Urban Side Trail: A Big Loop

The Big Loop

Date: January 3, 2013

Where: Richmond, VA
Trail: Home - Lakeside - Joseph Bryan Park - Monroe Park - Park Avenue - Home
Distance: 20 miles
Elapsed time: 7 hours with two quick stops

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 45 degrees
Elevation: For the most part: flat

I had thought I would hike about 15 miles for my third cold weather urban hike but when I set about planning my route, it stretched to 20. M and I had planned to meet at the VMFA and the end of my hike to view the Chihuly Exhibition but we went Wednesday so instead of stopping their I would need to hoof it all the way home. No problem; the weather was cold but fine and I felt energetic the entire way.

M's 2008 Volvo XC70

As I exited the house I glanced over toward the drive at M's car and considered the difference between riding (or driving if given the chance) in such luxury and pounding the pavement with my feet. In the time it took me to make my loop, M and I could have made the 385 mile road trip down to Asheville, NC to visit her mom. Ain't technology grand? Maybe not so much. Consider the pioneers on foot and in their wagons making that trip before the railroads. What perseverance and stamina they had. How do we match up today?

In the county there are not as many sidewalks compared to the city, so a study of the verges was at hand. Notice that in all cases I was to the left of the road, walking so I was facing oncoming traffic. Safety first.

Someone walked here already 

AT like given the cushy layer of pine tags

A rare sight in the county

My main objective was to hike over to Joseph Bryan Park off Lakeside Avenue on Northside, then cut across to Brook Road and head downtown in the VCU area. Cut through Monroe Park, stop for lunch then make my way back up Park Avenue to home.

Fast method

Leisurely method

Economical method

Urban pit stop

Walkers be careful

M's chair place on Lakeside

On my stroll down Lakeside Avenue toward town, I noticed an abundance of small businesses and shops that indicated to me that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Richmond. I noticed in the WSJ today that Virginia is ranked 6th out of the 50 states in having an attractive business climate (less regulation and lower taxes) which attracts people to consider investing here. Want to guess which state ranked last? My once marginally employed son moved from there last year to Oregon to work full-time (with lots of overtime) for a private family-owned metal fabrication business that is thriving (has been since just after WWII). 

I veered off to the right into Joseph Bryan Park, took the largest loop I could which included an enjoyable foot path that ended up parallel to the highway (I-64 near its western junction with I-95). I then found the overpass to I-95 that connected with Bellevue Avenue but was closed to vehicular traffic.

Lake view from dam

Attractive sign posts

Reminds me of the AT

I-64 juxtaposed on right through trees

Bellevue Avenue from previous park entrance

Eisenhower squeezed a road through Northside

Northside Urban Architecture (Belleview)

After wandering through some neighborhoods I came out on Fauquier Street at the intersection of Laburnam Avenue and Brook Road.

Union Theological Seminary

Main Post Office

Headed into town near VCU

Good ole Broad Street

Our girls had a number of musical exploits in their formative yeas at and near here.

W. E Singleton Center for the Performing Arts

View of Lee from south on Allen Street

Hanover left, Park right; it's the Fan

Park Avenue architecture

As I approached the Downtown Expressway, I had to jag over to Monument to cross over and then jag back to Park for a lovely stroll west toward Willow Lawn. I jagged again to intersect Patterson for the straight shot to the Village and then a wander through Westham to home. 

On the north side of Patterson just east of the Village I came across some winter color. We have some of this jasmine type bush at the front edge of our yard. It has been a mild winter, validated by the fact that MWW filled our oil tank today with just over 200 gallons (since early last spring) and a credit to our heat zone approach to living frugally: thermostat at 60F during the day, no heat at night, electric space heater in closed off Garden Room (hovers arounds 70F), layered clothing, and quick work in downstairs bathroom. I have thought often about switching to gas, but, until recently, the return on the investment in a new heating system did not motivate. The old furnace just keeps plugging along in reasonable fashion so until it breaks or oil becomes prohibitive I think we'll stick with it.

Reflections: not sure what to do next; really want to get back on the AT; body feels good but the hip and leg joints only have so much life left so am I wasting them on non-AT stuff; Richmond from the ground level is an interesting place; I love walking; retirement is amazing; how many people in the surrounding environs felt like they could just take a day and walk 20 miles around town (and did it); I remember that in Europe, those many moons ago as a student, there were public toilets in abundance, it particular I remember the ones in the Netherlands that were just stalls along the street like you would find in one of our closeted restrooms today - upper body and legs exposed; I needed something like that since nothing on Park Avenue had any welcome signs out for bloated-bladder walkers; Oh Thank Heaven for 7-11 on Patterson near Libbie.,