Steven F. Udvaz-Hazy Center (September 10, 2016)

 Drove the car early on Saturday to the Center, which is also known as the National Air and Space Museum - unofficially as "The Annex". There is another museum in downtown Washington, DC but that one ran out of room. Both have a remarkable collection of historic aircraft, spacecraft and aviation items. Some such as the Enola Gay which dropped the first Atomic bomb are controversial to say the least. Still, its history and they are the aircraft that made that history happen. It is truly a remarkable place and one of my two favorite museums.  

A highlight for me is the Space Shuttle Discovery...one of the three remaining from the Shuttle program (four of you count the Enterprise test vehicle that never flew in space but did fly in aerial testing). Two of course were lost in flight along with their crews, but it was a remarkable achievement and accomplished great things in its long history.
Aviation has successes and failures in its long history and there are some amazing things to learn about in the museum. Of note are the many items that are on display that are not aircraft.  

 The Langley Aerodrome is front and center in this display. Another plane that caused problems because the museum said it was the first plane to fly (it really did not in two failed test flights) and kept the Wright Brothers from giving the museum the Wright Flyer for a number of years. That legendary plane is now on display at the Museum downtown in DC.
Here you can also see a number of World War I aircraft and even some pre-World War I types. The museum displays even go back to pre-aircraft with early hot air balloon items.  

The museum is easy to get to from Richmond with just the typical DC area traffic (though you get to go around most of it) as it is near Dulles International Airport. Admission is free, though parking is $15 (per car, not per person). While there went to see "Sully" in the IMAX Theater and that was pretty remarkable (also pretty cool. There is a McDonalds restaurant there, and prices for that were not out of line for the ones in town.
I was last at this museum four years ago, and enjoyed this visit as much as the last time. In fact I was there at opening yesterday and stayed till the closing announcement (current hours are 10-5). I highly suggest a visit if you are interested in flight, history or  just like to spend a day seeing some remarkable and amazing things.

Fredericksburg Ride (September 5, 2016)

Got this new motorcycle (Triumph Speedmaster) last Friday and finally got some miles in on it after the rains of Saturday and Sunday from the hurricane. Rains were not much thankfully - have had thunderstorms worse this year - but enough. Still, got to Fredericksburg where I visited the battlefield again. This house was in the battle and was one of the few remaining after. Part of the stone wall which made such a formidable defense can also be seen. This was my second visit to the battlefield.  

Made time to wander some in Fredericksburg's old town section. Very interesting with a lot of things to see. Fredericksburg has a very good Visitor Center which can give you a map to some of the sights.
There is a lot to see there, and a lot of history in that town. Not just Civil War either, being Virginia it also has a Revolutionary War history as well. Plus to be honest some good places to eat and shop if you are so inclined to do either.  

I went on the grounds of the Old Plantation named "Chatham". Owned by a hard core successionist and slave owner, the estate was seized during the battle. Was a headquarters for the Union Army and also due to its commanding position was used as a point to shell the town. Later it was a hospital and even as stables (in the rooms) for horses. The owner was ruined but sold the house and the next owners restored it to its former glory.  

I also mentioned in my Racing with the Wind post on this same topic finding The Confederate Cemetery. They are not buried on the battlefield (those are all union troops) but are in this cemetery called "The Confederate Cemetery" in town. Long and tragic war but to me a very necessary one to end slavery and in some respects to bring us together as a nation.
The ride was a lot of fun and was a good cap to what I consider one of the best Labor Day weekends ever in my case. Had a great time here in Virginia over the holiday.

Shirley Plantation and some new Richmond sights (September 4, 2016)

Heading down Virginia 5 with some friends on a very nice Sunday over the Labor Day holiday got some new sights in. Many times on motorcycle rides I have ridden past this, but made it finally to see the Shirley Plantation. It dates to 1613 (six years after Jamestown) though this house is "newer" being built between 1723-1738. Needless to say it is the oldest plantation in Virginia and has quite a history over the centuries. There are a number of buildings to explore and some interesting sights to see. Highly recommend a visit to this plantation!

While at the Shirley Plantation visited the winery there. Some nice wines and they are made from grapes grown on the grounds. The winery is also located with a great view of the river and there is also a restaurant there if you get hungry.

We also made a stop at Stone Brewing. That has gotten over the past few months to be quite an operation and in fact they are planning some new additions in the months to come.
The beer is very tasty and I even got this trip to take a look at some of the brewing operation. I like their beer which has a number of different types and it is easy to get samples to try different ones to find one you will like or would like to take home.
Nice addition to the Richmond brew pub scene and enjoy my visits there.

This was a first...we made a stop at Kabana Rooftop. Its a bar and is outside on the 20th floor of a Richmond building. Nice views of downtown and pretty good drinks as well.
Seemed like a real drinking tour and it was sort of, but we kept a good lid on everything. Did not want to get wild for one because that is an easy way to go to jail and two had big plans for the following day...which happened and will be in my next post tomorrow.

The return to Yorktown and Jamestown (August 27, 2016)

I also have some photos on my "Racing with the Wind" Page of this remarkable motorcycle ride on August 27. Started early but before long I was riding the Colonial Parkway along the York River.

I went to Yorktown first, and wandered that very interesting town and walked along the beach there. It is a nice place to spend a Saturday morning, all the better because it was early and not yet a very busy and crowded place. I have been there many times in the past and will be back many times in the future.

