In the Grip Of Winter: January Hull Street Drive

On a cold, mostly gray day in Richmond, feeling the grip of winter with storms past and future looming in my mind, took a ride to Honda House at 14760 Hull Street Road. There I checked out some of the motorcycles. I love to ride (have a 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 back in Carolina) and wanted to see some of the new designed Honda motorcycles. The ones I wanted to see were not there (of course) yet, but I did enjoy checking out some last years "new designs". This one at left (in blue) is the Honda Fury. Uses the VTX-1300 engine, this bike is designed as a
"factory chopper" and is a big change from the Honda Shadow that I used to ride before the Vulcan. A very sharp motorcycle indeed.
More conventional, but along the same lines is the Honda Sabre, seen here in red. Uses much of the same items (as does the Honda Interstate, which looks much the same as the Sabre but with a windshield and saddlebags) this bike uses much the same items as the Fury, but with a lot less rake, a slightly different front wheel, but the same VTX-1300 engine. Sat on both bikes, on the Fury you sit a lot lower (with the Fury feeling longer and lower) but for my taste really liked the Sabre. Not sure that the bike of the future in my case will be another cruiser, but I like what Honda has gone to update these bikes. Had a few Honda's over the years, and they were great motorcycles; and I am sure that these are no exception.
During the day made a short stop at Swift Creek Reservoir. Have not been there since my visit to The Boathouse with Patty a while back, but a very nice place. The area around it is called "Sunday Park" and is a very peaceful place. I enjoy the boats along the shore and in the water, the ducks and other water type birds, and various people you see there. Even on a crisp cool and overcast Richmond day it is a fun place. I also made a short stop at the nearby "Glory Days" which is a nice sports bar/restaurant. As the NFC and AFC Championship games are tomorrow (and sure to back the bar) today's visit was peaceful. Checked out some hoops and a very refreshing beverage from the taps.
Last visit on Hull Street was to Richmond Harley-Davidson. They do have some nice 2011 models, though due to the down motorcycle market can't really say they had anything really "brand new" model wise, but some interesting bikes nonetheless. Hull Street certainly has a lot of things to do as far as eating and shopping; other than Swift Creek though not a whole lot of scenic things to check out (though have learned on previous visits there is a lot further up the road such as the Richmond Zoo for instance) on what is a very long road. Not a road that I often visit (though did some this year for some of the "Tacky Lights Tour") but does have some places of interest during my visits. Its one of those places where if you are looking for something, generally you can find it on Hull Street.

A Fine Day in the RVA (January 9, 2011)

Clear but cool on a sunny Sunday, took a drive out to one of my favorite Richmond areas; The Boulevard. There is a lot of interesting things out there; connects to the Diamond, borders the Fan, Carytown, Byrd Park, connects to Monument Avenue, and for today especially, has some really interesting museums. The perfect thing to do on a chilly day in Richmond. This building always has interested me; great use of a small piece of land between two streets. It is just a block from the trees, big houses, and the statues of Monument Avenue. It is also close to two very fine museums, the Virginia Historical Society and its right next door neighbor the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Both offer a lot to see, and free admission (which is great in times such as these). Took a great walk around the Virginia Historical Society, and especially enjoyed their "Oddities" exhibit; some very interesting things to see in there. I have a number of photos on my photo page which you can see via the link at this site. Been there quite a few times and enjoy my visits there every time.
Went for the second time to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. There is a great variety of art there, and some really remarkable things. Since my first (which would be the last visit) they have changed a lot of the exhibits. Some of the galleries DO require admission, but general admission is free. This room was very interesting. It was donated by New York City from what I read, and dated to around 1860, was the furnishings of a New York City Apartment. This museum is a lot more than paintings and sculpture, though they have a great deal of that as well. This though was a very interesting time capsule and a rare look at a long gone period.
Another interesting long gone period was these two pieces of Roman art. Read that the statue was of the Roman emperor known as Caligula. Like Julius Caesar, he was stabbed to death and all of his statues were ordered to be destroyed. This is one of only two known to exist. "Box" at right was a Roman coffin; the custom of burial rose in Rome with the rise of Christianity (according to the information on the wall nearby). VMFA is the kind of place where you can learn something or see something brand new (even when its very old) every time you visit it. Today's visit will certainly not be my last to either of these two museums.
Finally, have been interested in checking out some of the local music in the area. Made my way to the nearby Cary Street Cafe, which is said to be "Richmond's Oldest Hippie Bar", but was filled with very nice people, a large group of which was making some very fine music. Very friendly people behind the bar, very reasonable food and "beverage" prices, and a very nice vibe was what I found there. Frankly I could have listened to that group play all night long. It was their "Old Time Jam" and saw people while I was there come and go in that circle. All instrumental music, but it was very fine, and like with the museums I will be back to the Cary Street Cafe.
Have posted previously a number of Christmas photos, and got a kick tonight (and a smile) while up Midlothian Turnpike near 288 where a dentist office was all lit up with its Christmas lights still; and that brought a smile to my face on this cold January 9 night. They had a big display, and it was nice to see that again (even have bears in the dentist chairs at the front windows). This was a very fine day in Richmond, where I think it is safe to say, that if you are not having a fun or interesting time in this city....you are not trying!

