Bikes and Guitars in the RVA (June 11, 2011)

Giving history of sorts a pause, went out with my buddy Keith to see some motorcycles and guitars in the Richmond area. The reason for the trip was...we like motorcycles and guitars. Keith is a riding buddy of mine from North Carolina (like me, via Kentucky) and we made quite a few stops. One of the stops (though not in order) was a quick stop for refreshment at Quaker Steak and Lube in Short Pump. A nice bar, Quaker Steak hosts a rather large (I am told, have not been able to go there due to my night work) bike night on Wednesday nights. Has a very nice motorcycle themed bar, and friendly people at the restaurant on West Broad Street. Cheers!
Not far (in fact we walked to it from Quaker Steak and Lube) is the Honda House in Short Pump. Talked about the CB1000R which I had yet to see (brand new for 2011) a very helpful salesman told me, "its not on display, and is sold, but we have one" and took us to the back to see the new bike. In fact I got to "try it on for size" and was very impressed with the motorcycle. Liked the single sided swingarm, and the inline four water cooled engine. It has been getting great reviews, but it has proven, until today to be a hard bike to see either in North Carolina, or in Virginia. Very impressed with this motorcycle, and look forward to seeing more of them on the roads.

Keith and I made a stop to Velocity Motorcycles, which has moved from its former location on The Boulevard (across from Buz and Ned's) to the new shop at 3023 W. Marshall Street. One of my favorite shops, it carries a unique collection of motorcycles. Guy seen here is getting ready to ride off on a Royal Enfield Bullet. Now made in India, the bikes were made in England starting in 1870. That makes it the oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production in the world. New models have been updated. They also carry a number of classic motorcycles. I visited the old shop a number of times, will do so with this one as well.
Finally, like to play guitar, and Keith and I visited both Sam Ash and Guitar Center in Short Pump. Funny thing is that they are side by side; park in one lot and walk to the other. Seems a bit crazy to me, though I have seen that done with a couple of pairs of restaurants in North Carolina, so I guess there is some logic to it. Very nice guitar shops (both are part of national chains..we have them both in NC) and very well staffed with helpful people. Also very noisy, as there are all sorts of people playing musical instruments, which I find very cool. If you are looking for something that makes music, this are good places to check out. Though we did not go today, also enjoy the Richmond Music Center, another fine shop which is located on the Midlothian Turnpike. Richmond is a very good town for music, and have enjoyed some great bands while I have been here.
A fun day, and enjoyed it a great deal. I hope you have enjoyed the photos!

Showing off the RVA, Part II (June 4, 2011)

Kind of out of order, but still cool. Did go to Hollywood Cemetary (after the visit to the Virginia Historical Society). A lot of history there, including a good Presidental section. Seen at left is the grave of President Monroe. Real close is the grave of President Tyler; two US Presidents within a few feet of each other. Both are originally from Richmond, I also found that Zachery Taylor was also born in Virginia but lived mostly in Kentucky and in fact is born in Louisville. A beautiful cemetery with a great view of the James River, Hollywood Cemetery for the history fan is a great place to visit. Many of the movers and shakers of US, Richmond and Virginia history are buried there. Often also see people having picnics there, and it also gives a great view of the city and the nearby just across the James River Belle Island. In my book its a must see place in Richmond, and judging from the people there, many share that same idea. There was a good crowd in the cemetery on hand on this sunny Saturday in Richmond, Virginia. They also offer Segway tours there for those interested (think there is a small fee for that).
In addition to the two US Presidents, there is also the grave site of Jefferson Davis, the only President of the Confederate States of America. I happened to be there (though missed the ceremony) for his birthday. They even had cannon there. In addition for the Cemetery the famous general George Pickett is buried there, plus thousands of Confederate soldiers, many of which died at Gettysburg under Pickett, and are buried near him. Also a must see is the Pyramid, which is a remarkable thing to see. It is a monument which is unlike any I have ever seen on the war; and the construction had to be an epic job.
Before Hollywood Cemetery, we all went to the Virginia Historic Society, the museum is located on the Boulevard. I have been there a lot of times, and it is a favorite place. Not only is the admission free (as it is at the next door Virginia Museum of Fine Arts) but it covers the long history of Virginia in a fine way. Hard to not find something if not many things of interest to see there. Following the museum, and Hollywood Cemetery we went by Belle Island but due to a festival going on there, there was no parking to be had on a Saturday afternoon. Sorry we did not get to see that, it is a remarkable place to explore and sorry I could not show it off.
Final visit of the day was St. John's Church, which was famous as the location of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech. Amazed that the building has survived, largely unchanged and intact since the Revolutionary War. Notables buried there include the mother of Poe, and the first Virginia signer of the Declaration of Independence. The church is located just outside of downtown in Church Hill. Church Hill is one of my favorite sections of Richmond, Va.
I have posted a number of other photos on my photo page during this very fun Saturday in Richmond, Va. I hope you enjoy them.

