Asheville Adventures (September 3-4,2011)

Patty and I celebrated (a few days late due to the work situation here) our 20th Wedding Anniversary in Asheville, NC. It is a fantastic area with a great history, remarkable views and some great roads. Took the car (the motorcycle is still in the shop, but out soon) and enjoyed some wonderful weather. Church at left was built with money by a Mr. George Vanderbilt. Rather rich in the day, he also had built a rather large house called The Biltmore Estate. It is a remarkable thing to see, and have enjoyed it a few times (but not this visit). Do have to say though, favorite time to see The Biltmore is during Christmas time, they really do that place up.
We made a stop to the Western North Carolina Aviation Museum which is in Hendersonville, NC (right next to Asheville, NC). Liked this photo because the plane at the bottom was a 1930's kit plane called a "Heath Parasol". It originally flew with a Henderson Motorcycle Engine, and cost around $130 dollars for the kit. I know that because the man who built it, and donated it to the museum is sitting in the chair at left. Was amazing hearing some of this stories. The museum has a nice collection of aircraft, and admission is free (which is always nice). Will have a few photos on my Flickr Photo Page.
Visited The Hendersonville Apple Festival, which as you can see from the crowd was a pretty big event. It was your basic apple and arts and crafts festival, which is to say it was pretty neat and we had a great time. Friendly and interesting town, was told that this was a fun event to check out. I was told right. We found out about this the night before the trip, and resulted in a last minute change of plans to go to it. I am glad we made that call!
On September 4, we got going after breakfast and drove the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville, NC to Blowing Rock, NC. Covered some 100 miles-good tunes on the radio, Patty by my side, and some remarkable views. Saw a lot of motorcycles, quite a few cars, and a number of some very hardy bicyclists riding those remarkable roads. Sure its not the fast way, but fun to drive one of the great American roads, and the views are nothing short of awesome.
The town of Asheville has a lot to offer; great places to eat, great music, friendly people, a very interesting downtown, and its a place you want to come back to again and again!

Goodnight Irene (August 27-28)

Hurricane Irene came calling in Richmond starting on August 27 with light rain. By the afternoon, the rain got heavier, the winds got stronger. Photo here was one of the aftermath photos-a tree out of the ground in the neighborhood. Damage was actually (for the most part) rather light, though trees-which I read have been weakened from the drought-came down by the hundreds. This resulted in massive power losses; most people in Richmond (the vast majority) lost power during the storm. There was also quite a few killed from falling trees on houses and cars, in a storm that had (at the airport at least) 70 mph winds and 5.37 inches of rain.
Power at my apartment went out at 4:15pm during the storm. However, part of the apartment complex still had power, and I was able to charge my phone at a nearby laundrymat. Went out with a friend, noted a lot of people from many different places had gone to Richmond to escape the storm, road traffic was heavy. Many traffic lights were out (and still are) in the area and many businesses remain closed even days later. Amazing how vital power is, I can tell you that you really, really miss it when its gone. Lights here came back on August 28 almost 24 hours to the minute that they went out. I am also lucky that Comcast lines were also ok and have internet service as well. Post storm threw out some food in the refrigerator, but freezer food was still frozen and is ok. I am also storing some food for a friend in freezer still without power.
This was my second hurricane, experienced the first while in the USN during a deployment to Guam some years ago. Like this one, power went out early (came on quicker though). That storm was a much more dramatic event-even got to experience the eye which was an amazing experience. Sort of a hurricane half time pause during that event. This one was from the outskirts, and was an amazing experience of a different sort. Hope its the last one for a long, long, long time.

In NC (August 20-23, 2011) with an Earthshaking Return to VA.

Took this photo of the Old Cabarrus County Courthouse on Union Street in Concord, NC on August 20. Had a nice visit to my home over an extended weekend, though did get a bit of a bug apparently so was not as active as I hope to be when I am home. Got the motorcycle in the shop, it broke down during my last trip, and now I do on this one. Got better though on the last day, and a good trip even with that. Found that Claritin is pretty good stuff. Got better enough to cut the yard and do some trimming. Not a big weekend though did see most of the race. Winner of that race Kyle Busch did get his license suspended in NC, bit of thing with a sports car over 100 mph in a nearby town. Still will get to race though, and is the current points leader.