December 16 snow and Cary Street Drive

Couple of interesting events this week. Photo at left is a look at the aftermath of the snow storm on December 16 (taken the following day) which was really pretty. Actually, it was not a bad snow storm at all; roads were bad for a while, but the main roads were good real quick. I do like the fact that Richmond drivers (by and large) do drive on snow like they have done it before (certainly had a lot of practice the last two years). Ended up being something like 2-3 inches with some sleet on top, but the road department did a real good job. The snow was pretty well gone in a couple of days, with nothing left but piles of snow in the mall parking lots around the area.
Wanted to take another look at Richmond's Christmas lights; and went for a short drive tonight. Rolled up Cary Street, not really a "Tacky Light Tour" sort of drive (you can see some of those in previous posts) but had noted some of these places on my previous drives in the area. I did like this house with the tree in front. You see a few of these sort of trees, and I think they are really cool! You don't see trees like this in Carolina, they seem to be unique (at least to my experience) to the Richmond area. I like them...really artistic. Has been a nice few days in the area, and enjoyed the drive after a very fun day. Not long until Winter officially starts, though we have been getting an early preview with two pretty good fall winter storms.

Tacky Light Tour (Day 2) December 5, 2010

Last night (see previous post) was pretty fun and remarkable. Tonight though, had fewer places to go see, but ended up with three high quality sights. The first seen at left was amazing, and hardly "tacky" in any sense of the word. This is the tree inside The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA. It is a remarkable place to check out, and elegant in every sense of the word. This was a beautiful tree in a very beautiful place. I am sure this is an expensive hotel to stay in, but from what I have seen it would be a real experience. Sometime I am going to have to check out the history of this place, which looks very old, but it is well taken care of.
From there, went to The James Center which is near Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom near the James River. From here you get a good look at downtown Richmond and how they have lit the buildings there. There was a lot to see there, and even some people playing music, as well as a lot of decorations all over the place. Even though a Sunday night when I went to see the area, there were a lot of people around doing the same thing I was (including taking photos). Speaking of which, I have some more from my visit today (and the previous one) on my Photo Page. Enjoyed my visit here, and again as noted with The Jefferson Hotel...not tacky at all!
Finally, took this photo on Grove Avenue which is also in downtown Richmond. This IS part of the "Tacky Light Tour" (which by the way can be found at Richmond.com by putting in "Tacky Light Tour") but I thought it was remarkable to check out as well. A group of houses that have worked together to put together this light display which made me and many others smile on a cold Sunday night in Richmond.
The last two days have been a remarkable experience, and a great deal of fun. Richmond has much to offer both over the holidays and during the year as well. I am lucky to have two great places to enjoy during the year in two great states. I will be bringing a bit of "Carolina Christmas" in my next post on this site.