Showing off the RVA Part 1 (June 4, 2011)

View from Drewry's Bluff site of the Civil War era defenses called Ft. Darling. On May 15, 1862 the Confederate Marines (read it was the base for the Marines in the war), 8 cannon (some salvaged from the CSS Virginia) , drove off a force of five US Navy ships (including the USS Monitor) which were headed to shell Richmond. The fort, located some 100 feet above the river, was too high for the ships to shoot at, and the Confederates won the three hour battle. The Union Navy never again attacked the Confederate capital. During the battle, US Marine John Mackie's actions lead him to be awarded that branches first Medal of Honor.
Following the visit to the battlefield, we headed for Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue. We were also going to check out Velocity Motorcycles which was next door to it on The Boulevard, but it has moved to a new location on Marshall Street. Being bikers though (the three of us have gotten to be friends from work, but all of us rode motorcycles together in North Carolina) we enjoyed seeing the Harley-Davidson V-Rod in this photograph. As for the food it got a thumbs up from all of us, though two of us had eaten there before. Nice place, and as for Velocity will check on where that is moved to, and will take a look at that in the near future!
Of course, had to take the visitors to Monument Avenue. Not just for the impressive statues such as this one of Robert E. Lee, but also to see the houses. I believe I read (though can't remember where) that Monument Avenue was named one of the most beautiful streets in North America. I always enjoy visiting it, and like the sights to be seen there. Many great statues can be found there of the Confederate generals, and also one of tennis legend (and Richmond native) Arthur Ashe. We rolled up and down the street making a few stops to take photographs. I think this street is one of the must see locations in Richmond, and seems to be popular with visitors.
This is the group that went with me. The son at left is Chris, his dad Eddie (from Louisville, Kentucky, a connection we all share) is next to him, and at the far right is Keith. We all worked at the factory in Louisville, Kentucky, transferred to Concord, NC. Following the closing of that factory, Keith and I now work in Richmond, Va (Ed did not make the move). Ed's son is studying history at U of L and thought Richmond would be interesting to see for that reason. I think Ed was interested in what he missed. We did much more during the day, and visited a lot more places, and those will be seen in my next post. It was a great time though and fun to check out this very interesting city that I have come to appreciate and enjoy so much!

Gaines Mill/Cold Harbor (May 1, 2011)

