Easter Ride Uptown (Part 2) April 24

Ok, Uptown Charlotte. I posted a few photos on my Motorcycle Blog, and will have a few more on my Photo Page; but these are different from the bike blog photos. Seen at right is Time Warner Cable Arena. Both the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Checkers (NBA and hockey teams respectively) play there. There is also the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers), and according to the signs the AAA baseball team The Charlotte Knights will soon be playing in a new Charlotte baseball stadium. If you like professional sports, Charlotte pretty much has your game. They have some fine places to enjoy those games too.
Charlotte is blessed with some new and tall buildings. Seen here is the headquarters of Bank of America; one of the largest buildings in the city (in fact, I think it is still THE largest). Charlotte was the #2 banking city in the US (just behind New York) though not sure where it ranks now since the big economic crisis. It still is an important banking city and is still growing though at a slower rate, but has been over the last few decades one of the fastest growing cities in the US. The city is home to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, once of the largest airports in the US. It has great air service with many non-stops due to being one of the hub cities of US Airways. It is not hard to get anyplace in the US and for that matter many places in the world.
Lots of people live in Condos such as these. Again, the economic problems slowed that down, but Center City is well populated with residents. It has some nice places along College Street with a good nightlife. It did have many of the same sort of problems which were found in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom area, but a hefty police presence keeps the problems well down for the most part, and its not a bad area to go into. Charlotte is certainly big on parades, any major event or even a few minor ones calls for some nice parades. In my journeys downtown I have come across many over the years, though if there was an Easter Parade, I must have missed it.
Charlotte is one of the largest cities in the US in area anyhow (and I believe around #33 in population though could be off one or two places) but it covers a big area. Downtown is really modern, and in fact many of the areas around it have been torn down and rebuilt. Charlotte is not real big (though there is some) use of old buildings such as in Louisville, Kentucky and Richmond, VA. Charlotte is more prone to tear things down and start over again. The old Charlotte Coliseum lasted something like 14 years before it was imploded (now its a industrial park I believe outside of town. Though not popular when built, the light rail has really become popular in the city, and talk is of expanding it to some of the outlying areas of the city.
A prime example of expansion is Charlotte (formerly Lowes) Motor Speedway, which is actually in Concord, NC. During the time I have been in the area (something like 13 years as of now) many new bleacher sections have been added, along with a dirt track, a drag strip, and soon the world's largest outdoor tv. Seeing old photos of the track it is hard at times to believe that this is the same place at the same location. CMS is the home to two NASCAR races and except for one year at Atlanta, the home to the All-Star Race. The All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 are held in May, with a 500 mile race in October. I have been to the track quite a few times, and got to say being at a NASCAR race there is a hell of a thing. I have also done the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and that is not to be believed; more fun than you can imagine. I always enjoy exploring this area, which changes fast and still grows like no city I have ever seen.

