Wanderings and Musings

Tuesday, June 24th 2008 - It’s evening as I just roll into Virginia on my way to Richmond for the night. I had planned on visiting one of the old plantations around this area, but with night settling around me and having reservations about the whole experience of touring the plantation, I decide to not worry about it. Instead I head into Williamsburg to check out the old architecture.

Although there are still some great old building around in Williamsburg, it has lost it’s historic appeal in my eyes. The skeletons are there, but there is no meat on the bones. The same cars and streets and shops as anywhere else fill the buildings and the areas around them. Maybe I’m just becoming jaded…

When it gets full dark, I head on the rest of the way to Richmond and wait for my Couchsurfing host Kristy to get off work. Kristy is pretty busy preparing for a flight and an interview the next day, but still takes time to be a perfect host. She has such a giving personality. In the morning we talk for a while and I’m fairly surprised to learn that she has very similar views as me about the world, politics, life, etc. Very few are as open to the truths about what is happening in the world as true-to-their-heart travelers; They want to learn and discover the truth, whatever it may show them.

One interesting thing I’ve noticed is that so many people smoke on the east coast, and Virginia especially. I just am not used to smokers anymore. Smoking is dieing out in the northwest, but I supposed in Virginia with a main crop being tobacco, it’s going to hold on much longer.

My next stop the following day is a bike maintenance visit to a shop in Fredrickburg, VA. A friend of a friend used to work there, so I’m supposed to be taken care of. I locate the shop very easily and get right in. Chatted with another customer who was drooling when I told him about my trip. So many people want to get out and travel or do so many things, but fear holds them back. I’ve heard the words “I have always wanted to do that, but….” about 20 times during this trip. Don’t let fear hold you back!

Finally after a few hours they are done putting on a new front tire, checking out the chain/sprocket, oil change, and a general look for any issues. I was supposed to be ‘hooked up’ on the cost, but some wires got crossed and I got charged the full amount for all the little BS. Then as I headed out to continue my journey I get a call… they’ve forgotten to put back on one of my frame sliders! Well, I’m 10 miles away and head back. It’s OK, things happens. But then a few days later I find that there were two other screws missing from my fairings. Very sloppy work indeed!

Tonight I’m staying with LCB (Lisa) in Newark DE from a Hayabusa forum I am on. She and her husband both own Hayabusas, and are actually the first (and turns out to be only) other Hayabusa riders that I have met up with. Like everyone I’ve met on the trip, Lisa is great and so nice. Their dog just loves me He’s missing his daddy, and I quickly become a substitute. Whenever I am, he’s right there jumping up or begging for attention.

In the morning I wash off my bike from the 2 weeks worth of bugs and dirt before heading out for the day. And then I’m off to New York City.

– No pictures for this entry –

Tags: Motorcycles, Travel