On Sunday, continued exploring with a history buff buddy of mine. We went to Cold Harbor and Gaines Mill to see the Civil War Battlefields there. At left you can see the Gaines Mill Battlefield. The battle was fought on June 27, 1862 and was a major part of the "Seven Days Battles". Forces numbering around 32,000 Union met 57,000 Confederate. The Union goal was to capture Richmond and end the war. At this battle troops under Robert E. Lee drove off Union forces which retreated. The defeat also caused General McClellan who lead the overall Union armies to withdraw his forces toward the James River, ending this threat to Richmond, Va.
Cold Harbor Battlefield seen at left happened two years later; from May 31-June 12, 1864. Again the goal was Richmond, Va, this time the Union Commander was General U.S. Grant, and the Confederate forces were under Robert E. Lee. Lee's army made some seven miles of earthworks some of which survive to this day. On June 3 Grant ordered an assault on those lines. The night before troops put their names on pieces of paper, seeing what would be coming a little before dawn. The Union forces out in the open were mowed down by the Confederate fire. In minutes as many as 7,000 Union troops were killed to a loss of only 1,500 Confederate.
Grant later said Cold Harbor (again some Earthworks seen at left) was his biggest regret; that had he to do it over again, he would not have ordered that charge. Over trenches on both sides, the two armies took mostly pot shots at each other until June 12, when Grant suddenly withdrew his army toward Petersburg, Va. There, they would lay siege to the city (as well as of Richmond) in a long battle which would eventually result in the defeat of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, and the end of the Civil War. I went to the Petersburg battlefield a few weeks ago (and with these two places, not for the first time) and have some photos in previous posts.
One new place we visited was the Cold Harbor Cemetery. There we saw a number of monuments such as this one, which is a cannon mounted in concrete. The plaque there notes that some 1958 union soldiers are buried there; 673 known by name, 1279 unknown. There are monuments there as well from Pennsylvania, New York, and a large monument from Congress. I also came across the grave of Medal of Honor winner Augustus Barry, who won the nation's highest award for service in the Civil War. Bodies found some time later at Gaines Mill unburied were a big reason for the establishment of the cemetery. Many of the bodies there were also killed at Cold Harbor. They have been joined over the years with fellow soldiers killed in other US Wars including the Spanish American War, World War One and Two and Vietnam. The cemetery is a quiet and mournful place especially on an overcast day such as May 1 was. So many gave so much in that time, and faced such terrible fates to keep this county united as one nation. Battles such as the fought were literally hell on earth from all accounts.
Another look here at Gaines Mill Battlefield. The battle was interesting in that both Union and Confederate forces flew hot air observation balloons. While they gave good information on troop movements, they were discounted in many cases by the commanders. Confederate balloons were flown from a area which many years later became the site of the Richmond International Airport. A small monument to them can be found just outside of the Virginia Aviation Museum near the airport.
I enjoyed a great two days of exploring in the Richmond area, an area which is both rich with history and has a bright future as well.

Sights around Richmond (April 30)

Did a bit of wandering around Richmond on Saturday April 30. Took a friend from work with me, kind of enjoy showing off the area, and though it was around some places that I have been, it was still a great time. One of the great things about finding places in Richmond is going back to them. For instance this is the Bell Tower in Byrd Park. It was built as a War Memorial for (I believe due to the dates of its construction) World War I. It is a very neat structure and very massive with a lot of very nice detailing. I really enjoy wandering around Byrd Park, it is a very nice and in fact have another photo at the end of this photo section. While there saw a Art Fair (was also told it would go on Sunday) and enjoyed that. Often come across surprises in this town, there is something going on in Richmond virtually all the time if you look for it. Saw lots of really great art, and also it was fun to watch all the people. As always there were quite a few dogs with the people, this is really a dog friendly town and I like that a great deal. Any town that likes dogs is fine with me!
As for dogs and people watching, hard to beat Carytown. Though traffic is something to see (as seen at left) it is a very interesting place. Great variety of places to see, stores to visit, fine places to eat, and often even music and art in the street. Galaxy Diner is one such place. There you can get breakfast all the time (in addition to other meals). Being a motorcycle sort of guy I liked the guy on the Can-Am Spyder Trike also in this photo. Good place to walk on a nice sunny day as this April 30 day was. There are a lot of eye catching places to explore, and I think there is really something for everyone in Carytown. It is one of my favorite areas of the city to be in.
Though I have yet to see a movie there, the Byrd Theater is one classic looking place. In fact it is on both the National and Virginia Historic Registers. It was built for $900,000 ($11 million in today's prices) in 1928. First movies were shown in 1928 for a cost of 25 cents for a matinee, 50 cents for an evening movie. Movies are now $1.25 cents and there are 1300 seats. Named for the founder of Richmond, Virginia, the Byrd has a donated Dolby Sound System which was donated by none other than Ray Dolby! I am looking forward to checking out a movie there, as it is said to be remarkable on the inside with a number of amazing features. Richmond is a town which really protects it's past and I have the feeling the Byrd Theater is a real tribute to the city. In addition to movies, the Byrd is also home to a number of interesting events, and for more information on this place, some photos of the inside, and more on the history of this movie treasure, check out the Byrd Theater website via your favorite search engine. I hope soon to have a few photos myself from an upcoming visit.
Speaking of visits, went to the Virginia History Museum. I don't know how many trips this makes to check out this fine Richmond treasure. it is located on the Boulevard which is not far from Carytown. It was actually my first stop during the day with my friend. Both of us being Civil War buffs, checked out the big Civil War display (plus other items) to be found in the museum. The Statue seen here is a monument to horses from the North and South that were killed in battle during the Civil War. The museum is just a little distance away (easy walkable) from the remarkable Monument Avenue. If it is statues you like Richmond is a great place to check out.
Finally, back to Byrd Park, and this Fountain in the lake found there. Nice place to hang out and check out the beauty in the area. Saw a lot of people fishing there, and quite a few birds as well. One bird I did not see so often were Canadian Geese. Saw a sign that border collies are being used to chase off the birds in the area, while leaving alone the ducks in the area. I can think of no better dog for the job, border collies are among (if not the) smartest dogs out there. Again, the fountain is very beautiful and the lake is a nice place to hang out on a wonderful day. I have a few more photos on my photo page from the day out in Richmond which I hope you enjoy!