Tacky Light Tour (Day 1) December 4, 2010

This is hands down my favorite time of year, holiday wise. Love the sounds of the season, and the lights on the Christmas trees, and on the houses. Few places do Christmas quite like Richmond, Va. One of the highlights of living here is the nationally famous "Tacky Light Tour"; and these are the houses that I liked the best (out of many, it was a difficult choice to pick these three). The first house seen at left is at 8009 Summerbrook Court, and it is a wonder to behold. I thought this was just amazing, and certainly was bright. Even the trees were lined out and lit up (and they were not small trees either.
The second house was at 2901 Lintz Lane, also in Richmond. This is another house where the trees are lit to the max; and this is really just a small sample of what you could see there. There was a lot of amazing stuff to the other side, and all sorts of things lit up in the back. I am sure the electric bill is a wonder to behold as well as the sights, but it was a real grin to check out this house on a cold night in Richmond. What made it even more special was that it was snowing while I was out. Was not a heavy snow, and did not stick to the roads, but added to the atmosphere of the drive around the area to check out the houses. All I was missing was the company of my wife, Patty.
The last house is actually part of a pair of houses, and the best of all this night. Two houses on Ashbury side by side lit the night up. Many tour buses where parked near there, and a number of limos, as well as a steady line of cars to see the wonder of this "Christmas Wonderland". Sadly though a sign asking for donations at one said that the family was in danger of losing one of the houses due to a job loss. Wanted to do this (had for some 36 years!) at least one last time. I hope things turn out for them, and for so many who are having difficult times this season in a very tough economy.
Tomorrow, I will get out again, and will check out some more of the amazing sights in Richmond. More photos from tonight can be found on my photo page as well. Merry Christmas everyone!

Fall in Virginia and Carolina

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year, and wanted to share a few fall views as the peak of color came to both Richmond,Virginia and Baden, North Carolina at about the same time. It also made for a pair of beautiful drives between my two places of residence. The photo at left was taken during a walk around the neighborhood, where I checked out the colors in the area. This is actually at a nearby Industrial Park; but loved the lake side view and the color that was popping all over. Love to walk around the area where I can see the sights here up close and personal, without having to stop a vehicle and head back to see something remarkable just passed.
This was actually taken just outside of my neighborhood in Richmond, a very nice tree lined road. I did not think we were going to get much of a fall this year, due to what has been a very hot, and abnormally dry summer. Seemed that trees took a real beating this year, saw dead trees in both Virginia and in Carolina in great numbers. In fact, had to cut down a tree in my backyard which died this summer due to the drought. I thought this view though was a gift indeed; as yellow, orange and red were seen all over during the walk. Walking is good for health, and also good for the soul on days such as these, and it really made my day to enjoy views such as these.
One of my favorite things to do is motorcycling; and one of my very favorite areas to ride in the fall is near Baden, NC. I did not make it to the North Carolina Mountains this year. The Boone, NC area is remarkable in the fall, one of the great wonders in the Blue Ridge Parkway (which also runs through Virginia) but I did ride on November 14 to Morrow Mountain where I saw this amazing sight. Fall was in full bloom, and a number of people were for sure in "Oh Wow!" moments there. A lot of "do you believe this?" comments from both fellow motorcyclists and people in their cars (and being North Carolina, their pickup trucks).
Nothing brings people together like the beauty of nature, and this was a remarkable ride during the day. Morrow Mountain is where the last two photos were taken near Baden, NC and really enjoyed both the ride, but especially getting off the bike and wandering around the multi-color display before me. To be honest, I did not want to leave when the time came, but spent a great deal of time at the overlooks and just wandering around the area. There is nothing like a beautiful day with average temperatures (which certainly beat the ride to the air show the week before) on a great motorcycle, surrounded by nature and bright blue skies. It was a remarkable ride!

