Getting To Know You: James River Remix

This weekend Chris, Garrett, Heather and I took care of our volunteer hours at the James River Splash and Dash. I got to stand next to a creek and show runners where to run too. Most of them were rather upset they had to cross the creek. This struck me as odd. Isn’t the whole point of doing a 5k at a river with the word splash in the title to get into the actually river?

Then we trekked around their running route to pick up stray pieces of the plastic ribbon indicating the trail and I realized why they were a little cranky. It was quite a run, up a hill, over some dry clay, around the island, through the creek, across the bridge and then over the James in inner tubes. Fun, definitely fun, but decently tough.

It was as I was trekking around Belle Isle picking up those pieces of tape that it really stuck me how much recreation and education the James offers. We passed the rocks that Belle Isle is known for among both sun-bathing college students and thrill seeking white water rafters. A few weeks back I was with my friends looking to enjoy these very same rocks, but I couldn’t find them as we were on the wrong side of the island.

Then we saw the quarry, and across it were a small group of free-climbers. Even more things to do. Next we saw a girl painting the river. Then we walked up the hill to a little lookout from which you could view the quarry and a bit of the river. The first thing that came to mind was that this view would be glorious when the leave are in full fall mode. We concluded our service hours with some crepes from one of the food truck as the run’s after party. It was perfect.

Volunteering at the Splash and Dash made me realize how little people around here know about this great thing right in their midst. Or at least how little I knew. That is the most significant reason I’m glad I chose to do Earth Lodge. I spend a lot of time, both at home and here, trying to figure out something fun to do. Something interesting. Adventurous even. With all these trips and readings and required service, I actually do know of things to do. The cool shop in the old power plant. The rapids and free climbing and painting of belle isle. Kayaking on Huguenot Flat water. I know where to go. They were always available, but now their available to me, just because I know they’re out there. That’s the problem, I think. If you don’t know how to access something, it seems impossible, even if you know there is access somewhere. Not everyone likes to spend half their day trying to find a nice sunbathing spot outside of their backyard, when their backyard is so easy. And if they do want to find it, they want it to be exotic and cool or some such nonsense. But the James, and probably the rivers around where I live, and the geography of anyplace, really, is in our backyard. It is ‘exotic,’ it is easy. People just don’t know about it.

The ultimate point of this is to say I’m extremely grateful for being given the opportunity to learn about this wonderful thing so close by, and also that I’m actually really excited to do the final project. I really hope we can help Richmonders become more aware of the James and all it has to offer. How it’s free and easy to do some really awesome things.