Easter Ride Uptown (Part 2) April 24

Ok, Uptown Charlotte. I posted a few photos on my Motorcycle Blog, and will have a few more on my Photo Page; but these are different from the bike blog photos. Seen at right is Time Warner Cable Arena. Both the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Checkers (NBA and hockey teams respectively) play there. There is also the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers), and according to the signs the AAA baseball team The Charlotte Knights will soon be playing in a new Charlotte baseball stadium. If you like professional sports, Charlotte pretty much has your game. They have some fine places to enjoy those games too.
Charlotte is blessed with some new and tall buildings. Seen here is the headquarters of Bank of America; one of the largest buildings in the city (in fact, I think it is still THE largest). Charlotte was the #2 banking city in the US (just behind New York) though not sure where it ranks now since the big economic crisis. It still is an important banking city and is still growing though at a slower rate, but has been over the last few decades one of the fastest growing cities in the US. The city is home to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, once of the largest airports in the US. It has great air service with many non-stops due to being one of the hub cities of US Airways. It is not hard to get anyplace in the US and for that matter many places in the world.
Lots of people live in Condos such as these. Again, the economic problems slowed that down, but Center City is well populated with residents. It has some nice places along College Street with a good nightlife. It did have many of the same sort of problems which were found in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom area, but a hefty police presence keeps the problems well down for the most part, and its not a bad area to go into. Charlotte is certainly big on parades, any major event or even a few minor ones calls for some nice parades. In my journeys downtown I have come across many over the years, though if there was an Easter Parade, I must have missed it.
Charlotte is one of the largest cities in the US in area anyhow (and I believe around #33 in population though could be off one or two places) but it covers a big area. Downtown is really modern, and in fact many of the areas around it have been torn down and rebuilt. Charlotte is not real big (though there is some) use of old buildings such as in Louisville, Kentucky and Richmond, VA. Charlotte is more prone to tear things down and start over again. The old Charlotte Coliseum lasted something like 14 years before it was imploded (now its a industrial park I believe outside of town. Though not popular when built, the light rail has really become popular in the city, and talk is of expanding it to some of the outlying areas of the city.
A prime example of expansion is Charlotte (formerly Lowes) Motor Speedway, which is actually in Concord, NC. During the time I have been in the area (something like 13 years as of now) many new bleacher sections have been added, along with a dirt track, a drag strip, and soon the world's largest outdoor tv. Seeing old photos of the track it is hard at times to believe that this is the same place at the same location. CMS is the home to two NASCAR races and except for one year at Atlanta, the home to the All-Star Race. The All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 are held in May, with a 500 mile race in October. I have been to the track quite a few times, and got to say being at a NASCAR race there is a hell of a thing. I have also done the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and that is not to be believed; more fun than you can imagine. I always enjoy exploring this area, which changes fast and still grows like no city I have ever seen.