Came back to Virginia on the 23rd, getting back to the apartment around 1pm. At 1:51 PM, experienced my first real earthquake. A 5.8 magnitude quake hit the area. I was surprised at both the noise and the force, it was a remarkable event. Thankfully, the damage was not too severe, mostly minor in the area. It was felt in number of states, and did some damage to the Washington Monument (along with some other buildings) in Washington, DC.

I have some interesting stuff coming up, plan to do some exploring in the Richmond area this weekend, and have a really nice event coming up very soon. Thanks for visiting my page.

Army Museums at Ft. Lee, Hopewell, VA (August 13, 2011)

While in Hopewell to help a friend move a tv, went to Ft. Lee which was just up the road, and is home to The US Army Quartermaster Museum, and the US Army Women's Museum. Saw a number of interesting things there. Photo at left was at the Woman's Museum, and is a piece of The Pentagon which was damaged in the attacks on 9/11. Both museums had a great number of interesting items are are located on the base. Had to pass through a checkpoint, and provide some information before being allowed on base. It was my first visit to this military base which is located in Hopewell, Va. Very nice looking post, as were the ones I served at in the USN some years ago.
This gun carriage dates to the Civil War era, and was used in the funerals after the war of Jefferson Davis, and of General George Pickett, both of whom are buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va (which I have been to a few times, a very nice place with beautiful views of the James River. There was a lot of Civil War era items including the saddle that US Grant used during the Civil War (donated by him) and a wagon believed to have been used to haul his personal effects around the battlefields he lead troops in during the war. There were also a number of other items from the war on display there.
I found this item very interesting; it was one of the Jeep's used by General George S. Patton during WWII. Certainly one of the most colorful and interesting military leaders not just of WWII, but of any period in US history. He was most famous for his leadership of the US Third Army during that war.
The museum has a number of items from virtually all the periods of warfare in US history. To be honest there was a lot more there than I expected, and the museum was very nice to check out. I think a visit to this museum is very worthwhile, and is worth the time to visit it. Though a donation is suggested, there is no charge to enter it.
Finally, again from the Woman's Museum at Ft. Lee, is this display to the WASP's of WWII. That was the Womans AirForce Service Pilots (though the Air Force was the Army...it did not become a separate branch until after WWII). Some 1,074 pilots were trained for duties such as ferrying aircraft (they flew all US military aircraft) and freeing up male pilots for combat. All in all, the WASP's flew some 60 million miles.
Enjoyed my visit to this museum as well, and have a few more photos from the visit on my photo page, which you can find via a link to this page. Like the Quartermaster Museum there is no admission charge, the museum is right next to the Quartermaster Museum at Ft. Lee.

Ride to Uptown Charlotte (August 7, 2011)

On a bright Sunday morning, another soon to be hot and humid day (but not early when I went) rode the motorcycle to Charlotte, NC...and when I got off took a walk around that very interesting town. There was a lot going on there even early; with a number of people walking around, and even a crane on a closed off street doing some sort of work soon (they were putting up some tape to keep people away from it as I walked by). It was good to see that there is construction still going on in Charlotte, even in times such as these. The building here in the background is under construction. Charlotte is a city that is often undergoing change and was before the current economic crisis one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. According to the experts, when things get better (and I feel that they will...eventually) the city will once again hit that mark. I certainly enjoy wandering around it, and checking out all the sights. Unlike Richmond, which is also very cool to explore, it is filled with new sights and offers many things to see and do.

