The wife JoAnn (JoJo) recently got a CSC-Triked Valkyrie Standard. As I (we) are believers in rider training, she found a 3-day trike course in Sterling, Virginia (metro-DC). This weekend we are here while she takes the class. Trailered both Valks down here as it was 40 and raining all day Friday. Early Spring and late Fall we will trailer, as NE Ohio weather is unpredictable at best (not that I have to justify what I do...
).
The class is put on by Virginia and is for trikes and sidecars. You can use their's - they actually have 3 250cc trikes ( ??? ) - or bring your own. All the trike people, except JoJo are using the VA trikes. Most of the sidecar people are using their own (mostly Urals.. couple BMW's).
While JoJo is in class, I took about a 200 mile ride and saw many sights:
The Washington Monument. It makes it easier to get good photos going into DC at 8am on Saturday morning.
First time I saw the WWII Memorial as I haven't been in DC for about 10 years or more. While I know the Valkyrie was made in the USA - I still didn't think it tasteful to put a MC made by a Japanese company in front of that one.
At the Capital. Surprised I wasn't seeing Reid and Boehner wrestling on the front lawn
In front of the Lincoln Memorial. Was asked by a tourist if I wanted my picture taken... they were very impressed with the Valk. Told me about 6 times how nice it was
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial - being an LEO, I wanted to see it.
Niles Ohio Police Officer John Utlak - killed in 1982
Youngstown Ohio Officer Michael Hartzell - killed in 2003 (8 years ago - yesterday)
http://www.odmp.org/officer/16833-patrolman-michael-thomas-hartzellI knew neither, but know many who did.
-----------
Rode east to the Chesapeake Bay area and crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. About 2 miles or so and windy and cold. Reminded me of the Mackinaw Bridge crossing at Inzane last year, except the Valk wasn't tilted 40 degrees to counteract the wind.
Wanted to get the Valk into a photo with the bridge.
Stopped here for lunch... it right on the Bay.
In honor of some on this board, wanted to get the traditional food shot... I had a crab melt sandwich... was really, really good
------------
Rode back to Sterling... all freeway back... even on Saturday afternoon the Washington beltway was a zoo. Even was stuck in stopped traffic! Stopped for gas back in Sterling... while I was at the pump a black Standard pulled up opposite of me. I hate to say this - but he was pretty much the first "unfriendly" Valk rider I have met. I tried to talk to him, he was basically giving me one word answers. Asked him if he ever heard of the VRCC, his response was simply... "nope".
Hope he isn't on here, cause he is a bad reflection of Valk riders and definitely not the norm
.... oh well, one d-bag out of hundreds of Valk riders we've met; ain't too bad!
All in all a great day...
