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.

 

 

Diggin Up Worms

Its amazing to think about the food we eat! I have no intentions of getting into some conversation here, only saying, I was sorting through the photos on my phone trying to free up some space on my third memory card for it... and i noticed SO MUCH FOOD! I am definitely not going hungry! Of course there was that phase when I was getting high all the time, so there were some really strange concoctions in that time period of my cell soul. 
Such items as:
Sparks and cheese crackers topped with chocolates!

Or homemade garden pickle and cheese quesadilla with jalapeno jelly and ranch worcestershire sauce, for dipping.

Those are, of course, items I made myself. I have, however, been known to make more respectable meals too!

Like a lovely shrimp cocktail!

Cheese Burgers!!

I must mention my adventures at restaurants around the country as well... all of this has served as a reminder, that even in these trying times... this bitch is not going hungry!!

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.   

In the Thickest Fog... Manchester Sees it All!

Recent moves bring different views, and horrors, ghosts, and bombs on every corner. In the district of Manchester, Stockton Life doesn't miss a beat. Wake up to a fog so thick, you cant see past the glass in the windows... very very big windows. Would you die for the view? Cut through the riff-raff, and scale quietly and swiftly through the stairwells... never to be caught off guard in the elevators! Be sure to check out stairwell 5 as it holds the information you need to get through the concrete jungle!

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!