Exploring the James River

Last Saturday, we definitely wanted to take advantage of the warmer weather. While I was coaching a basketball game, Chuck took the girls to 2 spots on the James River.

They first stopped at Pony Pasture Rapids (bottom right picture), which is a popular rapids area to swim, tube, and kayack. Obviously, none of those things were happening that day, but we will definitely check it out in the summer.

Then, he headed over to Pipeline Rapids to check out a blue heron rookery that he read about in the paper earlier in the week. (Blue Heron picture from Times Dispatch)

I'm so glad I was able to meet up with them there. It was gorgeous sitting in the sand by the river watching the girls play. To get there, you did have to walk along a narrow walkway above the pipeline (top and bottom left pictures below) which made me a bit nervous. Chuck did carry Lucy, but Leland did well holding on to the rails.

The birds were amazing to see, even from such a distance. We even had a few trains pass on the tracks above us and one across the river.

Lucy loved playing in the sand. She has that San Diego blood in her. We kept calling where we were a "beach". Leland kept informing us that it was not a real beach, just a pretend beach.

Chuck walked farther down the pipeline and was able to catch a kayaker going through the rapids. It was a wonderful outing and we can't wait to go back again.