Belle Isle

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour,  if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver

My husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary last weekend by visiting one of our favorite places - Richmond, Virginia.  Saturday we tuned in to that broadcasting station that George Washington Carver describes as we crossed the footbridge over the James River and followed the trail around Belle Isle.

It took me a while to cross the river because I was so busy taking pictures.  

I zoomed in on the the tree in the foreground

  and saw an Osprey on its nest.

There were other birds to photograph as well.

The river is a favorite of rafters and kayakers, and though it was drizzling rain and cool 

when we started out, rafters were on the river.

From Belle Isle you can see Hollywood Cemetery overlooking the river from the opposite bank.

 A good portion of the trail on Belle Isle hugs the riverbank.  Walkers, runners, and bikers love it.  

There are several places with access to the rocks on the riverbank.  

The water has eroded the soil from the roots of many trees along the bank.

The quarry pond reflects the trees and walls around it in amazing detail.

I was moved when I saw this cross on the hill on the Saturday before Easter.

This building was once a milling and slitting manufactory.  

It now looks like a piece of art as it frames the green of the trees.

On the trip back across the bridge, I noticed small blue objects on this piling in the river.

I was so amazed when I zoomed in for a picture and saw this little blue village!

Later in the day we visited Maymont, joining the throngs of families who were there for Easter festivities.  I'll save those photos for another post!