as much as I would like. That changed on October 22. Will be moving with my wife to the Dayton, Ohio area...new roads to explore with a wonderful wife. Had to move the motorcycle. Seemed like the best way to do it, was to ride it. So bundled up and headed up and into the mountains for one last great ride in Virgnia. I got going at 10am and made a favorite stop at Afton Overlook at the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was about the 1/3 of the way point of the ride. Weather was absolutely perfect.

 For a change I bundled up well. Made some nice stops along the way. The motorcycle was perfect and handled the ups and downs of mountain riding perfectly. While chilly I had just about the perfect combination of riding gear on, and had no discomfort during the 330 miles of riding I got in for the day. Took a good number of breaks and took time to "smell the coffee" during the ride.
Funny thing, as I pulled in so did a BMW rider also out on the road. Debbie and I have stayed in this Sleep Inn hotel a few times in the past, and thought this stop in Cross Lanes, WV would be a great place to relax for day 2, and indeed it was as always. I highly recommend this hotel if you are in the area. Got a great nights sleep!   

Morning October Ride (October9, 2018)

Very nice day to get out on the motorcycle. Rode to Canal Walk area where I took the photo at left. Rode out to Varina for a bit of country riding. Stopped at the Fort Harrison National Cemetery where I visited a Union Civil War  Soldiers Medal of Honor grave. Rode back toward Richmond past fields of green and yellow. However still no fall color, as the temperatures have remained in the 80's. One nice thing has been no rain for a week...which has been very unique for this year. It has been a wet one. For the day covered 32 miles in some 90 minutes of very nice riding.