End of Summer on the river

Was the last day of Summer holidays, we went to our favourite Texas beach. M in spare swimwear thanks to leaving her gear goodness knows where and one sock because the shoe rubs where we repaired it. And J with I can swim attitude, though this was her first swim with river flowing current. We're not in the third picture here, it's the view up-river of our fellow bathers, with hula-hoops and beer.

There were rumours of a Water Moccasin (Cottonmouth) sighting nearby.

We had our own beer at home, and closed-out the day relocating the camellia to its new home. Good luck camellia.

Science Monday at Reedy Creek

So to summer school and investigating water quality at Reedy Creek, before a good dose of wallowing...

Heron Sanctuary & Pipeline Walk, James River, RVA

Thanks to Columbus we got an adult-day's holiday and took the bikes down to a new hidden bit of the river where herons can nest and there's a fairly impressive pipeline to walk, under a railway line. Urban wilderness indeed.

Further reaches, James River Park System

Pipeline crossings and a Z dam with fishway are now part of my outdoor lexicon, after a bit of exploring on foot to the furthest reaches of Reedy Creek and beyond Pony Pasture, respectively. The water was low and there was only the slightest temptation to wade across, even below ankle height, as a sign told of 14 folk who died giving-in to the urge.

Instead I bouldered across to our usual rock-slide and briskly swam across the currents to the other side (3 metres!) and then decided that was enough adventure for the day. It turns out I was not alone, though thankfully did not bump into the off-set friends who bathed downriver, as my attire was a tad unseemly.

Gnome Homes, Belle Isle

The kids gathered the materials, from all over! A giant gnome see-saw branch, seen here and then tiny river shells (gnome headphones) and dripping river weed and marsh grass bedding. The adults did the building work, though for M's gnome home there was a pool of minnows for fishing and a small boat on offer - the Robin Hood of the miniature world.

Three years ago...

Texas Beach on the James

Here goes one kid heading down stream on a quiet Sunday afternoon and later she got far more adventurous and sped over rocks in faster water until she was caught.

The other meditated in a calmer spot.

More Belle Isle, RVA

On a muggy, snakey summer's afternoon we explored Belle Isle - super low water level with lots of murk to splash in, a springy branch to hang from and smooth rocks to smear with gloop.

Weekend in Nassau

For crazy reasons which I won't go into here, I got to spend the weekend in The Bahamas, and not in Atlantis or Sandals with the other tourists, but in a slightly tired hotel and with an empty but still very beautiful beach. It's hard to think this is three hours away. With a snorkel, just a few metres from the shore, I saw brightly coloured fish as you'd find in a garden centre aquarium in England. My fellow residents at Orange Hill were equipped divers with photos of sharks they'd seen that day. The big discovery of the weekend was the Punch made in a shack on the beach with fresh fruit and hygienic only thanks to the alcohol in the amazing local brew Rum.

Belle Isle, RVA

The water level was just right... the perfect sundowner water slide, in good company.

The James River, above 9ft

We had another visitor in 2014 and things were suitably wild down on the riverside - dead ring snakes, roaring water with a dash of Lynchburg crude oil and flooding paths. G&T's needed to calm the nerves.

Fresh stash of Cadbury chocolate bars for afters - thanks great guest!

Climbing on Belle Isle

The view form the top was amazing... not really!
Without a belay there was a reluctance to go higher. One day maybe...

Texas Beach, RVA

An evening stroll with illegal beverages, salty snacks and spring light - a perfect end to the working day.

Belle Isle Family Hike

Heading out across the high river for a wild church hike - canoeist bobbed by as branches and ice shards were hurled into the churning rapids...

A survivor's s'mores fire-pit back at base - marshmallows and Hershey's chocolate squashed between Graham (pronounce Gram) Crackers, for the uninitiated.

No McVities chocolate digestives here.

On the rocks, Yorktown

Rock hopping, barnacle finding, seaweed gathering (fabulous bright green) and toe dipping in the freezing water...

Our ears did get cold though and our heads still ached, but the girls were oblivious to the chill.

Ice Walk, Belle Isle

It has got cold and ice hacking is consuming work, unless you are an inappropriately dressed adult. The wind chill on the water's edge and return bridge felt like a blow torch.

Texas Beach, North Bank

Our new favourite weekend sunset spot... Today the task was gathering driftwood but the appeal of algae slime won out!

Pony Pasture, Southside

This is not a fashion shoot for Boden. We rock-hopped out into the middle of the James River where the Monacan Indians had crossed long before us.

It was as gorgeous as it looks and just minutes from the Verizon Wireless store that we had returned our Fios equipment to, as we begin life TV package free. Who needs it with views like this!

Pony Pasture, James River

Our first bit of wild swimming this year. The water has been so high and we took a while to 'relax' into the joys of it all, but once we did it was the most exhilarating thing ever!

So here goes M deciding to take to the rock slide...

The pond on Floyd

Fish training in progress... final session this weekend and then these guys will be fully qualified and in charge of THE pond next door. It has had an exploding population in recent weeks.

Fort Mason, San Francisco

The San Francisco adventure began in a 1940s army hospital after an exhausting midnight packing session, dawn rising, interminably long cross-continent flight and then a mammoth public transport trek across SF with a car-seat, pram, large bags, computers and two small children.

First a stroll in the evening sun, palm trees, lush lawns, sebaceous shrubbery and a pooch park from heaven. Lots of fluff balls and their owners savoring the last rays and a fabulous view of the Golden Gate Bridge and more critically Safeways - the source of our evening substance, cooked in the hostel's giant kitchen. Suddenly too tired for any joy we ate and fell into our single beds and pondered the pitch darkness with a sense of trepidation.

A communal breakfast overlooking Alcatraz with bagels, orange juice and waffles was enough to right our weary souls... so we decided to walk.

For M the greatest Crystal Fair ever was the perfect start - Mexican agate and calcite and South African tiger's eye for J. Then on to the wave organ right out at the end of the marina arm. Burping octopus sounds emanating from deep tubes, as the waves rolled in and we sunned ourselves on reclaimed gravestones and eyed the fabulous yachts. Then on to Chrissy Fields beach for more dog antics and waves.

Ended with Quorn (!) and red wine in the hostel kitchen and some contentment, though no showers braved yet! Then out one last time for the loud mayhem of the Chinese New Year parade - the Year of the Water Snake.