Over Southern Indiana (December 27, 2013)

 First off I put a few photos on my Flickr photo page, there is a link to that page here. Got to fly with my cousin Mike over Southern Indiana, and that is one of the photos at left. Was a beautiful day for a flight and due to who the pilot was, it was a very special day.
We flew in a Cessna 172 which he flew down from Ohio and we then bopped around the Floyd Knob area. Flew over my grandfathers house (both of our grandparents have passed on) but it was cool to see it, and I got a good photo of it. It was a real cool experience.

 We went from Floyd Knobs to Madison,  Indiana (having taken off from Clark County Airport near Sellersburg, Indiana) and I got this photo of Madison and the Ohio River.
Tough to fly in the Louisville area, as the big airport there -Standiford Field- has a lot of traffic due to the UPS hub there and it is a pretty restricted area due to that. Flying around Southern Indiana though was a real blast, and I was real happy to be up in the air again. Flying and motorcycling are two things I really enjoy, but only riding is something that I was able to get into myself. Still though, love to fly and these were some amazing sights.

Took this looking out the front window of the plane, nice view heading forward. It was a smooth flight and for sure gives a real different view of where you live.
Flights are usually not too bad, and for those who dont have cousins who are pilots, for a small fee pilots will take you up and show you what the birds see (though at a much faster speed than birds can fly).
It was just a lot of fun to check out the sights and to see some places from above. I miss doing that, and enjoyed this a great deal.    

This was a quarry just outside of the Clark County Airport (as you can see in the upper right the flaps are down as we are coming in for a landing. Made two takeoff and landings, one each both at Clark County Airport and one each at the Madison Airport. Had never flown from the Madison Airport but had been there a few times when I used to go to the Regatta there (for the Hydroplane races).
As I said a remarkable experience, and a lot of memories to keep for a long long time. 

On the Way to the Ville (December 26, 2013)

 Headed to Louisville, Kentucky on December 26, it was a beautiful day to travel. My dog came with me, though she had little choice, but is a good traveling companion-not much for talking, but a good listener. Took this photo at Exit 99...road there to the left says "Blue Ridge Parkway" and to the right Skyline Drive. Got a feeling my motorcycle and me will be revisiting this exit in the months to come. At any case, had a great time stopping there for a short while and seeing the view. There is a hotel there, but read some really bad reviews on it...thats a shame with this view. No big deal though, I had miles to go.

 This is the refinery in Ashland, Ky..this is just a small part of it, which is located pretty much right across the Kentucky State Line from West Virginia. Like going though that state (though do have two toll booths) but sure is a fun state to travel through.
Kentucky is also a lot of fun, nice views and  good roads for the most part. Trip went really well, it might be a long trip but its very scenic. I had good weather on the way up, on the way back a few days later, it was raining most of the way...for some reason that seems to be the pattern. Maybe Louisville is sorry that I am leaving( though could be that it rains a lot there).  

 While not so Tacky Light (that is what they call it in Richmond) there are some amazing houses in many places...this one is in Clarksville, Indiana and is certainly a local favorite.
I like seeing the sights in the city of Louisville too, though with this trip did not have much time to explore there. Entire trip was three days, went to see my family and to visit some of the sights there, but not so many this year. Did get to see some of the area from a unique perspective though and that was fun.

 This is a local flower shop, liked the look of it. Came back on my last day because across from it is a very fine doughnut shop called "Williams Bakery" and enjoy eating there (and did). I also made it to the White Castle which is also pretty much a requirement for a visit. It was a very good time food wise and family wise.
Fun to see some of the sights there, and especially during the Christmas season. 

This was in downtown Jeffersonville, nice light display. Downtown Jeffersonville also has a ice rink (as does Richmond, VA) and it gets a lot of people on it, though not the night I was there.
Think the next section of this page will show you a look at Southern Indiana from an angle that most of us never get to see. Thanks to my cousin, got to do something again that I love, but dont often get to do anymore (though did in the USN when I was in a Patrol Squadron). Those will be the next section that I put up.
Thanks for visiting!

Christmas Day Lights (December 25, 2013)

 Christmas Day, Kaye, Mollie (the border collie) and I went out to see some more Christmas lights-went to the Glen Allen area of Richmond to see this one. A really remarkable house with quite a number of things to look at.
This time of year, it is something to just get out and see what people do..I have often said few cities do Christmas like Richmond, VA and these photos and a few prior are certainly evidence of that. I like wandering around the city to see the things that have been done.

