Memorial Day Ride (May 27, 2019)

 Being Memorial Day, went to the United States Air Force Museum. Its part of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. I am going to put a few photos of the museum on the Ohio and me page. I used to go on Memorial Day but thats now over 500 miles away. Fantastic place though.
As I write this the day after, had a night of tornadoes in the area read the museum got "some damage" from the massive storms in the area. Not sure exactly how bad it is, but sure it will come out. Dayton and the surrounding area got pounded with a lot of damage. Thankfully we are ok here. 

Took this photo of the Huffman Dam, which was passed on the way home. It was not a long ride as the motorcycle is due to maintenance (3 miles under 7000 miles). Going to be doing the oil change, also going to clean and reoil the chain in the next few days. The Speedmaster has been a great motorcycle and very happy with it for the last few years (bought it new in 2016).
Looking forward to some more great rides and will be sharing those rides with you in the upcoming weeks as always.

Cycle Shop Ride (May 18, 2019)

Rode to Joe's Cycle Shop on Saturday to check out the place. I was very impressed and liked my visit there. Looking for a place to get things that I will need down the road for the motorcycle. Looking forward to dealing with them in the future. While out made a quick photo stop to Hollywood Casino and a visit to Willow View Cemetery which was also nearby to Joe's Cycle Shop. All the in these photos were Dayton, Ohio. Ride was 39 miles and enjoyed it a great deal. More photos can be found on my "Ohio and Me" page which is also part of this site.     

Tuesday Ride to the Refreshing Beverage (May 7, 2019)

Took a very short ride, as I need to make a bank run, and there is no better way to travel than via motorcycle. After that stop in New Carlisle, Ohio made a stop at 571  for a refreshing beverage and rode around a bit before heading home with 35 more miles under my belt. The motorcycle is now 65 miles from its oil change date, which I will be doing. Figure I have one more good ride before getting on that.
As a side note stopped by the US 40 sign. Originally it was the National Road which opened in 1806 and started in Cumberland, PA (which I have been to just last year). As US 40 it was built starting in 1926 and was one of the first interstate highways. It ran from Atlantic City, NJ to San Francisco, California and a number of states in between. One of those states just so happens to be Ohio. As with many roads here, I really enjoy riding it, and look forward to my next adventures on this outstanding highway.   

Sunday Ride (May 5, 2019)

Short ride on a finally beautiful Sunday. We got a bunch of rain the last few days, and it was nice to finally see blue skies after all of that. Been some pretty good flooding here in the area, but we are not alone. It has pretty much been raining from above us and down to Florida for the past few days.
Got out though and enjoyed the ride. Had quite a few motorcycles out. I guess great minds think alike. Went to some familiar places but found some different ways to get there. Not just the road less traveled but in my case today the roads never traveled. Getting to figure this area out one mile at a time.
Some nice areas though and enjoyed getting out. A new route took me finally to New Carlisle where I looked at the grain silos during a stop.
I also rode by the airport here. I was hoping that some planes would be flying but that is not the case while I was there. I did enjoy the areas though and the photos are from both places. 

Out by the airport rode to see a new section of 571. That is a very cool and interesting road which I followed back to US 40 (aka "The National Road"). Took that around back toward 235 and from that back to the house. Ride was a little under an hour and only covered 30 miles. It was more of a sightseeing and exploring ride than a hard and fast one.
I am now around 90 miles to go before the oil change, and getting my riding in a bit at a time. Not much this year due to weather, but a bit at a time is really nice. As for today the weather was wonderful and I really enjoyed the ride!

Saturday Museum Ride (April 27, 2019)

With the upcoming week having a really long term rain forecast, and waking up to a beautiful morning I checked the motorcycle over, and started it up for a ride. The temperature was right at 50 degrees, cooler than I would like, but with the heavy coat and gloves on, plus my trusty helmet, I took to the streets.
First stop was Eastwood Park. Saw rowers there which I think was some kind of school/practice event. Got a kick out of that in that going to the Dragon Boat Races in Richmond when I lived there was a favorite yearly event. You can see one of the boats in the photo at left. 

 Made a stop at the Air Force Museum to see the A-10 which is in the photo at left. The A-10 is one of two at the museum, there is another inside the museum but this one is in the Air Park section. I did not go into the museum on this trip, but I did explore the planes outside and also the two buildings from World War II. The Nissan Hut was brought over from England, the Control Tower is a replica.
The museum is a favorite of mine and enjoy visiting it as visitors to this page will know. I have a few more photos of the aircraft and buildings there on my "Ohio and Me" Page which is also part of this site.

I thought the days ride was done, but had to make a stop at the post office is New Carlisle, Ohio so got out for one more time during the day. As you can see in the photo at left, the clouds were already starting to build. In fact, later that afternoon we got some heavy rain.
Visited "Wot-A-Dog" for a coney dog and really great root beer in a frosty mug. It is a favorite place to stop in, with some really good things to eat. Sat in the enclosed area and had my lunch but they also have curb service. This was my second visit since it has opened for the season, previously I used the curb service in the car and brought it home.
It was a really good couple of rides. Covered around 30 miles and had a really good time.
Looking forward to the next ride which is coming up after a few days of rain. Also in a future forecast is an oil change which is just over 100 miles away and a chain adjustment. I have the materials for the oil change which I got last week and am looking forward to that.       

Day after Easter Ride (April 22, 2019)

 It was a beautiful day and spent it mostly doing yard work. Earlier got a new lawn mower which I also put together and gave a short test run to. Before cutting the lawn for the first time this year as well as being my first time to cut the grass here in Ohio, I got the motorcycle out for a cruise around the area.
For this ride, took a ride to Tipp City. Have been there before but not only being an interesting town, it is a really good ride. The city has a number of interesting places such as this old train depot, as well as many other sights. I enjoy my time there and the ride to it is a great deal of fun as well. 

The ride to and from Tipp City is past farms and down two lane roads. I was looking to stop in New Carlisle (where the grain silos are as seen at left) for a frosty malt beverage but it was closed on Monday till 4pm, and I was there much earlier. Another great place was also closed in Medway, Ohio but that was not the main purpose of the ride.
The purpose was to get some breeze between my knees and in that case the ride was very successful. It was a beautiful day to get out and see some sights.
It was not a big ride, only covered some 37 miles but enjoyed each and every one. I am around 170 miles from my next oil change and have been getting the filter (which I have done) and oil (coming up soon) for that project. I used to change the oil on my Kawasaki Vulcan but this will be the first time to do so on this motorcycle. The first oil change I had done at the dealer.
So, nice May ride on a beautiful 65 degree day in what is proving to be a very interesting place to explore. 

Huffman Prairie Ride( April 13,2019)

On a nice day in Dayton took a roughly 30 mile ride in the morning to Huffman Prairie. After Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers went to this field to perfect their invention. They went from the Wright Flyer (though a new version the first plane having been destroyed after they flew it) to the Wright Flyer III. It was also home to one of the first flying schools, and the test area for their Model B aircraft.

These are recreations of the original structures. The building at left was the Hangar. Read that they had to partially dissemble the aircraft and put it in sideways. The catapult was used to launch the planes. Lacking the winds of Kitty Hawk, the catapult took them to flying speed.
First flights with the 1904 Flier started on May 23, 1904. While that plane was better, it was the Wright Flyer III which made long flights possible. In fact that aircraft is on display at Carillon Park in Dayton and is considered the first practical aircraft.
It was a fun visit to this historical area and in fact a very fun motorcycle ride. Traffic was light before noon and the ride was trouble free.