Archive for the ‘Motorcycle Rides’ Category

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1st Place

 

After leaving Washington HD I rode over to Hardcore Choppers for their Freedom Fest. The proceeds for this event were to benefit Able Forces.

They had multiple bands all day including Sam Tate and Gypsy Sons. There were a several vendors, a bike show (which I entered) and the Fairfax County Police motor patrol drill team among other things.

One of the funnier items occurred when the police were giving a demonstration of how to pick up fallen bike. When they asked for volunteers to try picking up the bike a 70+ year old lady jumped out to give it a go! Check out the video Old Lady picks up police motorcycle!

As for the bike show I took first place in my class!

OldLady picks up police motorcycle!

Late Saturday evening Debbie and I rode the new bike to our friends (Tim and Karma) home. We were spending the night there with the plans to take a long ride Sunday.

We have all done the Rolling Thunder event multiple times and decided to take a break this year from this year’s festivities. We had no particular destination in mind until we were ready to pull out, then we decided to cruse to Solomon Island (which has an interesting history).

While Tim and Karma had both been to the Island in the past this was the first for Debbie and I. The ride out was outstanding, not much traffic (by DC standards anyway), warm but not hot and clear sky’s made the ride out very pleasant. When we made it to the island we had lunch at Stoney’s Solomons Pier restaurant.

After lunch we rode to the end of the island took some pictures and headed back out on our ride. Heading south towards Frederick, VA we crossed the Governor Harry Nice toll bridge ($6, really Maryland, for a bridge) and then up US Route 1. We stopped in Dumfries at Baylor’s Ice Cream shop which was very tasty and just right as the asphalt and concrete was warming us up.

By the time we made it home we were ready for a good shower. At over 275 miles we had quite a day on the bike with great weather and good friends.

We only found out about this motorcycle event a few weeks ago and it was a last minute decision to attend. I am glad we did decide to ride.

The Mission of the Some Gave All Foundation “ensures the memories of Sergeant Joshua J. Frazier and Sergeant Nicholas C. Mason are not forgotten through service to local wounded veterans and an annual motorcycle rally.” This ride/rally was the 8th event and according to speaker has raised over $168,000. Check out the website to learn more about this organization.

Debbie and I left the house at 7:30 for the two hour trip to ride’s start point. After a quick Mickey D’s and gas pit stop (insert joke her) we head south on Route 15. The ride there was very nice, with cool crisp air and limited traffic, if it were not for the fact that we hit 98% of available red lights it would have been an awesome morning scoot.

The ride begins at Spotsylvania High School (Spotsylvania, VA) and ends at a rally at King George High School (King George, VA). When we pulled in to the High Schools parking lot I was blown away by the number of motorcycles attending the ride! I was expecting, for no real reason, about 200-300 bikes, there was at least 1000+ bikes in the lot. In listening to some of the conversations of folks who have attended before I gathered the impression that this was the largest turn out to date.

As you will see in the pictures bikes of all types were in attendance. Harley Davidson, of course, had the most bikes in attendance but, I saw more Spyders and Boss Hoss bikes in this one location than I have ever seen outside a dealership. At one part of the parking area there were 12 Spyders in a row (I am sure Miss Muffet would have passed out from fear).

Even with such a large number of attendees the organizers had everything down, from my point of view the start point was well run and superbly organized! The actual ride to the rally started on time and the police had everything well managed, we had the road to ourselves with plenty of well-wishers waving from the sides of the road. But, as with all groups of this size, there was the expected “accordion affect” which may have caused an accident. We passed a point where EMTs were dealing with two bikes off the road and over a small embankment. I did not look (I am a safe rider you know ) but Debbie told me that there appeared to be little damage to the bikes but that someone was laying in the grass while the EMTs were looking them over.

We arrived at the end point about noon and it was as well organized as the start point. The bikes were all lined up in a manner that, when ever wanted to leave, there would be no issues about getting your bike out. For the rally part of the event there were a good number of vendors, the small business type, in attendance along with a sport bike stunt team (the 540 Boyz), a half dozen “moon bounce” type of things for the kids and a local bomb squad and their robots. The event was anchored by an area setup for a pretty good band (Bad Monkey) and a bike show.