Easter Ride Uptown (Part 1) April 24

On Easter during my days at home with the family, got out for a motorcycle ride. Previous posts have shown the Chesterfield Mall which has been empty and abandoned (largely except for an outlying auto repair and a bank) for the last few years, well this is Eastland Mall in Charlotte, NC. Like that mall, it is now empty. It was opened in 1975 and the last store left in 2010. There are, as with the Chesterfield Mall some plans to redevelop it, but will be interesting in this economy which one (if either) gets redeveloped first. I remember going to this a few years ago when it was open, was a rare mall with a ice skating rink inside...unique for sure.
There are many airports in the state, and quite a few in the Charlotte area. This is Wilshire Airport which is located near Albemarle Road and just (barely) outside of Charlotte, NC. One of the many small airports of which some are publicly and some privately owned. This airport is actually surrounded by a neighborhood and has a single concrete runway. I enjoy at times watching planes take off and land from this facility. Good that in the state where the Wright Brothers first flew that there are so many good airports to check out. Some of them in the area even have grass runways and that is quite a nod to the past days of aviation.
Also on Albemarle Road is Jakes Good Eats, which has been featured on the Food Network and the show "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives". It was closed on Easter Sunday, but is said to have very good food (my motorcycle club went there during a group ride...just a riding club not an outlaw gang by the way) and very friendly people from what I am told. Location was a former gas station, a rare local reuse of an old building (though many old buildings are reused outside of Charlotte). Charlotte though does not do that a lot, which will be seen more clearly in my next post. They like to build new stuff and it certainly shows.
Post here was not actually during the ride. Patty and I went on Saturday April 23 to Memorial Gardens in Concord, NC. It is a very old cemetery with some beautiful flower gardens (though Easter being late this year, we missed some of the better ones, most of the Easter Lilly's were gone). It is a popular place for photos, in fact a wedding party was taking photos in the gardens during our visit. I will put a few photos on the photo page, in Concord in the early spring it is a very popular place to visit, and in fact it still was even late in April. There is also a lot of history inside that area; many notable people with some interesting stories are buried there.
This was taken during my motorcycle ride on April 24. A look at the street in North Davidson, just outside of Charlotte, NC..but is better known as NODA. It was a mill area (textile type) until the mills declined. Artists moved in, and the area has become very popular. Many of the old buildings were reused, but also many have been torn down, and new condos and construction has gone up in the area. Sort of sad that the place is getting too costly for the people who re-established it as a thriving area of the city. Goes like that sometimes I suppose. Many interesting places to see there, and it retains a funky feel. It is also a good place to check out live music with a number of great small places where some notable bands sometimes play from around the country.

Petersburg National Battlefield (April 16)

After the massive storms of Saturday April 16 (which spawned tornadoes in both North Carolina and Virginia, killing many) awoke on Sunday April 17 to a day of blue skies. I went to Petersburg National Battlefield with two friends to see the site of the Civil War siege (which was the longest recorded on American soil). The battle lasted from June 9, 1864-March 25, 1865. Old Blandford Church, just outside the battlefield has buried among others some 30,000 Confederate Soldiers. Its windows are memorials to the states of the Confederacy and were done by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. The church was built in 1735.
Some 150,000 soldiers from both sides faced off against each other during the battle. The lines were some 30 miles long in all, and were heavily defended. At left is seen a recreation at the battlefield of what assaulting troops would have faced. Cannon, riflemen, and wooden defenses designed to defeat enemy assaults against the positions were highly effective. Union troops always greatly outnumbered the Confederate forces, but the lines held until the Confederates were defeated at the Battle of Five Forks which opened up the cities of Richmond and Petersburg to the Union Army. Following that battle the end to the Civil War was just a few days away.
Both the forces and Petersburg were bombarded by guns such as these from the Union forces. This weapon I read could launch a 215 pound shell for a distance of some two miles. Soldiers of both sides endured such weapons, snipers, disease, starvation (in the case of the poorly supplied Confederate forces), and other dangers. Many of them lived in small buildings as the Confederate forces and the cities were starved out in what General Robert E. Lee knew was only a matter of time. Both General Grant and General Lee knew the Siege would be effective. An offensive to break the Union Line at Petersburg was the last major offensive of the war for Lee's troops.
Seen here are one of the actual defensive positions of the battlefield. Gone are the wooden supports, and other defensive items seen in the photos of old; now they are little more than grass covered earthworks. Loss of life during the final campaign was heavy on both sides, as was the number of injured. Due to the weapons used, many of the injured lost arms and legs after being wounded. Richmond was the site of one of the largest Confederate hospitals in the Civil War, and had a much better than average (though still terrible) survival rate for wounded soldiers. Richmond was also the sites of two Civil War prisons.
Near the battlefield is Blandford Cemetery. It's oldest graves date to 1702 and among its many thousands of dead include soldiers from the Revolutionary War and other wars (including the previously mentioned Confederates in the first paragraph). This cemetery was the site of the first Memorial Day in the US which was held there in June of 1866.
This was my second visit to the battlefield and the cemetery. Few places have as much Civil War history in one area as Richmond, VA does...a terrible period in American history when brother fought against brother and so many gave all they had during that war.

