Riding the National Road (May 22, 2023)

Great ride today. Temperatures in the 70's-low 80's under blue skies. Rode out to Springfield, Ohio which is a very interesting town on US40. The highway is America's first and oldest started in 1806. 

The house was an inn and tavern built on that road in Springfield in 1839. Was a stop along the road in the days when people traveled by horse. 

A few more sights below, love the old buildings in the city. 

Not open today (and I knew that) but stopped by Mother Stewart's Brewing also in Springfield. Have had their beer before, and its very tasty.

Afternoon was a good time to roll into Springfield, the traffic was light that time of day, people still at work. A lot of motorcycles were out though and did a lot of waving. 

Above and to the left is the Westcott House, which is a Prairie style house designed by the legendary designer Frank Lloyd Wright. It is the only house he designed in Ohio and was built for the Westcott family. The father owned the Westcott Motor Car Company. 

After a very large renovation the house was opened to the public in 2005. 

Enjoyed the ride a great deal today and looking forward to the next one. Thank you for visiting my page!
 

Tipp City, Ohio (March 18, 2023)

One of my favorite areas in Ohio is Tipp City, a fun and historic town not far from me. Visited today, and while getting an oil change on the Civic went to Hickory River Smokehouse and got another fantastic lunch. Fine people and great food. 

Before that took a walk and saw some historic buildings and some amazing stores. If you are ever in the area, always well worth a visit. 

 

Graceland (April 30-May 7, 2023)

Trip to Memphis, Tennessee started with an overnight stop in Bowling Green, Kentucky to break up the miles. Arrived in Memphis on May 1 and visited Sun Records which is a very historic recording studio and then wandered around Beale Street which is the Home of the Blues.

Very cool seeing these historic places which can be seen at left and below. Was a great time, and enjoyed a beautiful day to explore them. 

Weather was very nice and the time of day made it very safe. Memphis is a rather dangerous town from what I have heard and from what I saw on the news with a lot of wild things going on while we were there. Thankfully we had no issues but it is a good town to keep your eyes open and to keep aware of your surroundings.

May 2 we explored Graceland which was the home of the legendary Elvis Prestley. Had a great time there, and explored the house and grounds. We were there two years ago during Covid and the crowds were much lower then. This time, the lines were much longer. 

Visited the house, and the famous "Jungle Room" is below. We also saw his grave while there. Beautiful house! We also toured the museum which is impressive across the street. Cars, motorcycle and especially stage outfits which can also be seen below. The leather suit from the 68 Comeback Special and just a small selection of others. 

May 4 we left Memphis and again stayed in Bowling Green. Both visits we toured some sights there. It is a home of The Corvette Museum (which is well worth seeing) a cool downtown, a train museum, and this aviation museum which can be seen at left. I love aircraft and enjoyed visiting these planes. 

On May 5th we stopped for a couple of nights in a favorite place, Rising Sun, Indiana. There we went to a Derby Party and enjoyed the sights on the river. 

Saw the Steamboat "American Countess" rolling down the Ohio River on May 7 from Louisville where it was during the Kentucky Derby the day before. 

We rolled back home after a remarkable 8 day trip exploring some fun places. Was our second trip to Graceland, hopefully not the last !    

 

Along the Ohio River (April 10-12, 2023)

Once again we visited Rising Sun. It is a favorite place for us to go, and we enjoyed it as usual. Especially so this trip as temperatures were in the 70's and under clear blue skies. 

Took the photo at left in Aurora, Indiana which is nearby. Was the former residence of a riverboat captain, and is now a museum that you can tour. Beautiful house with a commanding view of the Ohio River. 

Directly below is some old buildings in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. That is also a fun town to wander and explore. Below that the Bicycle Shop in Aurora. Owner is fantastic and a wonderful guy.   

A morning view from the hotel room in Rising Sun. Love the mornings and evenings at sunset there. A lot of interesting sights. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky also along the Ohio River and have always enjoyed walking along its shores to see the sights and the animals wandering along and above its shores.

Below is the boat Hoosier Boy which set some speed records back in the day. The engine is a WW1 Liberty Aircraft engine. Many of those motors were surplus after the war, and were used in other aircraft as well as put to other uses...such as hydrofoils.   

 

Wandering Dayton (April 7, 2023)

Explored Dayton on a Wonderful Good Friday. Took the photo at left at the Dayton Dragons Ballpark. Have been there a few times for minor league baseball, nice park. I also have wandered through the 2nd Street Public Market directly below. 

Civil War Monument below is on Main Street, was a war to end slavery and racism. The first was accomplished, the second is a continuing battle. 

Below that a view of the Great Miami River in Dayton. 

 

Went to Hollywood Cemetery. At left is the grave of Erma Bombeck, famous American humorist. Below that is the grave of the poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar. He was also a friend of the Wright Brothers who are buried near him, and are in the 3rd photo below. 

Finally, a nice view of Dayton from the heights at Woodlawn Cemetery. I enjoyed exploring the city and thank you for visiting my page!

Huffman Prairie Flying Field and the Wright Brothers Monument (March 30, 2023)

Taken from a motorcycle ride today to Huffman Prairie Flying field. The field was used by the Wright Brothers after Kitty Hawk for flight test of later designs and flight instruction. Unlike Kitty Hawk, NC  the winds were not as strong here in Ohio so to launch their aircraft a catapult was used which is seen at right. 

The site covers some 84 acres and was used by the Wrights starting in 1904. They perfected the Wright Flyer III (which is on display in Dayton, Ohio) and tested some other designs here. I also went to The Wright Brothers Monument which has the monument to the brothers as well as a small museum. The monument can be seen behind my motorcycle on my "Racing with the Wind" Page. Here are some of the displays in the museum near the monument. Some of the people who learned to fly at the above mentioned flying school, and below a photo of the Wright Factory in Dayton. Sadly, just last weekend, that building was heavily damaged in a massive fire at the site. 

Below is some of the later designed planes by the Wright Brothers, including the Model L and G which were designed after Wilbur Wright's death. Part of the Model G, which was a 'Flying Boat" is on display at the museum on loan from the Smithsonian. Those photos can be seen below.   

As always thank you for visiting my pages!
 

Return to Rising Sun (March 13-15, 2023)

We returned to Rising Sun, Indiana for two days (drove back on the 15th). Had a great time, though was firmly in the grip of winter. Temperatures were in the 20's most of the time, the best day weather wise was the day we left. Only blue skies of the trip, and even warmer in the 40's. I took the helicopter photo in Aurora, Indiana which is just down the road from Rising Sun. Took one walk to the river, but did not stay long due to temperature. 

That said, always a fun place and some nice towns, and we had a great time there. Looking forward to the next visit