The combination of smooth, still water and the perfect early evening light hitting the surface of the river made the James look like a mirror, reflecting the changing landscapes framing it. The long, hilly bike ride to the river from Atlantic House was made totally worth when I crossed the Huguenot Bridge to see the sun setting right over the river to the West. I had to take a moment to stop and let the image soak in.
Simply breathtaking.
It’s moments like these when I question why anyone would ever want to pollute their environment and why more people don’t spend time on the James. I rode my bike to Pony Pasture to visit my reflection spot from earlier in the semester and it had only been about a month and a half since I went there for the first time, but I could already see signs of Autumn. Some obvious indications were the changing colors in the trees from green to reds, oranges, and yellows. But some other changes were the lack of birds in the river and seemingly slower and lower water level. The only animals I saw were a small flock of birds flying on the other side of the river. There were only a few people in the park this time as opposed to a few dozen in September.
Compare the colors of the trees and lack of fauna from my post earlier in the semester
This was my fourth trip to the park of Pony Pasture Rapids and each time has been a unique experience. This time, I took a study break and went on a long bike ride by myself down to the river, taking in the beautiful early fall landscapes and saying hi to the friendly passers-by. It was refreshing to have time to myself outside in the cool air and to take in the amazing sights of the James. I would venture to say the river is more beautiful this time of the year than in the summer even though it’s chillier. The water is so smooth and reflects the shoreline perfectly making it twice as stunning and giving Pony Pasture the irony of literally being a spot of reflection.
But as I reflect on changes from my last visit here, I realize how much I’ve learned in the Geography of the James River class. I’ve grown a lot as an advocate for the James River watershed from lessons in class, readings about the river, trips to different parts of the James, and doing community service in the watershed.
As the seasons change along with the flora and fauna near the river, I think it’s important to remind ourselves that the river doesn’t (usually) stop flowing and that even though we aren’t swimming in it, it’s still important to remember we are part of the watershed and always need to protect the James. As much as I would love to swim in the river still, I’m even more excited to see how the James looks when all the leaves have changed and then when the surrounding leaves are frosted white from snow in the winter. University of Richmond campus is beautiful all year round and I have a hunch that the James is the exact same way (minus the stressed students and attacking geese).