Carolina Weekend (April 9-11)

Last few days of the vacation I spent at home in North Carolina. Went for a ride on April 10 with my friend Phil on the motorcycles. Got this photo at left of Gary's Barbeque in China Grove. Closed on Sunday (as many places in North Carolina often are) this place is packed when it is open. Barbeque is a way of life and a passion in North Carolina. Been on a few great rides to the home of North Carolina Barbeque (Lexington, NC to be exact) which has a very neat festival centered on pork in the fall. I believe in some of my older posts, some photos of that event which brings something like 500,000 people to that town for the one day festival.
During my vacation, I did a lot of work to this bike. I got new brake pads for the front wheel (though I will be putting those on) and also got a new rear tire (cause you only have two, and it was time for some new rubber on the back). Phil took this photo at RideNow in Concord, NC. I have had that bike since 2005 (purchased new) and have (as I write this) a bit over 24,500 trouble free miles on it. Part of it is that it is a very well made machine, the other part is keeping up with the maintenance. Motorcycle or car they last a lot longer, and give you a lot fewer problems when you take good care of them. I love riding in the Carolinas (North and South!).
Threw this in, another view of the mountains of North Carolina from the end of the trip to Indiana and Kentucky which can be seen in the previous few posts. That was a remarkable trip, and this vacation was a remarkable time indeed. Think this would certainly go down as one of my best vacations, had a great time on the road, a great time with family and friends in "Kentuckiana" and a great time with my family back home in North Carolina. Always good to be with people you love in places that mean a lot to you.

On the Road (April 4 and 8)

Figures, I got these sort of in reverse order. At any case, had a great trip to Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana (two previous posts) but wanted to share a few road photos. There are two ways to get to Louisville from North Carolina; one though Virginia and West Virginia and the other via Tennessee. On the way BACK we stopped in Berea, Kentucky. Made a stop in the town where I got the photo at left of the Daniel Boone Tavern. Berea is a college town, and a very interesting place to check out. My quilting wife Patty made a few purchases at the quilt shop there, and we also enjoyed a nice lunch. Eating along the way, checking out the sights; makes the trip fun.
In North Carolina, we had a fantastic dinner at the Moose Cafe in Asheville, NC. Great food, huge portions, and really nice prices. It is restaurant with a farmers market next door, so when I say good food, I mean...GOOD FOOD! From the parking lot I got this view of the Inn At Biltmore and a view of some of the mountains. We have been to the Biltmore (though not the Inn) and greatly enjoy visits to Asheville. Not only a very interesting city, but it also is at the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is one of the most amazing roads in America (and one of the top motorcycle roads in the US by the way). Asheville is a great place to visit, and well worth the trip.
One of our favorite stops in West Virginia is Tamarack. There is also a place like this at Berea; basically they are arts centers; you can see a lot of art and I have a few photos of both places in my Photo Page. West Virginia is really a pretty drive and we have made a lot of stops in the cities there along the way in this and previous trips. Sure a trip is about "getting there" (and getting home) but while you are on the road nothing is better than to check out a few of the sights along the way. You never know what you might come across, who you might meet, and the wonders that you might see. Along the road you can see some remarkable places!

Views of Southern Indiana

During the week of April 4 I also wandered with my wife Patty around Southern Indiana. Like the Louisville area (seen in previous post) some very old cities with an interesting history can be found there. Photo at left is the Candy Museum at Schimpff's Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Candy Shop (still in operation) has been family owned since 1891! The building dates to the period just after the Civil War, and they use a lot of "turn of the century" equipment to make their candy. The store has been featured on The History Channel. Some of their candy is both locally and nationally famous, and I can tell you first hand; they sell some great sweets!
View here is of downtown Louisville. When John Mellencamp talks of small towns, Jeffersonville is probably something he was thinking off (though he lived in nearby Seymour, Indiana just up I-65). The city has a great number of very old buildings though many were lost in a big fire downtown just a few years ago. Driving around though there are many historic places in the area. It is a quiet town for the most part, but is home to where the US Census is collected and also home to one of the largest inland shipyards (JeffBoat) in the US. Nice friendly people and a very interesting place to check out when in the area.
View here is from the Jeffersonville riverfront, looking back at Louisville, Kentucky. Along the Indiana side of the river are a number of very fine restaurants which I enjoyed visiting a number of while home and a number of very nice areas along the shoreline. Along the river are the communties (along others) of Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany. Lots of parks, picnic areas, and a number of interesting museums can be found in those areas. It is also home to the fossil beds at the Falls of the Ohio which goes about as far back in history as you can, and are remarkable to check out. Neat to see creatures which have not lived for millions of years.
I am kind of an airplane nut, and took this photo at the Clark County Airport. The plane is a Korean War era Fury (based on the F-86 Sabre) flown by the US Navy. The airport largest airport in Southern Indiana and hosts a number of planes and aviation services. Some years ago I took (and greatly enjoyed) my first flying lesson there. The airport has been very controversial over the years, as the city has resisted funding many of the improvements it has needed. It lies officially in Jeffersonville but is also near Sellersburg, Indiana. Some classic warbirds from WWII are restored at VR Fighters located there, drop by and check out some great planes there!
Here is another look at the inside of the Candy store seen at top. Just a wonderful old place, it even has a working soda fountain. As I mentioned many more photos on my photo page. It was great to see family and friends during my visit home; Kentuckiana will always hold a special place in my heart, not just for the places which bring back so many memories, but for all the fine people I know and love there. It is a great an interesting place with a lot of things to see and do, and well worth a stop during whatever travels you may be on in the future. I hope you have enjoyed this look, and will next be taking a look at Carolina in my next post; love that area dearly as well.

