Civil War Harley - Year Four

Civil War Harley - Year Four

While the “official” part of this year’s Civil War Harley ride hasn’t begun – and won’t until Wednesday morning – we are, happily, on vacation.

The journey here was an overnight trip from Massachusetts, a nearly 10 hour Cannonball Run through seven states, driving in shifts, downing a Five Hour Energy or two and stopping only long enough to get gas (and walk the dogs).  While the night flight isn’t optimal from a sleeping perspective, we do avoid most of the traffic and can get all we need once we get here.

And once that key turns in the lock, it’s easy to shift into relaxation mode. After all, Virginia is our home away from home – literally.  We’ve seen our son, BJ and his wife, a very pregnant Jessica (who is due at the end of July). I’ve traversed the length of Duke of Gloucester Street, a few times. We’ve played golf – my first full round in 2 years – and have been to one of our favorite Williamsburg restaurants, the DoG Street Pub in Merchant’s Square.

It’s raining right now, pouring actually, but it's only a temporary diversion from an otherwise beautiful forecast. As soon as the sun comes out, we’ll be shining up the bike and readying ourselves for what I can’t believe is our fourth annual ride. It’s the first year that we’ll be on the bike for less than the full two weeks and without a single Civil War site on the schedule, but when you’ve got kids and grandkids scattered abut the east coast, you need to find some time to visit them too. But this is Virginia, where more blood was shed and Civil War battles fought than in any other state in the Union. We’ll take a day trip or two when we get back from the western part of the state, perhaps to Petersburg, where Jason’s great-great grandfather, Alvin Dinsmore Brock distinguished himself for bravery during the April 1, 1865 attack on Fort Mahone.

It can’t be a Civil War Harley tour without at least one trip to a battlefield.

Stay tuned.