Walk in the Park and out on the Motorcycle (June 15)

Beautiful day in Richmond after some big storms last week, but did enjoy a morning visit to the South of the James Farmers Market in Forest Hill Park. This by the way is just part of the reason it has that name. Had a good time there, and there is always a lot of things to see there, and of course...buy there. Not just food either, but also food trucks on hand, live animals and all sorts of things for sale. It is one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning and nice to have a walk nearby and so much to see and check out. I really look forward to this event and enjoy my visits there.  

 Took my dog with me, dogs are often seen at the Market. Funny in that she is not good with people or other dogs for some reason, but has a good time at this event. So take it from her, a great place to visit. Here you can see some of the booths there, it covers a pretty wide area and also has a number of people playing music and that is also very cool. It has a really  good web site if you need more information.
The Park itself is also pretty remarkable, has a big lake down the hill with "Catch and Release" fishing, and dates from many years ago. A favorite place I have a number of photos on this site and you can see a number of photos of it there.
As noted in previous posts, they also often have free music on Sundays...some of the bands have been really, really good, and draw some really nice crowds. I have also taken the dog to some of those, and like the South of the James Farmers Market she liked that too!  

 Got out on the motorcycle on this very beautiful day, spent some time in Carytown...where I got this photo of Cary Court. Nice place to visit with a bunch of interesting shops and restaurants. I made a return visit to Mellow Mushroom Pizza, have been a big fan of that since my days in Asheville, NC (we also had one in Charlotte) and there are now two in Louisville, Ky (and will be visiting that in a few weeks). Good pizza and a great beer selection as well. Carytown is a fun place to visit as well, and often go by there when I am out on the motorcycle...though doing that to a lot of places. 

Petty Driving Experience was at Richmond International Raceway today...I have done it before in Charlotte (where I did the Ride along as well as actually driving one of the cars). Today was mostly just to watch....had not been to the track since a visit a few weeks ago for some outside photos during a concert...but today I went in to watch them run and to smell the burning rubber. It was a really nice day in the RVA.
This is the last actual weekend of Spring, Summer officially starts on June 21. Actually has gotten here earlier as we have had some hot and humid days this month, but not today...was very pleasant..and fun!

Bacon and Taters (June 9, 2013)

Thought I would just post these today, for info on the motorcycle ride that was part of this, see my "Racing with the Wind" page. This was at the 1st Annual Bacon Festival in Shockoe Bottom. I read that the size of the crowd surprised the organizers, surprised me and others too. Lines, at least early on went on and on. I did not get to sample any of the treats on sale, nor any of the beer (damn the luck, though did get to Legend Brewing Company later on for a Golden Ale, so that worked out) but it was one impressive event. People not lined up were shoulder to shoulder..I guess its true, "Everyone loves bacon." 

Later in the evening, went over to Forest Hill Park to see local RVA band "The Taters" and enjoyed them a lot. Went with my dog who is usually not very good at such events (being a hell of a music critic, she tends to bark) but she was very good at this show. They do a good mix of songs, though mostly older type rock and roll. Course, I like older type rock and roll, so I had a good time. There was also a very good crowd there for this show (larger than usual, and usual is usually pretty good) . I enjoy the musical events held in the park (usually on Sunday's) and was also glad that it both cooled down a little bit from the heat of the day, and the storms in the area avoided the park during the show. Was a dry weekend (except Saturday morning here) but really hot and humid. Rains are on the way back in here as I write this on Sunday night. 

Broad Appetit (June 2, 2013)

 One of my (and judging by the crowd at left, I am not alone) favorite Richmond events is Broad Appetit. A few blocks of downtown Broad Street are blocked off and some 70 (or so) restaurants come set up booths and give samples (generally around $3 a small plate) to sample some of their best offerings. This city is really (and I am not kidding) a great place to eat, in fact they pride themselves on that fact...and have the food in general to back that up. This for sure is a good way to explore a number of places at a very low price. There is something here for everyone.  

They also have beer (and wine for those so inclined) at $5 a ticket. What is featured is beer brewed in Virginia, and there are a lot (as I have found at this festival and others...as well as visiting some of the local breweries in the state) . That is one of the beer trucks (I think there were three this year, last year the few they had were overwhelmed, so they increased the number) and they have a variety of beer on hand to check out. I tried a couple of new ones out and found them to be very good indeed. Have had some bad ones here, as in all things, but have to say it has happened very few times. Overall, they do a good job. 