Warbirds! At Chesterfield! (October 21, 2010)

This Thursday is cleanup night at work; which means its going to be a wet and messy night...not a lot of fun (to put it mildly). So was pleased to drive out to the Chesterfield County Airport to see the WWII classic aircraft on display there. They have been flown in by the Collings Foundation. These were three of the premier US combat aircraft of the Second World War. The two bombers were the heavy bombers used in the air war over Germany. The P-51 Mustang was the only escort fighter able to escort the bombers from England to Germany and back, preventing German fighter attacks on the big planes.

The P-51 is a legend in aviation. This is the P-51C Mustang, the later P-51D had a bubble canopy. Built by North American Aviation, the P-51 was mated with the British Merlin engine and became a war winning fighter. It was the first escort plane with the range to fly entire missions. Before that, planes such as the P-47 and the P-38 had to pull off due to lack of range near German targets, leaving the bombers at the mercy of German fighter aircraft. This P-51C is one of few flying and the only one with duel-controls (two cockpits) of what was a single seat fighter normally. Very few of the thousands built are still flying today.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the best known bomber of the Second World War. The big four engined bomber had a number of machine guns and would form boxes to prevent (as much as possible) fighter attacks. However, many planes were lost from enemy fighters, ground attack (also known as flax) from German guns, and also a number of accidents. The crews flew around 24,000 feet on the raids over Europe, where the air was thin, and it was very cold. The B-17 was a rugged aircraft, and many came home with heavy damage, but many were also lost. Thousands of crewmen died or were captured during the war.
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was actually produced in greater numbers than the B-17. It was a faster plane, and could carry a heavier bomb load. The twin tailed plane has a sort of "flying boat" look, which comes from the fact that Consolidated was known for building those types of planes. Like the B-17, crews flew in an un-pressurized plane, in the cold, under fire, and like with the B-17 though rugged, many were lost in the skies over Germany with the crews killed or captured. It was a great thing to see these amazing historic aircraft, and I enjoyed it a great deal. My next post will feature even more, though in a different state and a different place. This is going to be a great time to see some legendary aircraft at some fine local airports. I greatly enjoyed the visit today of these planes in which so many gave so much, so we could have the world we have today!

Some Favorite Richmond Places (October 16, 2010)

Took my friend Keith (from work, another transfer from Louisville and Concord, NC) on a tour of Richmond today (our second time, he came down for the IndyCar race in Richmond last year). First stop was a favorite place: Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue. Real good Richmond style barbecue, and a fun place to eat. I find the food really reasonable, and the service is good as well. Just before that, we walked over to Velocity Motorcycles to check out the very interesting motorcycles to be found over there. It is my favorite motorcycle shop in the Richmond area, and the fact that both places are across the street from each other is a real plus.
At left is a view of Belle Isle. I was just there a couple of weeks ago, but it was fun to show it off to Keith. There is a lot of nature to enjoy there, but also a great deal of history; that Island has seen a lot of uses since it was owned by the Indian's (John Smith was there in the early 1600's). Indian camps, rock quarry, various factories, power plant, civil war prison, and now a playground for the people of Richmond and visitors from all over. The walk across the bridge under the highway and over the James River is a real fun walk with great views of the Island, and also of the city of Richmond. This was my third trip there, and will not be the last one.
Third photo is of Keith and I exploring Malvern Hill. This field was the site of a battle with some 150,000 soldiers (on both sides) during the Civil War. One of my favorite local battlefields; it has a lot of information and history to be found there. We wandered around much of the battlefield and there is quite a bit to see there. Good information on the battle can be found on the web.
Following that, we made a final stop for a cold Legend Brown Ale at the Legend Brewing Company; enjoying that Richmond made beer on their beer deck outside. Did a very interesting ride up Hull Street before dropping him off at his apartment, and then I returned to mine on a very fine night in Richmond, VA. Of note, on this Saturday night I am enjoying the Bank of America 500 live broadcast from Concord, NC...where my family (and I often) live. Certainly this "tale of two cities" gets interesting sometimes; especially when you live it as I do.

