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.  

Mother's Day in the RVA (May 12, 2013)

 Pretty good day, took a ride on the motorcycle to some areas in Richmond, love to do that though it has been a while thanks to weather and a trip over a weekend to North Carolina of late. This though is Quaker Steak and Lube in Richmond, VA. It was one of my favorite places in Concord, NC and love the one here. Good food and "beverages" and they have a big bike night on Wednesday nights. I have not been to the one here, but have been many times to the one in Concord. I work nights, but usually can make a few thanks to days off down the road. Always some interesting bikes and people there. 

 This is the line of bikes at Buz and Ned's...this is the second and newer location (one downtown I have been going to for years) and this is one of my favorite places to eat. However, got to say, did not eat at this one today, being Mother's Day, it was pretty packed. This was my first time to be at the new location, and just wanted to get a photo of it. In fact, the photo below is the inside of the restaurant. Most of the seating at the Boulevard Location is outside under the "tent" which is pretty cool.
BBQ is popular with the motorcycle crowd and there are usually some bikes of interest there. I liked checking some of those out (that is mine though right in the front)
Short Pump is an interesting section of town, though traffic is usually pretty heavy and good to keep your eyes open no matter what you are riding or driving for that matter. Home to some huge malls and lots of places to eat and buy things, it is certainly a different section of town.   

As I said, this is the inside of Buz and Ned's in Short Pump. I headed back down town where I saw the very rain swelled James River, and came across a number of VCU graduations (and the traffic thereof) but made my way finally to Church Hill where I made a stop at the much less crowded Alamo BBQ for a quick bite. They don't have beer but Legend Brewing Company does and I dropped by there for one.
I got home after a three hour ride on the bike, counting stops and other sights. It was a great time and looking forward to the next one, which should be a lot sooner than this one was.        

Riding in the RVA (April 27, 2013)

 It was a beautiful day for a motorcycle ride, but put some of the "motorcycle" photos from the ride on my "Racing with the Wind" page, these are some of the sights. Started with a ride to Carytown (also down River Road and then to Cary Street) which is very scenic. Carytown is always fun though, for those who like shopping it has a lot of that, but also for those of us who like eating has some of that. I have eaten at Galaxy Diner (and found it good) in the past, but there are a lot of places to chow down and have about anything you would desire food wise. Fun section of town. 

 Rode though The Fan and Downtown (both interesting sections) but stopped for some food at Alamo BBQ in Church Hill. Church Hill is one of the most interesting parts of this very interesting city and one of my favorite places to go. Alamo is a real treat - on this visit tried this "Cuban" made with pork bbq and an order of "Cowboy" beans which also have BBQ in them. I found it really, really good and will be back for this very soon! Enjoy also riding around Church Hill, which has a couple of very interesting parks and some amazing looking houses. It also has some very fine places to eat, and many of them have come in the last few months.    

This is out in what is called "Manchester" and again a lot of new things have been popping up there. This is of course an old thing; was the former Philip Morris Tobacco factory, but has been turned into apartments now. Richmond does not tear things down, but rather changes them over to other uses, which is what makes it a very interesting place to live. I like that, as there are some remarkable places to see, and it is different than most cities I have lived in over the years. Like to explore the different sections of the city, on what was a nice riding day with temps in the 70's, a local ride was a good idea.   

Finally stopped  at Legend Brewing for a (as in one) Brown Ale. It is Richmond made and frankly is pretty good stuff, especially when (and especially when riding or driving) in moderation. Took this photo of Richmond from the deck...they have a large outside area (also an inside area) to enjoy the fine food and beer. Richmond is starting to put a lot of places in areas where there is a view of the river, and it really is a good (and in my opinion way overdue) idea.
I had a good time on a very fine Saturday while checking out some really neat places and seeing some very interesting sights.

Touring the RVA (April 7, 2013)

 Got out on a beautiful day for a motorcycle ride in Richmond and surrounding area. It was the warmest day of the year so far, and a good day to get out and ride for a bit. While passing though downtown Richmond, stopped to get this photo of the Virginia State Capital...this was designed by Thomas Jefferson and has stood for a long long time. There are free tours of the building, the inside is just about as remarkable as the outside. If you are ever in the city, be sure to come back and check this place out, it is well worth your time to see it. 

As for the statue, it is also on the capital grounds, it is of George Washington (and some associated figures) and is quite the statue. This is a city of statues and there are some amazing ones here in the area. In fact it seems that I come across new ones all the time...saw a statue of Edgar Allen Poe on the capital grounds while I was there on the 7th, had not seen that one before.
While there you can also take tours of the Governors Mansion which is also on the grounds. That though you need to check on, as sometimes the family needs will cancel  tours of the building.  

Finally, made a stop in Prince George, VA to the Tilted Kilt...a sort of Hooters like sports bar except the women all wear Kilts. Different and a nice place to stop. Got to see women in kilts as well as some of the NAsCAR race.
It was just a beautiful day (if a bit breezy but you can't have it all, all the time) to get out and ride and I sure enjoyed it. Exploring Richmond is a great deal of fun, and I never really know what I will come across. Looking forward to some great days and great rides now that my motorcycle is here in town with me. It is going to be a fun Spring for sure, looking forward to it.  

City Point (April 1, 2013)

 Beautiful day for a motorcycle ride, and took one to City Point, which is a few miles from Richmond down on I-95 (and a short ride on 10). Was the big depot for the Union Army during the Civil War to supply the army which was trying to take Richmond and Petersburg. Many of the buildings there are old and they are original. For instance this was part of a plantation owned by Dr Eppes, and was known as Appomattox Manor. It is possible to tour the house and the outbuildings which also offers a fine view of the Appomattox River. There is no admission charge to see the buildings. 

 Some of the buildings though have new uses, and many of them are now private property. You can't go in this building, but it was a Tavern back during the Civil War. Many of the old churches are still used as churches today, and there are a lot of historic markers to tell you what the places were and how they were used. Some (it has been some years) are no longer there. Coming into town there was a Union Fort, one of the few remaining in what was an extensive line of defenses there. It is a fun place to park and just walk around to see what you will come across from the period. 

This cabin is the Headquarters of Union commanding General U.S. Grant. Some of the wood over time has been replaced, but it is pretty much what he lived in while he was there. There were once many cabins just like this one, but of course this one was worth keeping and sits once again on the original site.
I have been here a few times, and it is still one of my favorite places to visit. Hopewell (which is what this area is part of) is a very interesting town to visit, and there are a lot of things to see there. Thanks for visiting my page, I hope you enjoyed it.