Debbie and I decided to put our bike in the show and we won “Best In Class”, not too bad for a last minute decision. Right after the bike show awards we decided to head back home, we pulled into the garage at 5:30. We both agreed that this was a very nice event and there is a very good chance that we will do it again next year!

P.S. 251 miles round trip.

world-ride

What use to be known as “Million Mile Monday” has grown to a worldwide event spread over two days. This year the event is being held June 22 and 23.

Last year riders rolled up 10,018,231 miles which was more than 25% more than in 2012.

Wonder how many miles HD riders will log this year.  For more information check out the World Ride website.

Debbie and I decided to take a short motorcycle ride this past weekend.  We had not been out on a bike for a few weeks due to weather and life “stuff”.  Stuff meaning adult things like yard work, home maintenance, spring cleaning and all that “stuff”.  This was a last minute decision as we had overslept and missed church. 

It was a bit after ten Sunday morning when we pulled the Army bike out of the garage and headed to the Leesburg International House of Pancakes for breakfast.  Surprisingly neither of us ordered pancakes, I had a spicy sausage and jalapeno omelet and Debbie had a scrambled egg platter. We made a few jokes about the May the 4th being Star Wars day, had a nice conversation about other things and stuff.  We rolled out of the parking lot about 11:30.

We took VA Route 7 east most of the way to Georgetown and when we arrived….well it turns out we had the same idea as about another 200,000 people.  The area was packed with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. We did not stay very long and rode north along the Potomac River taking the Clara Barton Parkway, and River Road.

Eventually we stopped for a late afternoon lunch at Bassets in Poolesville, MD.  Dining in the bar, we both had burgers and relaxed for a bit.  In the short time we were indoors the sky and become overcast and the temperature had dropped noticeably. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor this day, we took the short route home and crossed the river using Whites Ferry.

Other than the mess in Georgetown the ride was great, we put about 100 miles of easy riding down and had a good afternoon together.

 

Wow, this was the first really nice Saturday for motorcycle riding of the year here in Northern Virginia and we took advantage of it. But, sadly, they are call for more snow this week. Not very much but still, MORE FREAK’N SNOW!

300_724129We pulled out of the garage about eleven; the temp was a cool 49F.  With mid weight jackets and chaps riding the Ultra Limited was very comfy. Heading south on US Route 15, our plans were to meet our friends Tim and Karma for a quick lunch and then visit the Belmont Farm Distillery outside of Culpeper, VA.  

We linked up with Tim and Karma at a Subway restaurant at the intersection of Route 15 and US Route 29.  What is interesting about Route 29 (which runs from Danville, VA to the Key Bridge connecting VA with DC) is it is also the known as the Lee Highway, the Seminole Trail, and the 29th Infantry Division Memorial Highway. 

After lunch (by the way I was unimpressed with Subway’s new Jalapeno & cheese bread) we all pulled out and headed to the Distillery. Even though everything is still brown (spring as now yet sprung) the ride through the Virginia farm county was just awesome! 

Because of the comfortable weather, purring motorcycle, county roads and good friends it was only a little disappointing that we found the distillery still closed for the season.   Just FYI if you decide to visit the distillery the last half mile from the main road to the still house is a gravel road.

After turning around we decided to just head out and ride.  A little bit down the road I noticed that we were only a few miles from Orange, VA and Waugh Harley Davidson. So, as lead bike, I decided to visit the dealership. We rolled up, took our stuff off and as we walked up to the door we watched them flip the sign to CLOSED!

But never fear, the owner of the dealership opened the door and told us to come on in.  We spoke with him for a while but not wanting to hold him up we thanked him for his hospitality and rolled on out. Heading back north, we rode through downtown Culpeper (much bigger than I expected) and when we got to Warrenton we stopped for dinner at an Outback Steakhouse. 

