|| Hot day on the Flood Wall walk

In reverse order, this was the second stop on the James River trips. Flood wall is on the opposite side of Bell Isle, so south of the River. First, I was awed by how much history the downtown has showed me, was never a fan of it because the downtown that I have lived up to is built is modern, urban, crowded and dysfunction. The Richmond downtown was obviously built from a much earlier era, evidenced by the heavy industrial and manufacture reminiscent. It is very clean by all means, but old and lacking human scents. So after wandering the streets figuring out parking places, I found the designated lot on Hull St.


The weather was extremely hot. I felt sweating from head to toe, but had to keep on walking. The scene of the James River was much of the same from the week before on Bell Isle, rapids, water (not abundant because of no rain). However I could see the new downtown on the north more clearly as if I stood to watch Manhattan from the other side of the Hudson River. When I saw it, I was tranquil and peaceful, the nature looks like everything is in good place and in right order, that includes me as well. I was fortunate enough to see it.



The roads led me to some unknown rock walls. They were not easy to understand, how it came about and how it is now maintained. Only when I climbed my way along the hills through the paved and planned trail did I see that it was actually the stone bridge support for the James, but now it is abandoned for sure. There was a sign that marks the year and the people that made it, more than a hundred years ago. I stood on the overlook and watched it, grateful that I was able to share the experience with so many others before me and surely after me.


The summer is coming to an end. It has been a busy season, and slowly it's gone.

|| Twilight at the York River

Dan Honsberger is a colleague of mine. He provided me a list of summer and local travels along the James River, and without his permission, here it is that I've kept up so far for three weeks in a row.

In Richmond:

• Belle Isle

- Park in designated lot on Tredegar St (near corner of S 5th St and Tredegar St) or on street nearby
- Walk West along Tredegar St and take the pedestrian footbridge across the river to Belle Isle
- This is a must do
- http://www.discoverrichmond.com/dis/sports/recreation/james_river/article/belle_isle/1455/

• Flood Wall walk

- Park in designated lot just south of the river at the corner of E 2nd St and Hull St (JL: the parking place itself is on Hull St)
- Look carefully for trail markings - can be confusing about where to go
- You will have to walk West along a driveway shared by a factory (for a short while) before getting on the trail (goes up on top of concrete flood wall)

- http://www.discoverrichmond.com/dis/sports/recreation/james_river/article/flood_wall_park/1457/

Outside of Richmond:

• York River State Park - beautiful mix of scenery: multiple types of forest, marsh, York River. Not very popular for walking, so it is quiet. $3 entrance fee.
• Chippokes State Park - haven't been there yet, but I've heard this is a good place to swim.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/chi.shtml

Today's I made the drive to the York River. It's fairly simple eastward along I-64, hidden inside the huge acres of ranches and plantation farms. The park takes its name along the York River border which is formed fromt he joining of the Pamunkey and Mattaponi rivers at West Point, 10 miles up river from the park. The place is surprisingly well maintained with many newly built wooden passages, fishing poles, benches etc.

The River was the first thing that I saw. This is a very cloudy day, damp air swept on the face and skin with moist and coolness. The clouds were very low and very dark, occasionally rain came down, and there was nowhere to hide. We walked on the sandy beaches along the river, breathing oxygen as if we never had it in the city. The River scene was perfect for my taste of things, it's calm, peaceful, gloomy, quiet and clean, could be the habitat of a variety of wildlife, but I saw none. And I didn't need them, for this nature of the living suffice the need of my thought for the moment.


We then met a group of people finding fossils on the beach. Kids, siblings, parents, rangers. Rain kept pouring down, so had to leave them quickly and went on with our journey. There was marsh, ponds, and brushes dwelling along, and I walked them by. Soon I found myself in the middle of a land that looks like being stonewashed with water paints such as the blues, the greens, and grays. These were remnants of the wooden "corduroy" roads or of the background set of the Twilight saga stories, they were just like that. You think that I'm depressed, but I'm not. Of all the things, I recognize myself with a thirst for feeling the blue, because I feel comfortable being there. And then I will like the vibrant greens even better, so fresh, so outstanding. I found myself walking on these loose stony service roads with no clear directions, pine forests, leafy trees, colorful mushrooms, and no one else. Only reminded me of how much I liked it and wanted it.



There were two cultural shocks this summer. Phantom and Twilight. Twilight is the very recent love crush, was only until I saw the cast and now I only wanted to have the book of it instantly so that I read it all. The movie is so much better and amazing than my own original imagination. The film was processed with a color that's almost addictive. Everything, everybody, every expression was unnatural but beautiful, and it's not entirely in dreams. I guess I look hard enough, I should find the woods (like here), I should have expressions, and I should see the people, only hope that they do not drink blood, not the real blood, not the blood of the soul either.

|| Belle Isle

Several people have mentioned Belle Isle to me, located in downtown Richmond, this is an outdoor haven that is rich in both history and nature experiences. The one-of-a-kind pedestrian suspension bridge starts under the Lee Bridge on Tredegar Street to get visitors to the island.

Then there is one-mile trail around the edge of the 54-acre island with stops like an old quarry, ruins of a hydroelectric plant and plenty of rocks, all along the James River of Richmond.

The little island appears to be moody and raw, hardly any signs of active maintenance. The rapids have a salty smell like that of a fishing market. Rocks are oddly shaped and grim looking. A few pathways in the old power generator factory are rotten and therefore have to be closed. I wonder why people have not turned this place into a more enjoyable and upbeat venue, could be because of the prison history, see there is still that site to be remembered for the hundreds died either in prison or because of civil war. The history is not exactly easy to forget. However, the trail is relaxing, watch the river flow by, birds, downtown Richmond skyline.

Coming back, we ran into five teenages, four boys and one girl, very good looking. We followed them to a bank where the water is more accessible. Ignoring warning signs not to swim in the James River, these young men and girl stripped themselves to swim suits, started rope jumping and diving, it was a scene to watch, the teenager fun that only a teenger would ever understand. I especially admire the girl, she looks awesomely healthy and well maintained, and wearing a black biniki, she did all the stunts like the boys, and they were such a group of good looking people ....

We drove back to the short-pump Chipotle, sitting outside along the driveways in front of the mall, Spanish speaking songs, light breezes in the midst of heat, tasty food, ice cold water, a good day.