Visit Two and the Tacky Lights Tour

Made my second trip to Richmond, VA on December 13+14. The company put together a bus trip with a tour of the factory. This factory is older than where we currently work, was a bit more crowded, and has a mix of older equipment with new machinery. They are planning to combine production at the older plant; but it looked real nice, and certainly will be interesting working there. We were (some 140 of us) all greeted by employees holding signs, and they did a good job of answering questions and making us feel welcome. Got a nice tour of the plant.

They also put us up at the Embassy Suites on Broad Street, which is a nice hotel, and had a reception for us. We went back on the busses at 8pm for "The Tacky Lights Tour" which is a Richmond tradition and has sights such as the photo you see here. Really enjoyed that a great deal, and found the lights tour to be a great deal of fun. It also was neat to get another look at some of the neighborhoods in Richmond, which was a side benefit to the lights.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we rolled out around 9am. As I found before, it was a relaxed sort of trip via bus, and Sunday morning traffic was not bad as we rolled down I-95. Like a great puzzle, got a few more pieces to put together, as the move to Richmond in February gets closer. Enjoyed the second visit to the city though, and will have a few weeks before I return again; next time to be there with the items I will need to live there in early February.

To all of you, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Richmond, Part II (The November 8-9 trip)

I have been thinking all week about the trip to Richmond. I took these two photos downtown of the city. As I noted, really reminds me a great deal of my home town of Louisville. Much different then Charlotte which has a very new feel and look. In Charlotte they don't reuse old things; they knock them down and build new things on top of the old. Charlotte is also a much larger city in area. However, it does remind me a great deal of the Derby City as I noted. Louisville does mix the new with the old, it is also located on a river, and uses the river a great deal. In the case of the Ohio River, that is a transportation link, as well as a entertainment center. I am hearing that the James River has much the same function in Richmond.

I am an avid motorcyclist, and among the many things I will miss will be my motorcycle. I liked this photo of the bike rolling down the street between the old buildings. It was fun walking about the town, though I did notice in the area there were police warnings that the area was being "patrolled" and that people should lock cars and keep items out of view (which is always a good idea no matter what city you find yourself in). However I do need to note that a lot of people were wandering around, and I never felt in danger. Patty was also very comfortable in Richmond. I think it will be a fun city to explore, having three years to check it out will be a lot of fun.

Found a very inexpensive apartment. Not looking forward to apartment living, having been in a house for the last 15 years or so. I did enjoy them when I was younger, but you can deal with a lot when you are in your 20s and early 30s. Still I have mostly happy memories. As for my place, will be stocking it with an old tv, a boom box, some old furniture and a day bed. I also have an old chair and ottoman. I will need to get a few things, but mostly will be using stuff from here (older stuff). Least it will be items that should something happen, will be no big loss (and will be sure to have renters insurance). So that at least will be of little concern. In fact while I will need a truck to take it there, plan to bring little if any back. I also have an old computer that I will be taking along.

Car is somewhat of a concern, being 9 years old (but ok on miles) with the definite plus that the drive is flat as a pancake. I expected some hills or mountains, but none going there at all. Traffic is also not too bad (least not so far). I was told I-95 is a real nightmare, but did not see it; yet anyhow.

Next few weeks will be getting the few things I need together, and getting things ready for the February move. Sure will be interesting. Know I can do it, was a regular thing in the Navy, and with my company this will be my third factory in 17 years. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

Richmond: Visit One (November 8-9,2008)

My wife Patty and I made the first ride to Richmond from Concord, NC on the morning of November 8. It was a pleasant drive, traffic was not bad, road construction on I-85 was minimal. It was a beautiful drive in that the trees were in full color. The route is flat which was also a surprise, no mountains to cross and covered the distance in slightly under four hours.
First project was to find where I was going to be working (which was easy, its right on I-95) and then looked for an apartment as close to the factory as I could find. I looked at four apartments, two were nothing to bother with, but two were really nice. I ended up with an apartment in Midlothian. Its a nice area, though feel like it has seen better days. There is an abandoned mall nearby, but its being re-developed (which seems to be a hallmark of Richmond, a city which recycles its old buildings and puts them to other uses), and a lot of new businesses in that area. Overall it looked like a good area to live. I also liked the condition of the roads, and the fact that its less than 10 miles from work. Looks to be an easy commute, though that remains to be seen when I actually start working in February.
Having located the apartment, rode downtown. Noted that a big difference between the Charlotte area and Richmond is that Richmond is much more compact. Charlotte covers a lot more area than Richmond, so driving distances are shorter. The roads were in very good shape, and signs make it real easy to get where you are going (in Charlotte, its best to have a good idea where you are headed...signage is not very good in much of the city). I rode through Richmond a couple of times, also got out and walked in the area of the train station downtown. There was also a very nice farmers market there, as well as some clubs and restaurants. As noted many were in older buildings which once had other uses, many area warehouses were also converted into apartments. I got a good first impression of the city from the short visit there. Richmond had a lot in common with Louisville, which is my hometown area (moved to Concord, NC from there 10 years ago) which does many of the same things. Louisville is (though today mostly was) like Richmond a "factory town". A lot of industry is located on the outskirts of Richmond, many of those are major city employers.
We had a hotel in Chester. Stayed at the Comfort Inn at Exit 61A, I enjoyed the time spent there. Very nice hotel, very friendly staff. I would for sure give it two thumbs up, and would stay there again. We were pretty tired from the driving and the walking so though a city with great places to eat (we are told anyhow) settled for a Chili's in Chester. However, got to say again that it was great with very good service, and was a good lucky choice for some tired travelers.
My first impressions of the city are very positive, and a lot of things that I have been told did not seem to be true. Though my first visit in what will be a three year adventure, it is certainly off to a good start.
As for the photo above, took that downtown. I have seen that view before in some web searches, and was good to see it live. I hope to have some more photos here from my visit, and also of more to come as I check out the city that will be my "part time" home for the the next three years starting in mid-February of 2009.

Getting the Call

Its been a difficult year and a half. When the company announced the closing of the factory (which will put some 1500 out of work sometime next year) they also announced transfers to Richmond VA. I have already been through one which happened some 10 years ago and brought me to North Carolina with my family. It has been a very interesting time, and we have enjoyed the area, and put down roots here.

The photo at left is of Grandfather Mountain, taken from the Blue Ridge Parkway where I took my motorcycle on the day that I got the word that my number had come up, and I would be going to Richmond, VA starting on February 16. We plan to stay here, so my wife son, and dogs (as well as the motorcycle) will remain here. I will be getting an apartment in Richmond, and commuting back to North Carolina on (most hopefully) weekends. This will go on for three years when I will be eligible for early retirement. The job has great benefits, and has been a good place to work; though it has come at a pretty good cost at times for sure.

I am looking at this as an adventure; a chance to explore a new area. Amazingly I have not been to Richmond, so will be going pretty much sight unseen (except for the wonders of the internet). I hope to share what its like to do something like this (again in my case, and many times in my life...did spend four years in the US Navy, so did some moving then).

Patty and I are planning a scouting trip to the city to see where the factory is, and also to check out some apartments. That will happen November 7-9 if all goes well. Will be back here with a report then!