Christmas came early

Christmas Eve the temps reached mid-60's so I gave myself a gift of a 50 mile ride through the Spotsy backroads.

Appomattox Courthouse Ride

I don't know if it's global warming but the unusually warm day was perfect for riding. Gary & Jeff joined up for a ride through Louisa to Appomattox Courthouse. The all day ride took us on a 275 mile circuit back home.

I would be willing to sacrifice the planet's future for more winter days like this. It's not like I have any kids to worry about it!

Turkey Weekend Ride

Turkey Weekend Ride
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

Almost 70 and sunny late fall? Sounds like a day to ride. The morning was pretty cool but bundle up until the temps rise and it was fine. We wandered through Northern Virginia until we ended up in Point of Rock, MD. Took some twisty back roads over to Hampton Roads and worked our way through some mountian roads the Charles Town, WV. Then we made our way back home. A three state tour was just what I needed. Since winter is setting in and this may be the last one til spring.

Veteran's Day '06

Veteran's Day '06
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

Robert & I rode up to D.C for Veteran's Day. 75 & sunny mid-November and a great day honoring the veterans.

November 5th Skyline Ride

November 11th Skyline Ride
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

The November weather has been good for riding. A little cool but not too bad. Gary & I decided to head north on Skyline to Front Royal. The sun broke early and it turned in to a great day.

Skyline Drive Fall Colors

Skyline Drive Fall Colors
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

The fall turn was in full swing and it was a great day for a ride in the mountians. I never get tired of Skyline. It's such a relaxing day long ride. I might have to do this again before it gets too cold.

Skyline Drive Grillout

Skyline Drive Grillout
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

It was a great ride, good food and another successful Battlefield Sportsters outing. Gary and Trish joined in for the first time. Just when you think you can't top the last ride, the next ride exceeds all expectations for a fun day.

Pennsylvania Ride

Pennsylvania Ride
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

The Battlefield gang join me on a return day trip to York, PA. The weather and roads couldn't have been better. It was a great ride.

XLF @ Gettysburg

(left to right) MoJowill-Will, flsKevin-Kevin. Thornious -Rich, Klinesamuel-Sam, Olderthandirt - Mac, Pres41 Pete, and kneeling Danny3nose-Dan

July 1, Skyline Drive

It took us a while to organize another ride down Skyline Drive but it was worth it. 90+ degrees until we hit the mountains and the AC was turned on and made the ride perfect.

RollingThunderXIX

RollingThunderXXIX
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

Clear skies, warm weather & thousands of bike made Rolling Thunder XXIX a geat ride.

Marine1

Marine1
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

Taking in the events of Rolling Thunder and Marine 1 carrying President Bush flies past us and lands on the White House lawn. Secret service sniper team suddenly popped up aon every rooftop when the helicopter arrived.

Spring in the Mountians

Spring in the Mountians
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

Been itchin' for a long ride, so we took off for Skyline Drive. The weather and ride couldn't have been better.

It was a good tune-up ride for Rolling Thunder coming up next week.

Heritage Bike Rally

It's the last day here in Charleston. The event could have been better. The rally just didn't rise to my expectations, the Kid Rock show sucked, I just expected more.

I guess bike events are not my style.

WilliG protests the White House

WilliG protests the White House
Originally uploaded by flskevin.

Another great day for a ride so I took off for D.C. again with WilliG. He decided to exercise his first amendment rights and protest W at his house!

Patriot Guard Riders

Mac & I started out at 4:30 this morning heading to North Stafford to meet R.D. 40 degree weather will not stop us from making it to an important objective.

We make it to Dale City and meet up with Don, Andy, & Benny with about 45 other members to escort the funeral procession of Gunnery Sgt. Justine R. Martone.

We join the procession to Quantico USMC base and the Memorial Chapel.

PGR mission #1

A local marine was killed in Iraq and I am going on my first ride mission with the Patriot Guard Riders.

I guess I can consider myself lucky. I never enlisted. After Viet Nam it wasn't a smart carrer move to join and by the time I became too old to be of any help America never really had any military challenges.

