Dayton: The Return (April 27, 2020)

 For the second ride in a row, went to Dayton on the motorcycle. Wonderful Monday to ride and went to the Aviation Museum in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood of Dayton. Not open (and I knew that) due to the virus, basically went for the ride and frankly to get the photo at left. Big fan of aviation and the Wright Brothers. For that reason, there is no better place to be than Dayton. I have a photo of the museum below in the next three photos, which include information about the bicycle shop. All of the first four photos are part of the same complex.
The last photo though is Day Air Ballpark, which is home of the Dayton Dragons. The Dragons are a single A farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. Usually a very popular place during baseball season though again...not this year yet.
Still, a nice ride again around the very interesting and historic city, and a good way to social distance. I rode alone and stopped no where except to look. These are strange days but a unique opportunity to enjoy the ride and to explore. Thank you for visiting my page.       

Dayton, Ohio (April 25, 2020)

 Bit of a weather surprise on Saturday, and a nicer day than Friday was. Took the Triumph out to Dayton and visited some sights. Went via new routes both there and back, and I like those a lot. Sure beats the bumpy road which is OH 4. Here at left is the Dayton Art Museum. I have been in there, a nice place and went to the Greek Festival last year there. Below is a monument on Monument Ave (Civil War Union Monument) while got the photo of the Wright Flyer Monument at the Riverside park in Dayton. It was a very good ride, and have a few more photos on my Racing with the Wind blog page. Fun place to visit, and I will be back again!       

Tipp City, Ohio (April 23, 2020)

Nice day out, with a break from the rain of the last few days (which if the forecast is true this will be a wet weekend). Rode out to Tipp City on the Triumph. Tipp City is one of my favorite area cities. There are a lot of historic things to see there, a really fine BBQ restaurant (Hickory River Smokehouse), a damn fine Honda dealer to work on my car (Voss Honda) and its a great ride to get there. I rode up Highway 571 which is very scenic with a number of farms and fields.
Got out and put another 50 miles on the motorcycle. As for Tipp City will be back there again and looking forward to my next visit.     

Spring Returns (April 20, 2020)

 Back again has come Spring, after a week of very rainy weather, even some snow. Thankfully the snow did not last even an hour, but it fell and fell with gusto for a short time. Along with that was a few days of frost and freezing weather. I still though kept watching the forecast and finally have been rewarded with the return of Spring weather. Got up and took the Sunride photo at left and the flower photo at our house below before getting out on the motorcycle. Photos from the ride can be found on my "Racing with the Wind" blog page.   

St Paris, on Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020)

 I went on a motorcycle ride this fine Easter Sunday, and while I have a few photos on my "Racing with the Wind" blog page, thought I would add these two. Took these during my stop in St. Paris, Ohio. Usually this is a larger ride but for today just wanted to get out for a bit. Actually at 53 miles turned out to be the (so far) biggest ride of 2020. It has been a wonderful and beautiful Easter Sunday spent with my wonderful wife Debbie.
I hope for all of you, wherever you are and whatever you believe, that you have had a good day today.

Happy Easter (April 12, 2020)

Actually the photo at left was a few days ago, and the one at the bottom (bunny on the mailbox) was also. The duck and the squirrel below were on Easter, as I went out looking for (but did not find) the Easter Bunny. It IS Easter Sunday as I write this, which is to me a time of great promise and hope. During this dark period of world history, it is the hope of a risen Christ that gives me strength to deal with the trials and tribulations of this period. I hope that whatever you believe that you are doing well with the virus and that you are finding peace and joy this season!   

Springtime Sights (April 9, 2020)

Just a beautiful time of year, and while I do get out from time to time in the motorcycle and the car for items to pick up or just to explore during the days of the virus here in Ohio,  I do also get some fine walks in. Love to see the morning as in the photo at left as well as other sights of spring. The Air Force is still flying C-17's in training flights here, and enjoy seeing them as my house is in the flight path of the nearby Wright Patterson Air Force Base. These are certainly remarkable days but also a good time to pause and reflect on the wonder of life. 

On a recent motorcycle ride visited Springfield, Ohio. Some of my rides can be found on my "Racing With the Wind" Blog page. Just got the motorcycle out from it's winter nap a few short days ago, and have been on a handful of rides. All solo, keeping that "Social Distancing"in mind. Photos below are: geese in flight, C-17 from my yard, sunset, duck in flight, two friends on their motorcycle, and a low pass by a duck. I also have enjoying seeing the trees and flowers blooming. Spring is one of my favorite times of year and enjoying it with my wonderful wife Debbie as we explore the wonders of Ohio together.         

Damn Fine Day (April 3, 2020)

Pretty good day indeed here as life under restriction continues. Got up this morning and saw the sun rise and a beautiful day it was. Love mornings here in Central Ohio and this was a beautiful day indeed.
After greeting the dawn, got back to bed for a few hours. Got up and headed out for day two of some motorcycle riding. Had a great time yesterday and sure seemed to be a good idea today. It was cold when I took the photo at left, but by noon the temperature had risen into the low 60's and off I went. 

 Rode out to Huffman Prairie Flying Field. This was the location where the Wright Brothers perfected their aircraft. This is a replica of the hangar and the catapult they built. Without the winds of Kitty Hawk they needed the catapult to launch the Flyer. What they ended up creating which was called the Wright Flyer III is considered the first practical aircraft (the Wright Flyer was almost uncontrollable) is on display in Dayton.

This is the field they flew from, Huffman Prairie which a local farmer allowed them to fly on. My motorcycle can be seen on the road off to the left, and there are a number of signs about the history of what they did all around the area. It is a very interesting place to explore.
Later in the day my wife and I went back toward that area, this time visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial. I believe Orville was at the unveiling as Wilbur had died of Typhoid prior to the event.  We also had explored some other places just to get out for a bit in the car. 

Into the Wind (April 2, 2020)

Been a long time since the last time I have done this. It was November 10, 2019 when I took the last ride on my 2016 Triumph Speedmaster motorcycle. Finally though it looks like winter and the sub freezing temperatures are (or mostly are) over. It rose into the mid-60s this afternoon when I got the bike out. Took a short while to put the battery in and check the motorcycle out. Added a little air to the tires and a little chain lube to the chain.
Nice to head out and got to see some sights. Rode some 39 miles in a bit over an hour. Visited a park I had never seen below (which is below). Below that a visit to George Rogers Clark Park. After a short stop in New Carlisle visited the airport in New Carlisle before heading home. These are dark days with the Coronavirus, but still enjoyed this and it put a huge smile on my face and a song in my heart. Prayers for the world and all the people who are dealing with this dread disease. For an hour though, I sure felt wonderful and the fear was blown away.