Here is seen the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, with one of the newer buildings in the background. I love all the different buildings in the city, and many of them (though not the one seen here) are apartment buildings. Many people both work and live in the city and it gives it a very interesting feel. There are some great neighborhoods in Charlotte, and a wide range of places to live in the city.
The Statue at left is one of four to be found at Founders Square which is right in front of the Bank of America Building (Still the largest building in Charlotte. The train seen in the photo was photographed downtown (or Uptown as it is known locally) and runs North to many cities, including a stop in Richmond, Va. Though I have not taken the train to Richmond, it is not out of the range of possibility that I will not do so in the future. Sure like to see high speed trains running between Charlotte and points beyond. Charlotte also has a growing light rail system; reaches quite a few points in the city and is quite popular. That system is planning expansion to other points outside of the City of Charlotte. I have posted these and a few others on my Photo Page, which you can find via a Link on this page. I hope you have enjoyed these photos, and thanks for visiting my page!

Richmond on the Last Day in July (July 31, 2011)

Have not spent a long time wandering Richmond lately, due to circumstances, but did today. Took the photo at right at Rocketts Landing in Richmond, very nice area of the city with a new place (its further below). Its a high dollar area of the city with some pretty pricy condos and apartments in what is an up and coming area of the city. Have been surprised that Richmond being a river town makes so little use as far as businesses of its river view; but now as I learned this weekend there are now three places where you can enjoy the view: Legends, The Boathouse (at Rocketts Landing) and also now Conch Republic (photo below).

Got two photos here from Shockoe Bottom. Very neat part of town, but also areas that get a lot of grief from the police. All sorts of warnings there about traveling in groups, but never have had any problems there. Not sure if it is because I am careful or lucky. 17th Street Market is interesting, but never seen anything of interest there. Do like the Canal Cruise there though have yet to take the cruise (but while I am here, I will). Richmond put a lot of money into that project, not sure it has really paid off in the way the investment planned. That happens though.

Photo of the building in Shockoe Bottom is the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, posted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777. In 1786 the Virginia Assembly made it state law. It is one of the three achievements in his life that Thomas Jefferson had put on his tomb. It was the foundation of separation of church and state in the US, and for those who worship the thoughts of the founding fathers, a message to those who would make this nation a Christian republic.
The last photo is of Conch Republic, a new place at Rocketts Landing in Richmond. Nice place and has very nice happy hour prices. Food prices from what I saw were very high, but a good Sunday crowd, and I hope this place makes it...I can easily see myself coming by there again and again. Liked the music, the view, and the service was very good.
Nice time in Richmond on a less than it has been hot sunday in the city, and looking forward to the next one. This is a very interesting city.

Hot Days in NC (July 24-25,2011)

It was another toasty, but mostly dry weekend in North Carolina. Took a pair of early morning motorcycle rides to do a bit of exploring while I was home. Always nice to get out on the bike, but even nicer when the heat index is not yet up to 100+. Photo at left was taken in Huntersville, NC. Huntersville is a nice community about 12 miles from Uptown Charlotte, population around the 30K range I would guess. Seen here is the fairly new Town Center. I like riding around there, plus there is a great series of roads out of the town; this was actually near the end of the riding on July 24. Did like the look of this building though, and there are many interesting ones locally.
I also on July 24 rode to the college community of Davidson, NC. The school there is private and very old; Woodrow Wilson (President of the US during WW1) went for a time there. I like the downtown, as they are very restrictive of the types of businesses (no big box chains) that they allow there. They are not alone in that, Harrisburg, NC is also trying to keep things "local" which is different but a nice touch. I have seen the effects of unrestricted growth; urban sprawl, empty big box stores when they move to "greener and bigger" pastures, and a lack of variety that comes with such development. It is a nice small town area.
On July 25, rode out to High Rock Lake with Phil. Great ride as its country twisty roads and traffic was light on a week day too. Like the lake, its a remarkable peaceful place (though on this day a guy with a boat engine problem was sending up huge clouds of oil scented smoke) but nice to visit the Marina there, and enjoy a cold coke with a good friend. We enjoyed the ride, continuing on to Salisbury, NC (which is very close to the lake) and back down some more fine roads to Concord and the end of the days ride.
Had a great visit, and though not long trips, nice to see these places and to get out on the motorcycles.