 This is a view of the house from across the street, just a remarkable thing, and fun to see on a winter night (actually was a warm winter night in Richmond, with temps in the 60's, we got to experience a spell of really good weather.
In fact winter to this point has been remarkable, with even some good motorcycling and no snow. The mountains to the west have blocked that which has been heading our way.
At any case, this was a real marvel to behold. 

We came across this house while heading to another one, and this was something to see too. I liked how they put a fire truck (to the right of the garage) into the display, and yeah..thats the real deal (though not sure where it came from).
I would imagine that this is a fireman's house, we saw the house, turned around and went to check this out.
As I said, always amazing things to see here.  

Finally, there was this third house, we had seen it in the day time, but it was remarkable at night. Can't imagine the amount of work (or the amount of the electric bills) that these houses have, but sure is a joy to see this time of year.
I have enjoyed the places we have seen this year, plan to see a few more before New Years and before they turn them all off.
I went on a road trip right after Christmas, and have a few photos to share from that visit to Louisville, Kentucky. Did a few very interesting things while I was in the Derby City.

Sights of the Season (December 21, 2013)

 My girlfriend and I, with her son and grandson went to the "Miracle of Christmas" presentation at the Richmond Zoo. It was free, and a huge crowd was on hand. Coupled with temperatures in the upper 60's it was a wonderful night. The presentation used live animals, even Camels were in it, and it was a very neat way to look at the Christmas season.
They put a lot of work into it, and was not bad either getting in or out, though there were over 1,000 people there (three shows a night). The following night it rained which cancelled the event, and looks like more of that tonight (least so far all day).

 Took Kaye to the house on Oregon Hill (previous post) and did get this close up of the amazing house there. Like to see a lot of the lights, as much as I can, and hope to do more if the weather will go along. Not as much fun seeing them in the rain, but Saturday night was as I noted wonderful- and enjoyed getting out and seeing this.
We also made a stop (again, previous post) to the house on Grove Street, and then drove for a bit down Monument Avenue.
Lots of amazing things to see this time of year in Richmond, VA!

 At the Jefferson saw again the Gingerbread Sled, seen here in a side view. Just had to be an amazing amount of work to go into it, and it is a remarkable thing.
Over the years I have seen a house and a train both made out of Gingerbread (and both also very big). You could ride with Santa in this sled, and the details made into it are something to behold.
I enjoy so much this time of year, and the things to see and do at Christmas time in Richmond are long and amazing.
Looking forward to seeing even more, and will be doing so before its all over.

Got this photo of the rotunda at the Jefferson Hotel (which is also where I saw the sled above). Amazing and expensive hotel (but seeing all of this was free) and it has a very long history. Was built by Lewis Ginter, who did a lot of things in the Richmond area at the turn of the century. He made his money in tobacco, but did a lot of other projects here in the area with a lot of that money. There are some gardens here with quite a Christmas display this time of year with his name on it as well.
Hotel history can be found at The Jefferson Hotel web site, where you can find some remarkable things about the hotel. There you can read about the Grand Staircase (seen in previous post with the hotel Christmas Tree) and also about alligators at the hotel!
Was a wonderful time checking this all out, a very fun day and night- I am looking forward to seeing even more, and in fact will even be enjoying Christmas from some other places. Will be bring that to you very soon. Hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas, and thanks for visiting my page! 

Christmas Lights on Thursday Night (December 19, 2013)

 Had a remarkable day, it was in the mid-60's (normally around 50 this time of year) and I had a great day of riding the motorcycle earlier. During the night went out, and not too far from the apartment-all these sights are four miles from my apartment or less. For instance this house is in the Oregon Hill neighborhood, on Laurel Street. When you get close to where it is, you can't miss it. Just a real joy to see, I was smiling from ear to ear looking at this one. Amazing what people can do, and enjoyed visiting this house.   

Also downtown on Grove Avenue, are this work which is a combination of three houses. Read that these properties were sold but they are keeping (and adding to) the light display of the previous owners. It is a beautiful thing to see, and really a lot of fun.
I love exploring these places in Richmond, this time of year there is so much to see and do, few places do Christmas like Richmond does. All sorts of events, and they are good reasons to get out. Music events, religious events, plays, dance and oh yeah..some of the most amazing Christmas lights to be seen anyplace.  

 This is Santa's Caddy....an old car stuffed with toys and decked out with lights. It is located on Monument Avenue, which also features some beautiful and Not-So-Tacky Lights (Tacky Lights are what the big displays are called, though here it is a term of honor).
I like exploring Monument Avenue especially this time of year, but at Christmas the residents really do a remarkable job of getting the street decorated for the season.  