Festival also had some bands, there are two of the members of Voodoo Dolls at left, it is an all-female band and they were very good also. You get to check out some new music from some bands you have not heard before (or if you have, get to see some old favorites) and like the festival admission the music is free (and the food and beer or wine is really cheap) Just have a really good time there, and enjoyed myself a great deal.
It is a really huge crowd but the lines (what there are) move along pretty good. With so many places to choose from most of the booths don't get overwhelmed and if they do, you can just move on to something else.
As I said, just a really fun event....and something that I really enjoy. This was the 6th Annual Broad Appetit and I think that each year it gets bigger and better. Though it was really hot and humid (lower 90's) the rains held off until well after the festival was over, which was another good thing about today. 

On the way back to the car (which was parked a few blocks away) got to walk though downtown which is certainly always interesting. Driving though it you see some things, but walking you get to see so much more. Being a very old town, there is a lot of history. For instance, this building, as the sign notes, dates to the late 1800's. There are a few in the city that are much older such as the building that now houses the Poe (as in Edgar Allen) Museum,  and of course the Church Hill section of Richmond is filled with very old houses. Heck, the church that the famous "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death" speech was given is still standing, and that was given actually before the Revolutionary War. It is a very cool place to see (and I have some photos of it during past visits in this blog).
What this was was a great day, and a perfect cap to a very fine weekend. Neat to have a good food festival on a weekend, Richmond has two, and on the same weekend. I can't wait to go back to them in 2014!

Greek Festvial and Ashland, VA (June 1, 2013)

 Another great day (and another hot one, with temperatures that got into the lower 90's) but a good day for the Greek Festival on Malvern Avenue in Richmond, VA. I had not been for a couple of years but had a great time. I went early due to the expected heat and the crowds. As it was, parking was a bit difficult to find, but the food was wonderful and sure was glad I came by this year. It was a beautiful if humid day, not a real great day for walking around much, but a good day to enjoy riding the motorcycle - for that activity it was perfect.   

On I went to nearby Carytown where I stopped at the recently opened (as in late last month) Mellow Mushroom on Cary Street. Did not get anything to drink at the Greek Festival, so stopped in for a beverage there . Mellow Mushroom is one of my favorite pizza places, went to my first one in Asheville, NC (I think it is a small Georgia chain, but won't swear to that) and also on the Louisville trip a few months ago found they now have one (and possibly as I am told, two) in the Derby City. They have some really great pizza, good salads (and a good special at lunch time involving the two) and of course one remarkable and extensive beer list.
As I noted did not eat there, being happy with the gyro and baklava at the festival but will on a future visit. Believe me, there will be a future visit - I have been looking forward to this opening since I was told that it was coming here to the RVA.   

 After the two visits, rode around the city a bit. Got the bike out to Monument Avenue for the first time, in fact I have a photo here of the Vulcan in front of the Jefferson Davis monument there...one of the many along that very fine street. Not just for the monuments but also the houses, Monument Avenue is named one of the most beautiful streets in America...and is certainly is. One of my favorite streets, especially during Christmas time
Had a good time running around Richmond, but soon headed out on I-95 toward Ashland, VA. I think its about 16 miles or so from Richmond, and a good ride. Traffic was a bit heavy, not a big fan of highways on the motorcycle, yet the Vulcan is quite good at highway speeds and it is the fastest way between point A and B. I am just one big fan of two lane country roads as I find them more scenic and probably a bit more safe (though that may just be a perception I have).

 Ended up in Ashland, I was there a few months ago (last fall I believe). Stopped for a beverage at IronHorse....which was a very nice place with a very friendly wait staff. I enjoyed my visit, and wandered around a little bit seeing some of the nearby sights. Being a railroad town, there are a pair of tracks that run down the main street of town. I will post some more photos on my Photo Page from the visit, but it is a most interesting place.
As noted above did ride back via VA 1 which was the "Washington Highway" there, but is called the "Jeff Davis Highway" in Richmond.     

Very scenic drive down 1, lots of neat sights and a bit more sedate...at one point got a little lost but ended up at Richmond International Raceway. They were having a music event there (have something going on there most of the time, even a NASCAR race now and then) but the guy at the gate let me get a bit closer to get a photo, then I rode back. Was once again able to get back on 1, and rode that back into Richmond. Neat that I have driven on it often, but saw parts of it today that I had never seen, or been on before. Will not be my last time to explore this, as well as other roads in the area during my time here. Lots of fun doing that.
Tomorrow I am going to the Broad Appitit Festival in downtown Richmond, will not be riding the motorcycle then, but will be posting photos from that food event here. Sure is a great weekend to eat in Richmond, but most of time it is...this is a city that loves to eat!    

Around the RVA: Chesterfield (May 27, 2013)

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

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

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

Tappahannock, VA (May 25, 2013)

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

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

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

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

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

Back to Yorktown (May 14, 2013)

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

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

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

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