Urban Side Trail: Home to Haircut

Happy Tree

Date: December 19, 2012
Where: Richmond, VA
Trail: Home to Shockoe Bottom to Katie Blue Salon 
Distance: 11 miles
Elapsed time: 4 hours with some stops

Weather: Sunny, breezy, 55 degrees
Elevation: A little down and up to the "Bottom"

Since I enjoyed that hike last Saturday, I decided to try another one. M was getting her hair cut in Carytown so I planned to leave the house about 9:00am, hike east from home down to Shockoe Bottom in downtown Richmond and then loop back to rendez-vous with her at 1:30pm at the conclusion of her "do".

Before I took off, I snapped a couple of pictures of the interior of the house to indicate my starting point and declare that Christmas is upon us. O joy!

Santa's in the house

Perfect fit

J-Baby is coming

After a hearty breakfast of porridge (steel-cut whole grain oats, honey, and butter - well, not exactly butter but that yogurt-based stuff that taste more like clotted cream), an excellent cup of coffee (4 scoops of Costco House Blend Decaf ground by Starbucks, 1 scoop of Fresh Market Caramel Macchiato for 8 cups of joe), and delightful company, I was out the door headed downtown. I wandered again through Westham but traveled further south toward the University of Richmond.  The sun on the lake was beautiful as usual.

View down Lakewood Drive

Island and Footbridge

I wended my way through the campus on my way to Three Chopt Raod. I was wearing a brimless fleece stretchy hat, which was perfect for the morning coolness but useless for the eastern sun at an angle with the horizon that did not change much all day (close to the winter solstice aren't we?); a baseball cap would have been better. I rounded the corner at Grove Avenue and focused my sights on downtown. Breezed into Café Caturra for a pit stop and followed the brick wall on the south side of Grove for blocks on end. I walked past the downtown expressway and headed over toward Ellwood Avenue.  Another stop at Panera and a respite on an outside bench for my mid-morning snack of whole-wheat sandwich round (100 cal.), peanut butter and Nutella. Now I was charged and ready for the stretch all the way down - Ellwood changes to Main Street at the Boulevard. I had nothing exciting to report other than that walking along a path I have driven many, many times just gives you better sense of the neighborhoods. There were lots of people out running or pushing baby strollers for exercise.

I walked down Main Street through VCU then passed by the rear of the Jefferson Hotel and began to descend into downtown.  I passed through the business district and turned left to intersect Cary Street one block east of The Tobacco Company restaurant and find the eastern limit of my trip for today: the coffee shop, Shockoe Espresso. It is located aside a small square with a central fountain and The Martin Agency looming from the north side.  I bought a cup of their Panama Blend (lighter fare) and ate my pimiento cheese on another sandwich round for lunch. While I was walking I was listening to an audiobook, Nightwoods by Charles Frazier of Cold Mountain fame. Great story; check it out.

Off I went back up the hill toward Carytown on Cary Street, past the James Center and a host of other familiar landmarks. I was on a good schedule so I dawdled a bit on the way back and could enjoy the scenery more since I was not competing with the sun. By this time I had shed my hoodie and was comfortable in a long-sleeve tee-shirt. Sported my trail-runners with medium weight wool socks: pure comfort.

Coffee Shop

The Tobacco Company

Back in my engineering days we would entertain suppliers or company guests at this restaurant since it was an easy jaunt from the factory in the East End and then home. I guess those dinners and lunches eventually caught up my old Ma Bell for she is no more. I have not been there in years.

James Center sculpture

Pretty at night

Engineering at VCU

Once I crossed the Boulevard heading west I knew I was close to my destination. Cary Street has undergone some significant renewal between VCU and Carytown over the years since we have been here. Thirty years ago walking there would have been a bit dicey. I slowed as I entered the Carytown business district and stopped into an interesting bookstore, since I had some time. Perused the shelves and wrote down a few titles. I rarely buy books, since I pay my taxes and the Henrico County Library System satisfies my needs quite well, thank you ma'am. If you did not know they will buy books on the recommendation of readers. You don't have because you don't ask. Do I feel guilty? No, just efficient and frugal.

Classic

I wandered around a bit more in Carytown, but about 1:00pm I turned north on Belmont and found myself between Ellwood and Floyd at the salon that M has frequented for years, Katie Blue. M expected the stylist would finish around 1:30pm so I entered to see where she was in the process. She told me later that as I entered the staff gave me the once over and suspected I was soliciting, but as the guy who washes the hair consulted with the owner/manager (styling M's hair) M said, "Oh, that's Hank come to meet me." Sigh of relief. I looked a bit scraggly with a few days growth, hoodie, headphones (not ear buds - they refuse to stay in my semi-deformed ears, the result of two operations in my youth to remove the Dumbo stigma I was living with), dark glasses, my stretchy black and gray hat, and small daypack. I chatted with M and the stylist and then let them get back to work. I entertained myself with the latest issue of GQ until M was ready to go. During a later discussion about the salon and her stylist, M told me that I got a "hey, he's kinda cute" from the stylist. She needs to have her eyes checked because when I looked at the mirror in front of her and M all I saw was a gray-headed (where this is hair) old, wrinkly man I don't recognize anymore.

