Reading over everyone’s posts, I’ve observed a developing trend. \u00a0A lot of you guys are comparing your favorite waterways to the James River. \u00a0Since I’m a conformist, I guess I’ll do the same!<\/p>\n
I have lived in VA Beach my whole life. \u00a0For the first half of my life I lived near the Chesapeake Bay which locals call Chick’s Beach. \u00a0Then my family moved maybe 3 miles away to a house on the Lynnhaven River. \u00a0The Lynnhaven River is brackish and meets the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. \u00a0It is known for its oysters, which many of you know have been the source of my young-adult income!<\/p>\n
I have very fond memories about my life on the Lynnhaven River. \u00a0These memories are marked by beautiful sunrises, wildlife sightings, and recreation! \u00a0My favorite thing to do on summer nights is eat dinner with my family outside on our picnic table.<\/p>\n
This river is very different from the James to me. \u00a0First of all, it is much smaller with a tiny watershed. \u00a0Second, it does not feel like a river at all. \u00a0It is very salty and not linear at all. \u00a0When most people think of rivers, they probably think of a long, thin body of water that meanders through valleys or something, not the Lynnhaven.<\/p>\n
Also there are no rocks. \u00a0I thought about this when James talk to us about the rock formations, the cracks, and the potholes. \u00a0There are no rock formations like that back home. \u00a0It was so cool to examine the rock closely on Wednesday. I remember when I came to Richmond for school in 2010, my local friends took me to “The Rocks” at Belle Isle. \u00a0I remember thinking “This is their beach. \u00a0There’s no sand to lay your towel on. \u00a0Hmm…better be careful with my head.”<\/p>\n
I still think rocks are great even when I have a preference for sand. \u00a0Rocks are like historical monuments from eons ago (I’m corny- Rocks Rock!) \u00a0I believe James told us the rock from the James River is from the Paleozoic age- and that the official name is “Petersburg Granite.” \u00a0For some reason when he told me this I thought, “I really hope this is never cut out to make someone’s countertop.” \u00a0Then I thought about dinosaurs roaming the river.<\/p>\n
I think that the rocks of the James River contribute to most of its beauty. \u00a0Back home, I think that the wildlife is the best part of the Lynnhaven River. \u00a0I remember discussing the wildlife of the James River on Wednesday, but I had to shake my head a little because there is just SO much wildlife back home. \u00a0I’ve had crazy sightings from my backyard. \u00a0In late July and early August, sometimes I see packs of rust-colored sting rays flap their flippers across the river like they’re in a parade. \u00a0During high tide, a few otters will hop onto our pier. \u00a0We’ve regularly seen porpoises leaping out of the water. \u00a0This is all from my backyard.<\/p>\n
I plan on attending grad school in Richmond. \u00a0When we were crossing the bridge at Belle Isle, I looked at the view downtown and thought, “This is a great river city. \u00a0I need water wherever I am.”<\/p>\n
I’ve shared a picture taken of my pier back home:<\/p>\n
It was taken after the hurricane so it’s a little wrecked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reading over everyone’s posts, I’ve observed a developing trend. \u00a0A lot of you guys are comparing your favorite waterways to the James River. \u00a0Since I’m a conformist, I guess I’ll do the same! I have lived in VA Beach my … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/james\/files\/2013\/02\/Screen-Shot-2013-02-03-at-6.54.45-PM.png\")
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