![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/james\/files\/2013\/09\/11.jpg\")
<\/a>Pony Pasture Rapids<\/p><\/div>\n
I spent a good part of this past summer in Richmond and somehow never made my way to this part of the river. This is mainly why I chose this as my reflection spot and I\u2019m glad I did because it\u2019s become one of my favorite parts of the river.<\/p>\n
I walked a short ways down the path to a spot on the rocks away from other people. I sat down and just observed for a while. I took in the light breeze coming off the water, the feeling of a late summer evening, the sound of geese swimming on the opposite side of the river\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/a>From the banks of the river<\/p><\/div>\n
This part of the James River is located just upstream of the city of Richmond. Its southern banks are lined with large boulders that lead into the sandy-bottomed, shallow swimming area. Many types of riparian tree species grow between the rocks like River Birch, Sweet Gum, and Black Willow. A few tiny clam shells are scattered along the bottom of the river. A dragonfly dances around my hands as I take notes in my field journal. Across the river is William\u2019s Island, an uninhabited 100-acre area that can be reached by swimming or paddling across the river.<\/p>\n
<\/a>A view of William’s Island from the opposite bank<\/p><\/div>\n
Captain Christopher Newport may have passed through this area on foot in 1608 as he led an expedition in search of gold. This area was part of the land the colonists claimed for their king. Today, it\u2019s a popular spot for kayaking, swimming, painting, and general recreation. The road leading to Pony Pasture is accessible by walking, running, and biking and the Class II rapids offer a great spot to launch kayaks, canoes, and floating tubes.<\/p>\n
For me, this spot offered a nice way to get away from the campus and school work for a bit. I drove to Pony Pasture for this first visit, but I will definitely be biking here on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the near future.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Driving along Riverside Drive (James River to the right)<\/p><\/div>\n
For more information about the park, I encourage you to visit: http:\/\/richmondoutside.com\/destination\/pony-pasture-rapids-jrps\/<\/p>\n
All pictures were taken by the author and information about the park was taken from the above website and signs posted by the James River Park System.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My first thought as I arrived to Pony Pasture for my first visit was \u201cWhy haven\u2019t I been here before?!\u201d. Just a 4 mile drive from campus along a beautiful road that follows the James River is a turnoff to … Continue reading