Easter Ride Uptown (Part 1) April 24

On Easter during my days at home with the family, got out for a motorcycle ride. Previous posts have shown the Chesterfield Mall which has been empty and abandoned (largely except for an outlying auto repair and a bank) for the last few years, well this is Eastland Mall in Charlotte, NC. Like that mall, it is now empty. It was opened in 1975 and the last store left in 2010. There are, as with the Chesterfield Mall some plans to redevelop it, but will be interesting in this economy which one (if either) gets redeveloped first. I remember going to this a few years ago when it was open, was a rare mall with a ice skating rink inside...unique for sure.
There are many airports in the state, and quite a few in the Charlotte area. This is Wilshire Airport which is located near Albemarle Road and just (barely) outside of Charlotte, NC. One of the many small airports of which some are publicly and some privately owned. This airport is actually surrounded by a neighborhood and has a single concrete runway. I enjoy at times watching planes take off and land from this facility. Good that in the state where the Wright Brothers first flew that there are so many good airports to check out. Some of them in the area even have grass runways and that is quite a nod to the past days of aviation.
Also on Albemarle Road is Jakes Good Eats, which has been featured on the Food Network and the show "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives". It was closed on Easter Sunday, but is said to have very good food (my motorcycle club went there during a group ride...just a riding club not an outlaw gang by the way) and very friendly people from what I am told. Location was a former gas station, a rare local reuse of an old building (though many old buildings are reused outside of Charlotte). Charlotte though does not do that a lot, which will be seen more clearly in my next post. They like to build new stuff and it certainly shows.
Post here was not actually during the ride. Patty and I went on Saturday April 23 to Memorial Gardens in Concord, NC. It is a very old cemetery with some beautiful flower gardens (though Easter being late this year, we missed some of the better ones, most of the Easter Lilly's were gone). It is a popular place for photos, in fact a wedding party was taking photos in the gardens during our visit. I will put a few photos on the photo page, in Concord in the early spring it is a very popular place to visit, and in fact it still was even late in April. There is also a lot of history inside that area; many notable people with some interesting stories are buried there.
This was taken during my motorcycle ride on April 24. A look at the street in North Davidson, just outside of Charlotte, NC..but is better known as NODA. It was a mill area (textile type) until the mills declined. Artists moved in, and the area has become very popular. Many of the old buildings were reused, but also many have been torn down, and new condos and construction has gone up in the area. Sort of sad that the place is getting too costly for the people who re-established it as a thriving area of the city. Goes like that sometimes I suppose. Many interesting places to see there, and it retains a funky feel. It is also a good place to check out live music with a number of great small places where some notable bands sometimes play from around the country.

Spring 2011: Forest Hill Park

First day of Spring, and its about time. Winter in Richmond was not all that bad-certainly a big improvement over last winter (which was frankly pretty bad) but glad to see Spring here at last. It is a great and favorite time of year, and have enjoyed seeing the trees in bloom (mostly I believe Bradford Pears and Dogwoods here in Richmond). Nice to enjoy the season and to relax with a Sunday morning walk in Forest Hill Park. One of the oldest parks in Richmond I believe, and a real jewel. It has had a lot of work done to it in the last year or so, and a great many improvements have been made to this park. Seemed like a good place to walk on this day.
Walking at Forest Hill can be a good adventure. It features some steep climbs, but this is a good thing for a work out. Some people get gym memberships, but I enjoy a good walk outside in the air. There were a lot of people out, though being early not as many as I often see there walking, riding bikes, jogging, playing with dogs, and just generally doing the same thing I was. Got a lot of "hello there" greetings. I am always impressed on how friendly Richmond people are, and that is a nice thing on a Sunday morning, first day of Spring day. Perfect blue skies and a quiet urban park, it does not get any better than this. Have been getting over some kind of cold bug that has been going around work, so felt good for the first day in quite a few days to feel like getting out. Work has been a bear this week with that, so fits that the first day of spring I would feel good and be ready to get a good walk in among the beauty to be found there. I like a lot of parks in Richmond, which is blessed with some fine ones, but this in my opinion is the best of the best in the city.

