Around the RVA: Chesterfield (May 27, 2013)

 Took a motorcycle ride on Memorial Day...was heading to Petersburg, but took a sudden turn. Made a stop at the Chesterfield County Airport, where there is not a lot of planes from this weekend: got a feeling it was "have plane, will travel" this weekend. Did see this one though, and watched a few flying around. I like airports, and this is a nice one to visit, has a very good place to eat there (which unfortunately was not open today as it was a holiday) but fun to check out the aircraft often there. Now and then historic aircraft have come to make a visit: not my first time there.   

 Nor here, which is the old Chesterfield Courthouse which this version dates to around 1917 and is on the National Register of Historic places. Read a plaque there that Lee's army stopped here overnight on its way to surrender to Grant's Army during the final days of the Civil War. There is a Confederate monument to the right of the building. Off in the distance between the two buildings in the background..is my motorcycle. I have been here before, and like with the restaurant at the airport the museum here was...closed due to the holiday. Still it was worth stopping and seeing this building and this area.

This is the old jail...which dates to 1895 and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. It was being restored the last time I was there (some time ago) and is much improved from the last time I saw it. Has some stocks in front...very cool old building.
Went past a State Park and up Beach Road which ran into Hull Street as it is known locally, also known in the state as VA 360 - yes the same road I was on just a few days ago (but a longer trip). It was another good day to ride with temps in the 70s and for most of the ride sunny skies; though the clouds are building now as I write this, and the rains will again be on the way here in the next few hours. 

Tappahannock, VA (May 25, 2013)

 Took a ride on May 25 to Tappahannock, VA and got to stand on the shore of the very wide Rappahannock River. Got there via VA360 which I had ridden part of before. This though was all a new section, and after a lunch along the way at KW's Tavern (suggested to me by a friend and well worth the stop) and past a number of historical markers and even a number of Civil War battlefields. Of course, being Virginia, the route also had a number of signs about the Revolutionary War as many of the armies and battles took place in this state as well. That is what makes it a very interesting place.   

This is the historical section of Tappahannock, though not as old as town which started in the 1600's but old enough. I went past a number of the old buildings and sights, even checked out some of the businesses. I wish I had more time to have spent there, but this will just be the first trip, I will return while I am here in Virginia....just found it a very interesting place.
Fun having a motorcycle which to me is one of the best ways to get out and explore a new area, or some new roads, this was the case which 360 only a small part of which I had seen. It is a very long ride, and I wonder how far it does go?

This old building was downtown, and of course had a Confederate Monument in front of it. Not sure how old the building is, but it is old in its own right.
I saw some interesting churches, some fun businesses that I wandered into, and even a few places that I will check out later. Of course there is a lot more to see there...as I noticed from visiting the town web site.
There were also a whole lot of motorcycles in the area, many of them traveling (I assume) to the Rolling Thunder Rally in Washington, DC which is this weekend. I had considered making that, but think I will save it for another time. I would have to make arrangements for my newly acquired border collie which is due to my soon to be completed divorce from my soon to be X-Wife. the dog though is a wonderful friend and enjoy its company a great deal, though she is not able to ride on the motorcycle which is a shame..I think she would enjoy the wind in her face as much as I do.      

 I did check out this history museum in the city, and had a very good time there. Had a number of interesting items, and also featured free admission which is nice as well. Many of the museums charge, and many do not, but all are worth seeing.
At any case, headed out toward Richmond again, and once more enjoyed the views along the way. Ride takes you past a number of farms and fields and it is really a nice four lane road to ride. I really enjoyed it, and look forward to getting on it again. Of course in Richmond 360 is a quite busy road and is quite different to ride; takes a lot of attention there. 

In Mechanicsville, stopped for a time to check out some of these old vehicles which I saw there, this Cadillac, two old trucks and even an old firetruck. I will have some of those photos on my Flickr site, and also some on Racing with the Wind (my motorcycle site). All in all, a great day which covered only some of what this road and area has to offer. I look forward to my next adventure in the State of Virginia and my return to this very interesting area in the very near future.   