But in the last 15 years so many of our young nation have died in the middle east. I have known several of them.

I do remember watching the T.V. the day the helicopters lifted off the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. I wonder if 50,000 will end up dying before the mess out there is under control.

All I can do is show my respect for those brave enough to volunteer to go in to harms way and pay that terrible price.

Patriot Guard Riders

Lunch @ Clifton

The first warm weekend of the year came through for R.D., Andy & myself and we took full advantage of it.

A full day of riding through the back roads of Manassas & Clifton brought us on some great twisites.

By the time I got home 200+ miles for the day.

Some ridin' - some history...

After riding around town yesterday I wanted to actually go somewhere. So I get up this morning and head up Rt. 1. It was a little chilly but after a while I get used to it. My destination is D.C. & seeing the new stuff at the Smithsonian American History Museum.

It was a great easy going pace, I get close to the city and the cool old archetecture and brownstones are nice to look at on the way in to the city. When I get to the Mall & Washington Monument a parking space opened up for me. Right across the way from the building I want to visit.(a family was leaving right as I arrived, perfect timing)

I checked out the new military exhibits in the American History museum. They had a treestump from the Spotsylvania battlefield (near the Spotsy courthouse) that had been chewed up by hundreds of bullets. You never know what your going to see there, that stump was just a few miles from where I live.

The first Mac (about 1984) was there as well as the Genisis rock, the piece of anthrocite found by Scott & Warden on Apollo 15.

The ride home was just as easy going and I had a great day.

Sometimes you can't win....

The weather broke warm this morning so I decided to bring out the Sporty and ride to work. I leave early to take the long way and stop somewhere for lunch. While I'm having lunch the clouds come and starts to rain a little.

So I go back to the house, I get a little ridin' in today. Put the bike back up. I can handle the rain, I just can't handle getting rained on and riding in 20 degree weather on the midnight ride home.

As I head out to work the sun has come back out and it's even warmer than it was before.

At least I got a nice ride in today.

I have decided that my goal for the year is to ride at least one day every month this year.

January & February are done...

Me @ the beach

No races to cover today. I was worried that the hassle of bringing my bike down wouldn't be worth it.

Well, today paid off & then some.

Hooked up with a XLF member in New Smyrna Beach and rode all over Daytona and back.

Daytona HD (world's largest dealer) Hooters (get pics of Willie G. with the girls) & Boot Hill Saloon just a few of the places we stopped by.

Man if the weather got any more perfect I might consider quitting my job and moving back to Florida.

The only thing stopping me is the insane traffic on I-4.

Feelin' Florida

An all day drive to get to Central Florida. The next morning sunny skies and warm temps mean only one thing. Time to ride.

Put in about 100 miles ridin' all over the area. It's weird seeing all of the other riders without helmets. I almost went for a stretch sans helmet, but good sense got the better of me. Besides, the way the people drive around here I might invest in some riding armor.

2006 SpeedWeeks

Leaving for Daytona Beach in the morning to cover SpeedWeek, it sucks that Bike week is just 2 weeks later & I'll miss out. But, I'm bringing the Sporty with me this year and should get a few good riding days in.

I'll be hookin' up with an XLF member in New Smyrna Beach and ridin'.

It's ben a good winter for riding here, but I can't wait to get on some roads where the temps don't drop below freezing after the sun drops.

I'll send some updates during the week......

Ridin' to work...

Another unseasonably warm day. So I decide to ride the long way to work. The temps won't drop too bad tonight when I ride home so it's worth it.

Now I'm sitting at my desk, looking out the window at my sporty.

I see a long lunch break coming my way in the very immediate future.

Jan. 28, Polar Bear Run

It was a great day for a ride. The temps topped out at the mid-60's. But the below freezing wind chill in the morning qualified this as a polar bear run.

After meeting up but not being able to go, Benny finally joined in for the ride.

First ride of '06

After working more than 40 days without a day off I needed something to decompress. I get to take some vacation time and it's been a cold winter, but there was a break in the cold.

I went out for about 150 miles today, the warm day couldn't have come at a better time.