Patty's Richmond II (October 2-4, 2010)

Very exciting weekend, with a visit by my wonderful wife Patty to Richmond, VA. Usually I just go home, so this was just the second visit here by her since I made the move. We hit her favorite quilt shop, Quilters Corner on Saturday, and also went to Carytown (one of my favorite places in Richmond) where we had lunch and took a short walking tour of the very interesting shops and restaurants. We had lunch at "Nacho Mama's" which was ok; not a bad meal, but sort of on the pricey side in my opinion. It was not bad, but I have had better. Still the waitress did a very fine job, and enjoyed it, especially due to the company I was with! That is Patty in Nacho Mama's at left, which is in a converted house. Carytown is very funky with a lot of interesting things to see and do; enjoyed a walk with her to my favorite stores, and to check out the Byrd Theater near the end of Carytown. In fact this trip, exploring with her saw a number of new things and places that I have not seen. Took her down some new roads in the area and saw many new sights. Considering I have been here almost two years, that is pretty cool!
One new sight was the Bell Tower in Byrd Park. That is a very neat place; have been to Maymont Park, but had not been into Byrd Park. More nice lakes, lots of peaceful areas, and this very cool tower. It was a WWI War Memorial judging from the dates near the top of the staircase at the tower. Thought it was a very beautiful construction. So much of Richmond is filled with such neat things to check out.
We did some relaxing after a few hours of touring (and Patty had been on a long drive from NC to get here) on a very nice weekend. Saturday was cool; starting to feel like fall, and a very beautiful day. Went to dinner at Chicken Fiesta; I HAVE eaten there before, and like that very much. It is both a very good value, and really fine food!
Enjoyed relaxing with Patty and watched some of our favorite shows on tv for the rest of the night. Enjoyed the cool evening and the great company I was blessed to have in my apartment! We enjoyed a fine evening in Richmond, VA and planned the next day.

Next day was a trip to Shockoe Bottom. Got there via some new roads; fun to explore this very interesting town. Rains held off till later Sunday night, but was an overcast day. Enjoyed lunch at Bottom's Up; which is a very good pizza place. We wandered around the area, went up around the 17th Street Farmers Market, and drove around the area a bit, checking out some of the new stuff I have found since her last visit here. Last photo I took was of this art at the James Center, she really liked this, so got a photo of it before we left the area. Cooked dinner in the apartment, and made breakfast this morning before she left. It was a fantastic visit, and I enjoyed it a great deal. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful wife, and she really made this weekend in Richmond special.

Legend Brewing Company/Belle Isle Walk

After a night at work, and following a few hours in dreamland, got in the car for a little tour in Richmond. Both are places I have been, but not for a while. Although the first I visit from time to time in a different sort of way; Legend Beer which is brewed in Richmond, VA is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Today went to the brewery itself, which is just off Commerce Road with a quick turn down Porter Avenue, which is just outside of Downtown Richmond. Enjoyed a single beer, but it was (as always) very good. Took this photo outside of the deck at Legend Brewing Company. Has a view of the city, though somewhat tree obscured; but still nice.
Being a rare less than 95 degree even this point into fall, next stop was Belle Isle. I went there last year, and enjoyed a great time with my wife Patty checking out the sights of this very interesting place. It has a long history with Richmond, being used by Indians, business, farmers, as a Civil War prison, quarried, fortified, and now as a major park for the Richmond area. Crosses the James River by a walkway which is suspended under the highway, and gives some good views of the James as well as the city of Richmond. Wanted to see the river and the effect of the drought on it. Depth was from a sign "less than five feet" though looked to be much less.
As I have noted, a great variety of things to see in there; great nature scenery as well as a number of old firms. This wall is what remains of a very old nail factory on the island. The quarry where much rock was mined, an old power plant, a dam, plus some of the old prison remains as well as a few other structures still exist on the island. It is a very popular place, good crowd there, but still peaceful. It is a popular place to get into the river to swim, especially from the rocks just off shore and easily accessed. Certainly picked a good day to walk around it, and it was good to be back. As with so many great Richmond places, there is absolutely no admission or parking charge. Said I would be back, and will be again in the near future to this great Richmond treasure!