Forest Hill Park has a trail which runs along a creek by the lake, and its really nice. Got a lot of big rocks there, and there are a lot of bicyclists who ride that trail (and a few of them went by me). I am not one of those people who dislike bicyclists; in fact I think its a great and very smart way both to get a workout in, and to commute (if possible for that matter). Though my favorite two wheel way to go ride now has a engine and Kawasaki on the side, I remember riding a few years ago, and have given some though to getting back into it again. Especially with the price of gasoline and the impact of those vehicles on the environment it sounds better and better. Very interested in electric bicycles but I am rambling here; that is for another post. Got to check out that electric Leaf last week (previous post) and that really has me thinking about the future. Going to a place like Forest Hill Park, you realize what a special and fragile thing this world really is; nothing at all like it at least in this solar system- and its the only game we have. If we mess this up, we are pretty well screwed.
View here is the restored and very beautiful lake at Forest Hill Park. I like going by there, watched a guy for a time playing with his dog in the lake. He would throw a stick, and the dog would catch it. He and the dog were having a blast, I like to play with my dogs in North Carolina, and look forward to doing that again very soon.
Was nice being out. Got my mind off of problems with the "gas billing company" at the apartment complex NWP Services Corporation. Weather has been warm (for winter) and I have not run the heat, but someone has and I got a bill for the "heat" this month. Pisses me off knowing I have not used it, and getting ripped off by the corporation. For the apartment complex it is easier for them, for the residents it often means questionable bills. Not meter reading, just "you owe this." My advice is that if you find when renting apartments that they use a "service" such as NWP Services Corporation run...don't walk...out the door and find another place to live. You will be glad you did.

Concord Views and The Brewery

Nice weekend in Concord; beautiful time of year with the trees turning white in that sort of magical way they do; sort of like they all get a sudden signal. From bare trees to blazing white overnight, its a very cool thing and a real sign of spring (which comes Sunday March 20). This was taken on the 13th, took my dogs for a walk in the neighborhood. It is fun strolling with border collies, and they really enjoy getting out and wandering the streets, woofing at other dogs, and smelling all the things that dogs find interesting on the ground. I would like to think they also enjoy the scenery, but can't be sure of that. Nonetheless, we had a great time.
Nice view of my motorcycle at the Vulcan Materials Quarry which is located near the Concord Regional Airport. Since it is a Kawasaki Vulcan, liked the sign there as well. Have taken that motorcycle on many great adventures and that is my favorite way to explore the Carolinas. I have been to a lot of different parts of the state though with the current working in Richmond situation the rides have been a lot shorter due to the fact my time in the state is a lot shorter. I do enjoy a few hours though on an occasional weekend in North Carolina, and always look forward to the next visit. It is a great place to ride and you see a lot of motorcycles on the roads.
Photo at left is Concord Mills (actually that is the food court). I have read that it is North Carolina's #1 tourist attraction which in a way is sort of sad, but its an interesting place for sure. It is BIG mall, with a whole lot of stores, and in fact there a a number of smaller strip malls around it. I can remember when Concord was this very sleepy little town, but this really put it on the map (well that and the Charlotte Motor Speedway which is just up the road. I don't go by there very often (went for the Nissan Leaf display which was the subject of my previous post) but do enjoy wandering around from time to time. It is laid out something like a racetrack...very interesting.
Final photo is not in Concord, but rather is the Red Oak Brewery which I believe is in Gibsonville, NC; sort of between Greensboro, NC and Burlington, NC. Took this photo on the way back to Richmond on March 14. Front of the brewery is glass and you can see the big tanks where they make the beer. Have not made a stop there yet on the way home (or to Richmond) but its in the future plans. Often I will make a stop at places of interest along the way; have been in Durham, NC, stopped at Tanger Outlet on the way to Concord this last trip..been a few other places I have checked out. Sometimes its a nice break to just see what is out there along the road. There are a lot of interesting places between Concord and Richmond, as well as many places in those areas.