Back to Yorktown (May 14, 2013)

 Interesting day today, made a return trip via my motorcycle to Yorktown, VA. Last time I went to Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown battlefield and Jamestown during an all day car trip. This time, I took a ride on the Vulcan. Wanted to get out and check out the sights I saw before such as the Parkway which is one amazing road. I like the York River which is a pretty dramatic sight when you come across it. Just a really great ride along that road, and the York is an amazing sight. As rivers go it is pretty big, in fact a lot of Naval history happened on it over the years.

Yorktown is a very interesting city, for one thing it has (I believe) the shortest distance to any beach from Richmond and some really cool ships that offer rides out on the river. I do think it lacks a few places to eat: think that the area is still in a state of "under development" as far as alot of attractions. Have to say though that visiting the Battlefield (which I did not do this trip due to time constraints) is a really remarkable place to visit. Tourist season is not really underway which made this a real good time to check it out again, and of course the weather in the low 70's was not a good time to hit the water. 
 

 As I noted though, cool things to see and would be possible to get out on ships such as this one which was scheduled for some trips out on the York River. The town itself also has some original and recreated buildings and if you are into history this whole area has enough to satisfy the pickiest history buff.
Getting there from Richmond is easy....just follow the signs from I-95 to I-64 and you will be there in slightly under an hour. I am told that a very scenic trip is to go via Highway 5 which goes by a number of old plantations and follows the James River which I have found is also a great river to explore.     

On the way back, needing fuel made a stop for gas, but also made a stop at the Virginia Aviation Museum, where I posed my motorcycle in front of the museum's SR-71 Blackbird. The Blackbird was one of the most amazing aircraft ever flown by the US Military (and was also flown by the CIA) but is nothing short of remarkable in its performance.
It was a very good day, and I had a great time. Nice to get out of Richmond, not because there is anything wrong with this very fine city, but because Virginia has so much to offer and this is the start of some of my trips being beyond the RVA.  

Mother's Day in the RVA (May 12, 2013)

 Pretty good day, took a ride on the motorcycle to some areas in Richmond, love to do that though it has been a while thanks to weather and a trip over a weekend to North Carolina of late. This though is Quaker Steak and Lube in Richmond, VA. It was one of my favorite places in Concord, NC and love the one here. Good food and "beverages" and they have a big bike night on Wednesday nights. I have not been to the one here, but have been many times to the one in Concord. I work nights, but usually can make a few thanks to days off down the road. Always some interesting bikes and people there. 

 This is the line of bikes at Buz and Ned's...this is the second and newer location (one downtown I have been going to for years) and this is one of my favorite places to eat. However, got to say, did not eat at this one today, being Mother's Day, it was pretty packed. This was my first time to be at the new location, and just wanted to get a photo of it. In fact, the photo below is the inside of the restaurant. Most of the seating at the Boulevard Location is outside under the "tent" which is pretty cool.
BBQ is popular with the motorcycle crowd and there are usually some bikes of interest there. I liked checking some of those out (that is mine though right in the front)
Short Pump is an interesting section of town, though traffic is usually pretty heavy and good to keep your eyes open no matter what you are riding or driving for that matter. Home to some huge malls and lots of places to eat and buy things, it is certainly a different section of town.   

As I said, this is the inside of Buz and Ned's in Short Pump. I headed back down town where I saw the very rain swelled James River, and came across a number of VCU graduations (and the traffic thereof) but made my way finally to Church Hill where I made a stop at the much less crowded Alamo BBQ for a quick bite. They don't have beer but Legend Brewing Company does and I dropped by there for one.
I got home after a three hour ride on the bike, counting stops and other sights. It was a great time and looking forward to the next one, which should be a lot sooner than this one was.