Bandit Home, Only by Train!

The James River offers the RVA so much to do and see. There are parks and trails and beaches everywhere, and each spot has something unique and special. We explore as much of it as possible, and try to maximize the leisure potential of each location we come across. 60+ degree, sunny days in January make it especially easy to get away for the day on the James. A spot we have recently come to love is along the North Bank Trail, between Texas Beach and Belle Isle. This weekend, we packed our coolers, and hit the road. Parking at Texas Ave, we took the pedestrian bridge over the tracks, and crawled through the fence and hopped a passing train. Grabbing onto the steps of a passing train made the hike so much quicker and easier!

Upon arrival at the Hobo Headquarters, we gathered some wood, and a few coal stones from the aforementioned train, and started a nice fire. It was still a little chilly out, so it was just the heat we needed to be absolutely comfortable. One of the bandits managed to whittle a fish hook, and gather the needed supplies for fishing. This came to nothing, as we really had no need to fish! We explored and respectively tagged the abandoned, but not abandoned tunnels, and set up camp on the sandy beach overlooking the more touristy western shore of Belle Isle. 

 

Cracking into our cans, and getting into relax mode, we played with the dog, sat by the fire, and basked in the views. This could be one of the longest bits of time I have spent on the river outside of summer time, as well as the most productive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the sun began to set, we packed up, cleaned up (because littering the river is super not cool), and hit the tracks again. Another Bandit adventure down, countless more to come.

 

 

How the River Bandits Get By On The Weekends

Whats to do around here on a cold... not so cold... effin nice winter day? Bandits hit the rocks... the river rocks. vacant old buildings provide a stage for bonfires, and photo shoots. Grape blunt roaches and portable margaritas provide fuel for adventures. Railroad tracks and abandoned tunnels tell stories of bandits before, and the adventures, and mis-adventures they encountered along the way.   

RVA REPRESENT!

Whats it with Richmond that makes everyone so DAMN creative? these fuckers all have a blog or six, as I do, they all take shitty pictures of dumb ass shit, and think the whole world loves to see it, just like I do, and They all follow eachother, and reblog, and repot, and re-whatever... just like I do. But it's whats up though. This place is the shit, and FUCK OFF if you dont think so too!! I have been to every state, and every freekin corner of this country.... literally, all 50 of them. And I ALWAYS come home the RVA!!

Oh, and BTW.. those are local, organic Hanover tomatoes!