We welcomed a new GO hiker this weekend!  The four of us started off at the Pump House Road trailhead and headed downstream, underneath the nickel bridge, also known as Boulevard Bridge, and then along a fence line that separates the North Bank Trail from Maymont Park, crossed a bridge and travelled along the old Kanawha Canal (canal project was begun in 1785, and half completed by 1851).  We spotted turtles and Canada geese.  At the end of the border with Maymont Park, we climbed up the steep hill to the top and arrived at a temporary break in the trail, travelled along Kansas Ave for 4 blocks to Texas Ave, and back on to the North Bank Trail which is the resumption point for the trail.  We travelled across many streams and bridges and rejoined the Kanawha canal for a while before the trail headed back up to a ridge by Riverview Cemetery before dropping back down to the canal just below Hollywood Cemetery.

We stopped for a rest on Bubba’s Bench and enjoyed the sounds of the rapids and cool breezes, and then we moved on towards the end of the North Bank Trail.  Just before the end, we didn’t spot many birds this time of year like we did on our May hike.

We moved on another 100’ and the trail ended so we walked around to the suspension footbridge that takes you over to Belle Island, hiked around the island and came back and were greeted by a freight train on the tracks by the trail and watched the trail on the old elevated tracks while we rested.

We rejoined the North Bank Trail and headed back to our start point.  We got back to the car about 3 hours after we started, but that was due to many stops along the way to identify birds, flora, and other animals as well as enjoy the scenery.  Another enjoyable GO trip.