Forest Hill Park Farmers Market/43rd Street Art Fair

Due to my employer giving me a "special" invite , am having unexpected weekend in Richmond, VA. However, off to a nice start, as I was told by a friend about the 43rd Street Art Festival in Richmond, VA. Forest Hill Park is one of my favorite places to wander in the city. It is easy to enjoy the lake, the trails, and the views of this very old park. In fact, this house was once part of the estate that was located on the grounds, and was built back in 1843 out of stone mined at the site. Though Fall happened last Wednesday night at 11:09PM, this is my first photo of Fall 2010, and will be looking forward to some cooler temperatures and rain.
In Forest Hill Park, this is the Farmers Market, which I was told is a weekly Saturday event. Enjoyed wandering around, checking out a lot of interesting booths (where else can you find a place selling boat or kayak "do it yourself" kits?). One thing that I noticed at this event, the Art Festival, and just about any event I have visited in the town is the fact that Richmond is a dog loving town. Dogs are common at a lot of places (also welcome at a lot of malls) and they are brought along and welcomed at most events. I think that is very cool...dogs are great companions, a lot of fun, and they seem to enjoy these sort of things as much as people do!

Photo at left is a shot of the 43rd Street Art Festival. Drew a huge crowd with a lot of cars parked both in the nearby Forest Hill Park, and also on the neighborhood streets. Festival covered around a four block area, with a lot of booths such as seen here with some very interesting art. Nice to check out what people can do with their hands, and create....always some really creative people out there. Crowd was really nice, and kids were in the street with chalk making art of their own. Like the Farmers Market above, lots of dogs checking out the people, booths and each other. For the third day of Fall, was hot, and once again very dry.
Not only was the day hot, but the music was also, enjoyed checking out this band in the church parking lot. There were a number of musicians at both events, and that gave it all a very nice vibe. Under a tent right across the band a lot of people were sitting and checking out the band. This was a very nice and free (both of them were) pair of events to do. Where the band played was the "food court" sort of area; food prices were very reasonable, and cold cokes and water was just $1 which was welcome on a hot day in the RVA.
So...a pleasant surprise this morning; nice way to spend a couple of hours before work, and a festival that I will be sure to check out again next year. No longer surprised at the fine things I come across in the area, and glad that I was able to see this today. Fall is a great time for festivals in most cities, and looking like Richmond is no exception to that.

Kings Dominion (September 19, 2010)

