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.   

Morning Walks- Morning Hikes!

No longer downtown! What to do? Car- free for the time, I am walking to work... along HOPKINS RD!! this is not my typical urban stroll you may have grown accustomed to reading about! I love the walk, its a little dangerous in some spots, as there is no shoulder space on one of the bridges, and the cars FLY around the sharp turns!! None the less, its a great way to start the day. The sights are beautiful, believe it or not! The sights you are about to see, are for the most part un-retouched! 

Executives Go Outside Even if it's Raining

Yesterday was the kind of day when you wake up with the alarm and think, MY GOD WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!! so you instantly fire up your laptop, and shoot out an email to advise your boss that you are sick, and wont make it to work. THEN you look out the window... and its RAINING!!! But that will not stop me from getting around outside! I ventured to The Virginia Museum Of Fine Arts. But of course, they were closing within 15 minutes, so I wandered around the sculpture garden, which for some reason, I had never seen before. I love the stairway, and the water feature that surrounds the place, it was nice as shit, and made me want to own it!

Not long after seeing all there was to see there, we figured it would be wise to go to Maymont and see the critters!

And when the rain really hit, sit back and enjoy the scene in my private, VIP gazebo! 

Once it was all over, and certainly time to go, we trekked up the crag-like hill that is Maymont, and retreated to the safety of Bonvenu  in Carytown, where we enjoyed $3 cocktails, and 1/2 price appetizers!

Richmond is Made of Roller Coaster Parts

Walking around town today, because once again I fell victim to the elusive COMMUTE, and missed the river! I got a proper bake on and stuffed my ears with some playlist that Genius created based on Delphic. I turned my attention towards the canal walk, once I got to Main Street Station, and noticed that with I-95 and all of the railroad bridges weaving and winding themselves over downtown, I noticed that Richmond seems to be one big roller coaster. Or at least built of the ghosts of roller coasters passed. The rusting supports, and roaring freeway overhead offer a feeling of craze, and somehow provide security, that our city will always be relevant. Nothing eases my soul, in times of stress or sadness, better than getting lost in the commotion of this sleepy ass town.

The knowledge that at any given moment, something great, average, filthy, wealthy, or evil could literally be right over our heads, brings power, and importance!