Visit to the Ville II (June 29-July 3)

 End of June to early July took a road trip to Louisville, Kentucky. Made a visit to the State Capital there in West Virginia, a very cool place with a lot to see. Dog needed a walk and I thought that would be a good place to do it as I love that golden dome. They have a museum there which I have also seen in the past, but made a short visit this time to the grounds. Traffic was bad there due to road construction but trip overall was very good and did not take long to get to Louisville which is some 550 miles from Richmond.
Weather was really good though it was hot and humid. Strange week weather wise during the entire trip, had a lot of big storms and some high heat and humidity as the nation was in a wild sort of weather pattern (temperatures over 100-120's out in the West) but did have a few sunny periods and in fact even a couple of rain free days.
Good time on the road trip with my traveling companion, Mollie the Border Collie!  

This is Louisville from the Indiana side....only a short distance across the Ohio River divides the two places. They have a lot of things in common though, and the interests of Louisville are certainly tied into those of Southern Indiana.
Things have been slow in the area and still looks as though the economy has not taken off, though it is showing signs from the things I saw of starting to really improve.
A number of cool things continue to happen. Many places have opened up, and a number of new things are happening. They are finally starting construction on the bridges across the river!

 This is one old bridge....it was an old railroad bridge which was known as the "Bridge to Nowhere" for a number of years. Now they have lined it with concrete and have a walkway to get up on it...where you get a nice walk and a fantastic view of the Ohio River. Soon it will go all the way to the Indiana side where you can walk across it, but right now that work is not yet done, but here on the Kentucky side the bridge is up and running.
I went there twice once alone and once with the grandkids, and had a great time both times. Glad to finally see this project done!

 Very old airport here is Bowman Field, and it goes way back. It is the smaller of the Louisville airports and is not far from the massive Standiford Field which is Louisville's main airport (and I believe the largest in Kentucky).
A lot of history in Bowman Field...plus I remember my father taking me here years ago. Always have been a big fan of aviation and it is good to see this place again. Second visit to the city this year, and this also is my second visit to the airport.
Not just the terminal but many of the buildings around it are historic...you get a good look at the early days of aviation here.   

Finally, got this photo of the Shenendoah Valley in Virginia on the way back to Richmond. Took this from one of the lookouts on I-64. Though it has a small section of road that turns into I-77 (which of course has toll booths...as you could figure) I-64 links both Richmond and Louisville. Both being river towns and big on reusing older buildings, they have a lot in common.
At any case, back now and will have a lot of great memories after seeing  family and friends during this visit. Looking forward to my next time there, and hope it is soon!

Petersburg, Va (June 16, 2013)

 Another Fathers Day, another motorcycle ride, this time to Petersburg, VA. Went to a few other places, but really enjoyed the ride here. This place has a lot of history, and have been there a few times before though not for awhile and certainly not this year. This church for instance dates to the Civil War and Confederate troops used the clocks on top to keep track of time in the trenches. There is a lot of stuff from that period and some really cool houses as well around downtown. Rode around a bit before heading back and enjoyed the visit.
Much of the movie "Lincoln" was shot there, saw that from some signs in some of the buildings in the Old Petersburg section. Also has what look to be some good places to eat and its just an interesting place to spend a little time exploring.
Petersburg is either the last exit before you get to I-85 or virtually the first exit on I-95, depending on your direction.    

This was also downtown...a very old and restored steam engine, though not used for a train (I think). There are also a number of battlefields in Petersburg from the Civil (and for that matter Revolutionary) War. It is a well worth a visit or two - just a fun place to check out.
On the way back, instead of taking I-95 went on the Jefferson Davis Highway; I have ridden a lot of that road (runs though Richmond and area) and rode a few days ago that road from Ashland, VA (in the North) to Richmond, but Petersburg to Richmond was a first. Got to see some more new sections of that very interesting road.

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.