Yesterday I experienced some great flying, today I got to experience some altitude and the sensation of flying at Kings Dominion, just up I-95 some 20 miles North of Richmond, VA. My first trip there, but sort of a sense of "been there/done that" with the fact that I have been to the sister parks of Kings Island in Ohio, and Carowinds in North Carolina. Of course some new things there this year, now that the parks are no longer owned by Paramount (though have lost all the cool Star Trek and Top Gun ride names) they have made up for it with some really neat new rides. This photo at left is not really a ride, it is the Eiffel Tower replica at the park (also have the same replica in Ohio) but a great view of the area. The tower is a 1/3 replica of the real deal in Paris, France and is somewhat over 300 feet. The observation deck is just a bit under 300 feet (according to the elevator guy, who gave us some neat information on the tower) which I believe was built back in 1975 after being constructed in Austria, shipped here and put together on the site.
Nothing like seeing a coaster as the birds see it. They had a lot of really good coasters at the park, including some really good wooden ones. No real lines, so getting on was pretty easy today..heck, getting another ride was really no problem either. I rode a few of them of a few times in a row. I like coaster and have always been a big fan of them. The steel coasters tend to be really smooth and really big, but wooden coasters tend to be really interesting too. I love the sound and the feel of a wooden roller coaster, the speed and the fury and the effects of a steel one. Along with motorcycling, I think few things give the effects of flying like a good steel roller coaster.
Course this bad boy at left is the biggest and baddest in the park, the Intimidator 305. This also gives a good idea of where the park is, out in the distance you can see...pretty much nothing. No cities were in view; pretty much just open countryside. Course its not just coasters there, there were rides for all people. In fact one ride I enjoyed a lot was a rather mild ride called "Flying Ace, which elevated to some 80 feet, and circled around a pole. Flew along pretty good, and I thought it was fun. Nice stores there to wander around (though pricey like the food, though the food was good) and just a neat place to be on a pleasant Virginia Sunday.
When it comes to big coasters though; this is the mack daddy at Kings Dominion. This is the view walking up to the big ride. It is relatively long but the ride up the big hill is quick as is the drop. Told it was 90 mph near the bottom of the 305 foot drop (I figure the reason you can look down at this ride from the Eiffel Tower replica which is either slightly shorter or a hair taller..not sure for sure...is an elevation difference in the land) but this is a big roller coaster. Thing that is remarkable is that there are bigger ones out there. Main park of the company that owns the three parks has some coasters at Cedar Point near Sandusky, Ohio that are staggering indeed. I am also aware that there are some even bigger coasters around the world (Japan seems to be in real competition in that regard).
At any case, a great ending to a really action packed weekend. Always fun to do some new things, and Richmond and the surrounding region still has after a year and a half a great many things to offer, and more to come.

NAS Oceana Air Show (September 18, 2010)

Been a while since I have had a "Virginia" post on this site (which is entitled "Richmond and Me") but I had a really remarkable day today. Went this morning to the Air Show at Naval Air Station Oceana. The Navy (and an aviation squadron) was a former employer a while back, and it was good to be on a Navy base again. Especially exciting was the Blue Angels flight demo, seen here at left; which I took during the show. I have seen them fly a few times before (like air shows and in fact this was my second one this month) but this one was one of the best I have ever seen, and the Blue Angels flying was the best I have seen from them hands down.
The show also had some other unique flights, such as matching planes from different eras (such as this F-16 Falcon currently flown by the Air Force with a pair of P-51 Mustangs from WWII. There were also other military planes such as the F-18 and the F-22 (the F-22 got to make only one pass before mechanical problems forced it to cut short its display) and some great civilian pilots doing some remarkable aerobatics. There were also a number of skydivers. There was something going on every second of the show from 10am-4pm when the Blue Angels parked their six blue and gold F-18's. The best part of the day was seeing the planes in the skies.
However, a number of planes were also on display. I picked this C-2 Grayhound (used to bring cargo and people to carriers at sea) because it is a plane we civilians do not often get to see. There was a great variety of aircraft up close and in the air, some interesting pilots to talk to and learn from, and lots of things both aviation related and not to entertain everyone. Speaking of everyone, it was a massive crowd on hand at the air show, and in fact it may have been a record for this event. The NAS Oceana Air Show was one of the best air shows I have ever attended, and that is saying a lot, as I have been to a great many air shows.
I have posted many more photos on my Photo Page, which you can see via the link to it on my page here. This was (after a year and a half in Richmond) my first visit to the Virginia Beach/Hampton area, but will certainly not be my last. Getting out of the show due to the crowd took a lot of time, but I spent it checking out the air park on the base. I doubt that can be accessed at any other time due to normal security levels at the base, but I might be mistaken. I do know that the camera got quite a workout during the event, and the grin on my face was day long!

