Child Savers Ride/Greek Festival (June 5, 2010)

To be honest, had planned to be riding my motorcycle today to Lincolnton, NC to a big bike, bbq and band festival held there called "Hog Happenin"; but work had other plans. Yeah grateful to have a job, lucky (blah, blah, blah) but at any case made the best of it. For work is later in the day, right now there is a lot going on in Richmond. For instance, note the sign at right. It is at the old abandoned (mostly abandoned as there is a Bank of America branch and a Firestone still there) mall known as Cloverleaf Mall. Told that back in the day it was really something, but now is mostly closed. Yesterday though it was given this new sign...will soon be Stonebridge and a Kroger is coming in 2011. Will keep an eye on this in the months to come as I go by it about every day on the Midlothian Turnpike. This was the site where the Child Savers Charity Ride was going to leave from. Expected were some 500+ motorcycles and of course their riders and some passengers as well. If I can't get out and ride my motorcycle, its always fun to hang out for a while with some bikers and to check out their rides.
Here you see part of the group which was due to head out at 9:30 am. The ride is sponsored and put together by The Tuskegee Airman Motorcycle Club of Virginia. Not a gang, the Tuskegee Airmen ride for the fun of it, and do this as well as other charity rides and events during the year. The group is named in honor of the famous Tuskegee Airmen of WWII who broke racial barriers flying P-51 Mustang fighters in bomber escort missions over Germany. They were one of the most effective escort groups of the war, and proved that black pilots were fully the equal of white ones. Many bomber pilots owed their lives to those brave men. As for me, checked out the fine motorcycles and enjoyed talking with some of the riders.

I left from there, and went to the Greek Festival. I got there early (as noted, don't have a lot of time today) and checked out some of the great food, enjoyed some of the music, and noted that the lines got long early. There was a lot to see and do there. I also enjoyed a pre-event walk down Grove Street, which is a very nice street with some interesting houses and condos. The event (which runs through Sunday June 6) was a lot of fun; and the food is remarkable.
Having to work kind of spoils a day, but Richmond sure takes a lot of the depression out of spending a Saturday inside with much going on. Even more happening tomorrow, and looking forward to a great Sunday in the city. Certainly there is a lot going on in town, and that is a beautiful thing indeed!