It was a free admission weekend (the National Parks are celebrating birthday #100) so made my first stop Yorktown. Lots of amazing things to see there and I saw a few. This is part of the British Army surrender in that they had to leave their cannon. These are some of the cannon they used in the battle. Yorktown was also sadly a Civil War site though not a major battle as the one with the British was. Just an amazing place to spend some time.  

This is at Jamestown, also remarkable. That was 1/2 price but always amazing. Want to read a remarkable story well Jamestown is one. Far from homes in England, and dealing with hostile Indians. During what was known as the "starving time" a large number died. Having run out largely of horses, dogs and other animals they were forced to eat they turned to their dead for meals.
Much of Jamestown was (and for that matter still is as it was on going while I was there) excavated and is being studied. Much of what they found can be seen, as well as the history of the place can be learned from all the items (and even the bodies of the dead) that are left behind over 400 years later.
I have enjoyed each and every visit and though I have been quite a few times now over the years, there is still a lot of things to see. Seems like they always have a new discovery as well to add.      

From Jamestown I wanted to go back a different route.  To get to VA10 from VA 5 requires a ride on the Ferry. The cool thing is that it is free and is a fantastic trip in and of itself. When we boarded the birds were waiting and followed us to catch bits of bread thrown from the back of the ferry. It was pretty cool. Just a great way to get across the river and then back down the road. Both 5 and 10 are mostly country two lane roads and make for a beautiful ride.
It was a very fun day and one I will remember for a long time. Just enjoyed being out to see the wonders of the area. Have not been for awhile but there is also Colonial Williamsburg there. Have to add that to the list of things I do on my next ride to that area.  

Journey to West Virginia (August 19-21)

 Visiting an old friend, we decided to meet up (she came from Ohio, I from Richmond) in West Virginia. On the way down visited during a stop the town of Winchester, VA which is very cool with a lot of historic buildings (a hotel there which is still in use was a hospital for the Union and the Confederates).
Winchester is one of my favorite places when I go though this area, not just the "Old Town" section which is seen at the left but a whole of the town is very historical.
It is also a nice place to take a stop along the way!I also stopped at Fort Necessity which is the site of one of the first commands of George Washington who at the time commanded a British force during the French and Indian War. The fort is a recreation on the original site. Located in Pennsylvania it is also well worth a stop and was my second time to be there.  

Went to Chester, VA which was my first time to be there. Beautiful place and enjoyed wonderful weather. Actually a foothills region but did pass up and over mountains to get to it.
This horse race track was there, and though I did not make the races, did get to see practices such as these which was going on in the morning. Love horses and enjoyed this a great deal.  

Kind of a different thing, Chester, VA is home to The World's Largest Teapot. It actually used to be a root beer stand made to look like a jug of root beer and was converted to this.
Thought it was neat and enjoyed the site of it, and even got a shirt for the festival they had for this...last week.
It has been there quite a while and was a fun thing to see. My lady is a big tea fan, so she got a kick out of seeing this.
Have found that most places have interesting things to see if you look for them.    

This was also in Chester, VA. Nice VFW memorial with a B-52 as a backdrop. Nice model and enjoyed this. Thought the church in the background was also pretty cool.
West Virginia had a lot of things to Veterans and I like that being one myself. There was a nice military park with planes, cannon, as well as a tank up the road a ways plus a lot of signs with soldiers, sailors and airmen on the streets. Nice the way they do that.

We drove around a lot and saw many cool things. One thing I enjoyed is the Ohio River which runs though that area. Love the James River here in Richmond but also grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and this river was a big part of my life there.
It was a very interesting trip and enjoyed seeing so many sights and visiting many of the locations there. It was a fun place, with nice people and was a very good trip over the weekend. Looking forward to a return to West Virginia in the very near future.  

Dragon Boat Races (August 6, 2016)

I go to this about every year, other than weather I don't miss it. Rocketts Landing is a really nice area of Richmond. Pretty view and one of my favorites, plus this event is a lot of fun. Free (except for food and drink if you buy any) and different from most of the local events in the area it is a lot of fun to watch.

Dragon Boat racing has 20 rowers, one person to steer and a drummer to help the rowers row in unison.
The boats usually race in three or four boat races, and the races are not overly long, but as some of the racers told me they are quite a workout and look to be so,
I liked watching the races and even had quite a few teams from where I work to root for. No, did not do it though have considered it over the years.    

I first went to these events when I was in the Navy and stationed in Thailand. The event started in the orient and there was also dancing there. Had a great crowd, it seems to get bigger and bigger each year.
Looking forward to going back to this in 2017, though sure would have been nicer with a bit cooler temperatures which had a heat index well over 100 degrees. It was a great deal of fun though.  

Midlothian Mines (August 5, 2016)

 Went on a dusk motorcycle ride tonight...temperatures and humidity were both way down. Tomorrow will be a different story though!
At any case, rode out to Midlothian Mines (among other places) but this is worth a post. Have been here before but the area has some improvements (along the trail here at the site of the First Coal Mine is North America. I did read that early mining there sent coal in service of the fledgling American Army in the Revolutionary War. It was a successful operation for some time, but as the nations needs for coal increased their were easier places to get it.

These are the last remains of the original building. Sometime in the late 1800's an explosion trapped some miners in the tunnels...if I remember correctly some 30 or so died and are still down there. They could not get them out.
It is an interesting place to visit with some nice trails and even now some replica mining equipment. This is a couple of shorts from a walk around it of the last remaining original structure from those days.