A Drive in Richmond (August 22, 2010)

Got out for a few hours, doing one of my favorite things; exploring Richmond, Va. Got to a few places today. On the way out, went by Cloverleaf Mall. This largely abandoned mall (has a Firestone Auto and a Bank of America open on the lot, but nothing else) is due to be torn down within the next year, re-developed and some new stuff to open there (a Kroger according to the sign out front will be built on that site). Read in the Saturday Richmond newspaper that the company that will be redeveloping it is from Charlotte, NC..which is quite interesting considering my perspective. Will be following this to see what happens here over the next year.
I went up Chippenham Parkway, and stopped at Stony Point Fashion Park for a short walk. I really like that mall; its outdoor, its got some interesting stores, and its dog friendly which is cool as hell. Walk them around, bring them in the stores..they don't care. I like that. While out, came across a bike show at Hooters on West Broad Street; made a quick U-turn and wandered around. Saw some really nice motorcycles..I like that, because I ride! The VW trike in the foreground was just one of the nice motorcycles I saw. In fact, have been finding West Broad Street is a most interesting part of this very interesting city.
Off of West Broad, got on 288 and rolled out toward the Midlothian Turnpike. All this was sort of a big loop. I like the Midlothian Turnpike, which was, I remember from what I have read, the first paved road in Virginia? Been from one end to the other (goes far toward Appomattox in the one direction, out to Shockoe Bottom in the other), but I made a stop a Breakers Sports Bar and Grill before getting back to the apartment. Nice place...people (as as most in Richmond) are friendly, the prices are not bad, and they have a slew of televisions to watch sports and other shows. Not a real "bells and whistles" sort of place, but a nice place to hang out.
Got to give a shout out to the weather forecasters, they called it right, since I got back sounded like a war zone out there with the thunder, and the clouds got really dark, followed by sheets of rain. 60% chance of showers indeed! Thankfully the power is still on, during a storm a few days ago, power was out some 18 hours! We can use the rain though, so not a bad thing.
This was a good day, and I enjoyed the drive a great deal. Should also mention that I play guitar and came across Sam Ash and Guitar Center on West Broad Street; cool thing was that they are within walking distance of each other. I also have been (but not today) to the Richmond Music Center, also a great store to explore if you are a musician (or an aspiring one as in my case.)

Walking: Carytown, Monument Avenue, and Church Hill (August 1, 2010)

Overcast and somewhat gloomy this Sunday in Richmond, but temperatures were nice, and the humidity was low, a good time to take the car and take a walk around some of my favorite areas. Took a walk around Carytown which is a very amazing place with a number of stores and also quite a few "interesting people" along its streets. Photo at left is the Byrd Theater, which was built in 1928. The Byrd is on both the state and national historic registers. I am told it is a remarkable thing to see inside. It also shows movies for a low price which it has been doing for years. In fact it was the first theater in Virginia with sound. Next Sunday is the Carytown Watermelon Festival and those streets will be packed with people, and vendors.

I took a walk around Monument Avenue. I like that street not only for the historic statues which line the brick avenue, but also the great houses which can be found there. Of course, I also was pleased (both in Carytown and on Monument Avenue) to see three classic motorcycles which were in use (since they had license plates) and also an old VW Bus (with the required Grateful Dead Sticker). It is a beautiful street to stroll down, and I have done that in the past. Today though was especially nice thanks to the vehicles I saw, as well as the heat being much less of a problem. Enjoyed the walk there, and think it is a worthy place to visit when you are in the area.
I also got out to Church Hill, which is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the Richmond area. I like the Soldiers and Sailors monument near there, also enjoy visiting St. John's Church, but also of interest are the houses to be found there. Like with Carytown, and Monument Avenue, Church Hill has some beautiful old houses and some quite unique ones as well. Course this photo was of interest to me not just for the houses, but also for the pair of Honda Shadows (I used to ride one of those before I got the Vulcan) out front. There is a lot to see there though, plus from many points some nice views of the Richmond area from its lofty points. There is a lot of history to be found in the Church Hill area. I also before heading back to my apartment, made one more stop, but that deserves a special comment all its own in my next post.