Nissan Leaf Tour

During a motorcycle ride on March 13, went by Concord Mills to see the Nissan Leaf. They had a big event there, with a number of displays and even allowed test drives of the cars. The Leaf is all electric; it has a 90 mph top speed, and a 100 mile range before it needs to be recharged. The car is seen here (the flipped up part in the front of the car is where the car is recharged). Depending on the charger that time can range from "a few" to "around" 8 hours. That is the current drawback of all electric cars though I believe development will continue on these vehicles. In fact other companies are working on other variations of these cars as well as motorcycles.
The engine compartment is seen here. To be honest, if you did not know would be hard to tell this has an electric motor. Current cars have so many covers and protective housings that it is hard to tell what is under the hood at times. I happen to drive a Nissan (it is a Versa) and really can't get a good look at that motor either. What was interesting about it was the lack of a tailpipe and the lack of noise as it went down the road. Being used to internal combustion engines, it is a real change. Course there is a lot of maintenance that does NOT come with these cars; no tune ups, oil changes and a lot of other problems with motors. Electric engines tend to be pretty reliable.
Again the dash is really basic, and looks like the typical small car. Roomy in a small car way; the Leaf had a really good sound system. Braking the car at stops also puts power into the battery. The car would be a great commuter car with its range; for people who drive less than 100 miles at a day, or at work who would have access to chargers for the car, could save a ton of money on fuel. It had the typical fit and finish we all have come to expect from the Japanese; I found it to be a nice little small car. The one problem with it now is the price is very high as production is limited. If it catches on, I expect the price will fall, though there is a Federal Tax Credit to kind of cushion the cost a bit.
This is a look at the Leaf battery pack. That is also a matter of interest, not sure how long the batteries will last; over time most batteries tend to lose the ability to recharge/hold a charge. Also some question about how it will work in cold or very hot weather, but the car has been extensively tested. Nissan thinks a lot of it, and the tour brought a lot of people and cars to Concord Mills, and there was even early on a Sunday morning a lot of interest in seeing this modern version of the old idea of the electric car. It will be an interesting story to follow in the months and years to come. I believe we will see more electric vehicles not fewer.
This is a look at a charging station. With oil getting both harder and much more expensive to find, and as we have found in the last few weeks, very subject to rapid price rises due to events such as the problems in the Arab countries, and the disaster in Japan (and my heart goes out to the Japanese people in this time of trouble for them) such vehicles are on the way to being a viable alternative. Range and cost are issues now, but with development and more production, that could change, and will. It will be some time before they become a great alternative for the mass of people, but there are some interesting concepts and new ideas under development. Chevy's Volt will have both electric power from batteries and a gasoline engine generator to extend its range to virtually unlimited distances. As I have noted there are also a number of electric motorcycles out there which are doing some surprising things. Some of those vehicles have reached some amazing speeds..the idea that these are golf carts could not be more wrong. I will watch this developing industry with interest.
The ride took me to a number of places, and I will have some more photos in my next update from the March 13 ride. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Picasso Exhibit at the VMFA (March 5,2011)