M's hair place

The weather was perfect for an outside activity and I thoroughly enjoyed myself; this urban hiking is going to be a welcome addition to my AT adventure. So, I did a 7 miler, then an 11 miler today, so I think next I will bump up to about 15 and then pull a 20. I feel great, but no wonder, that dinky daypack is nothing compared to the 25 to 30 lbs. I haul on the trail, and the terrain is mostly smooth though hard. I miss those paths on the AT where the rocks are submerged and pine tags, moss, or leaf mold give you a welcome cush. I am hoping there will be some gentle weather in early 2013 like there was last January and February when I got in some really good hikes in the Shenandoah.

Urban Side Trail: Home to Hotel

Greek God?

Date: Dec. 15, 2012
Where: Richmond, VA
Trail: Home to the Jefferson Hotel (7 miles)
Elapsed time: 3 hours with many stops

Weather: Partly sunny, 45 degrees
Elevation: Flat

So, the last time I posted was in September after that fateful trip with Conor where anemia prevented me from finishing the hike.  Things have been a bit busy since then so I have been unable to hit the trail. M had hip replacement surgery, my education consulting work took on larger dimensions, and there was a new addition to the family in August, daughter of S&J, my hiking companions in MD and PA. These conspired to keep me close to home, and especially not to be away for very long: maybe an overnight. I have been walking most days but I can tell that I am not exerting myself as much as I have in the past (added a few pounds since my last hike). Just sniffing a Guinness or looking at a jelly bean or gum drop is guaranteed to expand those love handles in a flash. I also know that the kind of strenuous, sustained exertion that occurs when one backpacks purges me of just about any residue of stress (but who in my circumstance should have an ounce of stress?). I was consulting down in Roanoke last week and had planned on taking my stuff and hitting the trail where I left off with Conor and finishing the 45 miles to Pearisburg, but the temperature in the mountains was forecast to be in the 20s at night, colder than I find comfortable for solo backpacking.  WHAT IS A BODY TO DO?

I spent some time considering just what I wanted or felt I needed to do to stay in shape, enjoy the out-of-doors, and walk at a sustained and strenuous pace for more than my daily neighborhood stroll. So, the idea of an urban hike came to mind; there are plenty of interesting places I can go around here (60 Hikes within 60 Miles - Richmond). This inspired me to plan a day hike I could take from my home. I had planned on a 15 mile loop down to the Jefferson Hotel and back, but with the Christmas season upon us, M and I decided on a different plan: I would hike down to the Jefferson Hotel in the afternoon and give her a call when I arrived. She would come down and we could enjoy the Christmas decorations within the hotel and then drive around a bit downtown checking out the lights at the James Center and other places with bright, festive displays.  We then would use a restaurant gift coupon for The Penny Lane Pub to have a meal out-on-the-town. I love it when a plan comes together.

Following are a set of photographs with a few comments to document the trip. If you click on the photos they expand in a series so you can skip the text.

Christmas Decor at Home

Still living on a corner

I left home about 12:30 pm and wended my way through Westham over to Patterson Avenue near the Village Shopping Center.

Urban yet? 

Straight shot

Typical Bungalows on Patterson

Commercial Area on Patterson

Rest Stop

One of the challenges of urban hiking is taking care of Nature's call.  On the trail - no problem, but I have been advised by M that taking a chance with little cover could result in significant embarrassment or a fine. So, convenience store takes on a special meaning.

Willow Lawn Drive and Monument Avenue

I had felt from the beginning that the most interesting part of the trek would be padding down Monument Avenue. With a right turn here I am heading east toward downtown Richmond.

A little bumpy but nothing like the AT

Some people like automobiles

Nuff Said?

The monuments begin:

Latest Addition

On the mall 

Interesting intersection

Master of the Seas

Stonewall Jackson on the Boulevard

Courageous in battle

S lived here

S lived here, too

Branch House, one of my favorites

Holiday Spirit?

Robert E. Lee

Lee and Traveller

The Grey Ghost

End of the monuments.

Monument to Franklin

My sister lived in this building when she first attended  RPI (now VCU) in 1965

Brownstones now offices

Monroe Park with homeless in residence

Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Headquarters

The Jefferson

The Man Himself

Dazzling 

Look Up!

Can you smell this? It was amazing!

You could eat this (and be sick)

The J-Baby Arrives

The plan came together and was executed flawlessly.

I realize that I not only missed the trekking (those endorphins did kick in), but the writing as well. For some reason, of which I am not sure, I do enjoy sharing these little adventures. 

By the way, those monuments remind me how extremely proud I am to be a Virginian; our history reflects a greatness tainted with the human condition evidenced by our inhumanity toward each other. Thank God we have a Savior who redeems us from our fallenness, reconciles us to Himself and to each other, and shows us the way of peace into eternity.