VIews of Louisville, Kentucky

Made a visit to my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, and nearby Southern Indiana during the week of April 4. A very interesting town and a neat mix (like Richmond, VA) of old and new. I have posted many photos on my Photo site as well to check out, but seen here at left and along the bottom are five photos (five from Southern Indiana will be in my next post). At direct left is the H+B factory, the home of the famous Louisville Slugger. They have been making baseball bats virtually since baseball has been played. The giant bat outside the factory is actually made of metal, but don't think there is one bigger anyplace. Nice museum inside there!
Photo at left is The Belvedere. It has a good view of the river, but going to save that for my Indiana section. Statue is of General George Rogers Clark who is considered the founder of Louisville. Some of the big buildings of the city can be seen in the background. Like Richmond, VA the Ohio River is a big part of the city and a great focus of many fine activities. The big airshow and fireworks display "Thunder Over Louisville" will pack close to a million people on the river later this month but it is just one of many events held in Louisville. Derby Week (which is actually longer) is the big local event, it is worth checking out. A number of events are held around the Kentucky Derby.
Building at right is the KFC Yum Center, the new arena which is the home to the Louisville Cardinals. Louisville is a big hotbed (along with the University of Kentucky in nearby Lexington, KY) of college basketball. The arena replaces long used Freedom Hall and is one massive place. I did get a photo directly inside, but was not allowed to see the arena floor itself. It is right downtown and just off the "Second Street Bridge" (or as it is also known the "George Rogers Clark" bridge. Charlotte built a new arena for the NBA Bobcats, but this one is one massive undertaking. Wish they had the same luck building new bridges, the project to build two one ones remains stalled.
I liked this photo with the clouds reflecting. Its a bank building, and again one of the newer ones in the city (though a few years old now. Louisville is a real mix of the old and new and has some amazing places to see around town. Some of the more unique new buildings include the Humana Building (part of which can be seen at the far left in this photo) and quite a few museums downtown. I went to one while I was there, the Louisville Science Center to see the Star Trek Exhibition, quite a few original items from the tv series (all of them) and the movies based on the show. It was a really neat display. A great many people live and work in the downtown area. Sports is a big part, they also have a very nice and new ballpark for the AAA baseball team, and there is also Cardinal Stadium out near the sprawling University of Louisville campus for the football team which was built a few years ago and not long ago expanded. Louisville is a really good sports town, though geared more toward minor leagues and especially college sports. Always something to see and do there.
Along with the new is the old, this is a look at the old buildings along Main Street in Louisville. Love to see these old places, nice to have lived in cities which have a real since of history, and a desire to preserve it. Many of the old buildings are reworked and are the home to businesses as well as people. Richmond is also good at keeping the past, but Charlotte is more of the mindset of "lets tear that down and build a new thing there" sort of pattern. In that regard Louisville shares a lot with that other river town which is the capital of Virginia. I believe (by a narrow margin that Louisville is still the largest city in the State of Kentucky, it is for sure my favorite in the state.