 This was at the Jefferson Hotel, every year they do something remarkable with Gingerbread, this is the 2013 version. Last year it was a train engine, and the year before was a full size gingerbread house.
The Jefferson is a remarkable hotel, think it is the cities only five star hotel, and it is a wonder to see both inside and out anytime. During the holiday though, it is a real wonder, and I love going there, and am sure to be back before the holiday is over.

This is the inside of the Jefferson Hotel, and the tree there is just a remarkable sight. I also love the big staircase (though read that was not the inspiration for "Gone with the Wind" though that was often said.
Enjoyed the visit to these places and actually saw quite a few more as I wandered around the area. Course I plan before they turn everything off to see as much as I can, and will whenever possible bring the photos here, or on my Flickr page (which I also have a link to on this page).
Sure was a fun day, even more remarkable thanks to the really moderate temperatures. Why it does not feel much like December (at least for the time being) it sure looks like it in Richmond, VA. Be watching here for more sights of the season, and for all of you best wishes for a great holiday season!   

Christmastime in Carolina (December 14-15,2013)

Went to Concord, NC over December 14-15 to see my son.  Had a great time there, as I also visited some friends, and went to the bike shop to see some of the new motorcycles (and some of those will be on my other blog "Racing with the Wind") while I was there.
Liked seeing some of the city displays, for instance this one in front of a bank just off NC29. Always enjoyed this one and its animated (well, the snowman moves his arm). There are a lot of these sort of things, and enjoyed seeing all of them. Kind of strange since the divorce last January, but getting better. 

 This is the Concord City Christmas Tree, always like seeing it. They have a big tree lighting in November with all sorts of food, music, and after its lit a fireworks display. Thought that was strange but have found a lot of places do it.

 Seen here at left is downtown Concord, they have changed the lights in the trees for the first time in a lot of years, and also have some hanging balls added. Those have gotten really popular...a house on Union Street (where downtown actually is) has added those and they have really caught on.
Due to the rain did not go to Speedway Christmas, but did enjoy the lights that I got to see. A lot of places due to the rain (it flat poured on Saturday which was expected being in the forecast for the last few days) did not light up, but still fun to see the many that did. 

This at left are the trees at what was formerly Cannon Village (is now part of the NC Research Center) but still very pretty. Village Park has a lot of light displays (both Cannon Village and Village Park are in Kannapolis, NC) but those at the park were turned off due to the weather. Shame, like to ride the little train that goes past them all, well maybe next year.
It was nice to be there, had a fine visit with my son, a great dinner at El Amigo (also in Kannapolis) and enjoyed the lights and the Starbucks Coffee. Will have more from the road this Christmas season.

Day after Thanksgiving, RVA (Nov 29, 2013)

 Was the day after Thanksgiving, and on that same night, some of the (what is known as ) Tacky Light Houses (you can find a whole massive list on Richmond.com-Facebook page or web site) lit up (with more to come over the next few days). Richmond is a remarkable place to see Christmas lights, and it is a popular thing for me and others to do this time of year. This one at left at 14309 Long Hill Road was a first time visit for me, but sure put a smile on my face, and also my girlfriend. You have to love this time of year, and sure is a lot of sights to see and do this December in the RVA. 

 Second house we saw was this one at 8009 Summerbrooke Ct, and it is really remarkable. One of the brightest houses you will find on the tour, and really a remarkable piece of work. I put my Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, work on this sort of project takes place in June or July (and continues) It is a very cool thing to see. It is one of the most popular houses on the tour, there are quite a few of them all over the area. I have been going to see this, and other sights for the past few years I have been here, but still some new stuff to see. The tree at the right is not real clear, but is in my Flickr photos where I have more photos of these 3 houses.

Finally, the houses at 9604 and 9606 Asbury Court which are probably the most popular on the tour. Going early was nice, usually a mob scene here with tour busses, a line of cars and limos and tons of people. The fact that it was 29 degrees (below normal temps for this time of year) and a huge shopping day probably helped. I sure enjoyed seeing these two houses, to be honest in the area there is not much quite like it. Here you can see the sort of trees I mentioned above...but as also noted more photos on Flickr photos from my page. I will have more of these sort of photos coming up in the next few weeks, as well as like photos from other places over the Christmas holiday. Looking forward to a great number of weekends enjoying what Christmas has to offer...the sights and sounds of the holiday!