Special day, in that my wife Patty made the trip up from Charlotte, NC to spend the weekend here. Always fun to take her out and show off this unique city, and we have a fun two days planned. Yesterday, we had tickets to the Picasso exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. That is one of my favorite places to visit in Richmond, and I have been a number of times. Normally free except for special events (such as the Picasso exhibit) tickets ran $20 each to see the works of this remarkable artist. The display covered all the different periods and styles he worked in during his long and very productive life. The crowd came from all over the US.
I noted the diversity of the crowd and had a lot of time to do that, because the line (as seen in the photo at left, and only partly seen at that, as it was much longer) took a good solid hour to get to the exhibit. Still though, as promised heard a number of languages in the crowd, and met some interesting people. As Patty noted in the course of the day, and I have a number of times, Richmond crowds and people are among the friendliest that we have come across in a number of places. It was a very fun event, and we enjoyed checking it out and can suggest it as an interesting thing to see. Unless you get to Paris, France where these are displayed; you may never see its like again!
Of course, the museum is normally free (and still is if you want to bypass Picasso) with just hours and hours of interesting things. Patty and I wandered and saw many (but not all) items in the museum such as this marble fixture which was in a garden in India around the mid-1700's. There is a wide variety of things to see at the VMFA and we enjoyed our visit there. I have posted a few more photos on the photo page from our visit there. The museum also have a very good web site with more information on the museum, as well as info on the Picasso display. That will be in Richmond for a limited time, and I believe this is the only city on the east coast showing it.
Following the museum, we stopped for food, refreshment, and some fine music at the Cary Street Cafe, located not far from the VMFA. One of my favorite places to stop and found by me not long ago, it is a nice place with friendly people. I like the vibes there, and have always have a very good time. Said to be "Richmond's oldest Hippie Bar", it is a fun place to relax, kick back, and enjoy yourself with some fine people.
Spent the rest of the afternoon exploring some around Church Hill and downtown seeing some of the sights. Patty noted that she enjoys seeing the older buildings in Richmond, which is not just a rare but nonexistent sight in Charlotte. It was a very fun and interesting day, and we had a great time, with another day to come this afternoon!

Views from Carolina (Feb 25-27)

I liked this photo, one of three I got which is one of the reasons why its always good to have a camera at the ready! Mollie, the border collie (which you can see at the lower left) heard a noise outside; there was a cat outside. It made it to the neighbors fence, and with some help from the neighbors dog; it was pretty well pinned on the pole. Cats like to wander the neighborhood, but the local dogs seem to take great offense at this; perhaps it is jealousy but whatever the reason thought it was pretty neat. No cats got hurt in this encounter (though to be honest, maybe its lucky no dogs got hurt!) but it was funny to see that classic confrontation we see so often in cartoons and other lore come to pass. Mollie is one of my two border collies, and is a constant source of amusement and energy. In fact the breed has a lot of energy bouncing from one adventure to another. In that, they and I are a really good match for each other. They make me smile, I make them go on great neighborhood walks, catch frisbee and tennis balls, and give them a lot of love in the meantime; which I get back in spades!
Mentioned in the previous post going to Stewart-Haas Racing; in one of the photos was a long shot of this bike. It was built by Orange County Choppers, which is actually based in New York. They have a show on the Discovery Channel; a rather wild family in a long running series. Conflicts are pretty funny, and in between the arguments (and now lawsuits) they manage to make some pretty good motorcycles. This bike was made in 2004 and is totally custom. The length of it was quite remarkable, and it would certainly be no fun on a twisty road. However, it is an interesting creation, and one of a kind (with I am sure a price to match!)
Sure looks different in the wintertime, but a favorite street in Concord is Union Street. In the middle is the "Old Downtown" but it has some very old houses, many of which have been updated over the years but still keep a lot of the old charm. Like the houses, the trees that line the street are also very old. At one time many of the movers and shakers of the region lived in these houses. One of the houses was owned by Mr. Cannon, who founded Cannon Mills, the former great textile complex in Kannapolis, NC. Each trip home I take some time to take a ride or a drive down that street. This was taken on Sunday morning February 27.
Previous post had a photo of Charlotte Motor Speedway, well this tent is in one of the giant parking lots, and will be the site of the latest Cirque DuSoleil presentation in the next few days. The group is a frequent visitor to the area, and puts on quite a remarkable presentation; a very fun and different sort of "circus". Much like with Richmond, the racetrack is home to a number of events, and not just racing. Although with the big track, the dirt track, and the new dragstrip auto events do dominate events that happen on the property. The race tracks are just up the road from the big Concord Mills Shopping Center, which is quite a sight as well.
Weekend was a very fun and interesting event. Coming up this weekend in Richmond will be going to see the Picasso exhibit with a very special guest; my best friend in the world, and the best wife a man could ask for. I will be bringing some of that in my next post!