After dinner we topped off our fuel tanks, said our goodbyes and headed for the house.  Chasing the sunlight we pulled into the driveway a little before 8PM.  Putting over 200 miles on the bike we all had a great afternoon on the bikes….a very good way to start the riding season.

plan a motorcycle ride

How did I just find out about this! The Federal Highway Administration (part of the US Department of Transportation) has an interactive website called America’s Byways.  It highlights the Scenic Byways of America and, no kidding, it is well done.  Now we have a new tool to help us plan our motorcycle rides.

The website describes itself this way; “The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities.”

America’s Byways is an interactive, map based, website that will provide you a listing of each of the 150 different roads.  Those roads are comprised of the National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads. You can select the road from a national or state map to see basic information on the road (length, average time to travel the road and historical background) as well as route maps, directions and photos.

Motorcycle-Snow-Plow

OK, the winter “I can’t ride” blahs have set in!

In an attempt to overcome those blahs I started thinking about possible rides for when (or if it seems) it warms again. The problem with long rides is that the wife and I started new jobs so we little vacation time built up, thus we need to stay close to home with weekend rides.  I hope we will be able to get a week or so holiday so maybe I will be able to squeeze one, multiday long, trip in.

So here are some of the rides I came up with to lighten my winter blues (in no particular order):

Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway (Route 39)

Highland Scenic Highway

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

Eastern Continental Divide

Complete the C&O Canal on the Motorcycle

DELMARVA Bike Rally

Maryland/Delaware HOG Rally

West Virginia HOG Rally

Mummies of the Insane

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Foamhenge

Moonshine Made Here

The Arm of Stonewall Jackson

World’s Largest Apple

Skyline Drive

Home of real John-Boy Walton  (more for my wife, HUGE Walton’s fan)

US Marine Corps Museum

Claw of the Dragon, VA

If we are able to get a week or so vacation I think we will try again to go to Niagara Falls. We were going to do that last summer but it did not happen.

OR…. Maybe we will head south and look for that retirement area where it might snow about one every 5-10 years!

harley warren massey

My bike at Balls Bluff Battleground/Prk

With the riding weather in Northern Virginia a day to day thing I was able to get out for a short ride a couple weekends ago.  The temps in the 50’s and no wind I thought I had better take advantage of it.

I pulled the Heritage Classic off the trickle charger and started out for a few errands.  I need to drop off and pick a few things up, all would fit in the bags, plus I need a haircut.  When all that was complete I headed for home when, on an impulse I decided to swing by the Balls Bluff Battlefield.

The battlefield its self is now a regional park with hiking trails and historic markers.  But in 1861 it was the second largest engagement, to that point, in the civil war.  It is also the spot where the only serving US Senator, Edward Dickinson Baker, was killed in battle.

The battlefield/park is just outside of Leesburg, VA.  The last ¼ mile and the parking lot are unpaved but in good condition and well drained.

NOVA MC in Fredericksburg, lock up the town!

NOVA MC in Fredericksburg, lock up the town!

As I pulled out of the garage at 9:30AM on January 1st the temp, according the app on my phone, was 28 degree F. So it was a little on the cool side.

The meet up with the Meet UP group, Northern Virginia Motorcycle Club (NOVA MC) was scheduled for 10:30 but I had to get gas, drop of some stuff for my wife (she had to work) and get some cash before I could dash.  I made it to the meet point with only a few minutes to spare, I was there for only five minutes before the group went kick stands up.

Riding through a variety of Virginia back roads we ended up in Fredericksburg, VA for lunch at the Capital Ale House.  According to my app it was now 42 degrees, better but still a bit cool.  The ride had started with seven bikes but one bailed out due to the temp, can’t say I blame her because without the full fairing I would have thought about it as well.

The food at the restaurant was good, I had the Ale House Burger, but the conversations and company were even better.  But, as soon as our bellies were full and everyone was warm it was time to head back.  When I was back in the garage, my trip meter indicated that I had put down169 miles today.  Not a bad way to start the New Year, well after a hot shower to warm back up!