We welcomed a new GO hiker this weekend and had a return of a hiker we hadn’t seen for a while!

The trip got off on a bang—or rather a loud, steady hiss.  I was able to park on solid asphalt and changed the flat prior to the hike.  (Coming back to a flat tire after hiking 7 miles didn’t seem appealing).  After 15 minutes the spare was on and we headed on our hike just 10 miles after 9 a.m.

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 saw a freight train pulling cars of coal and stopped to watch it go by. 

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 (my favorites place to sit and ponder) and enjoyed the sounds of the rapids and warm January breezes, and then we moved on towards the end of the North Bank Trail.  We moved on for another half mile and then down to the edge of the river on a well-placed bench to take in river views and the rafters and take in a quick rest.

We rejoined the North Bank Trail and headed back to our Texas Road and diverted to Maymont park.  We walked by the old horse barn and carriage house towards the Maymont mansion, then wound our way down through the Italian garden down to the Japanese Garden at the base of a big hill.  We walked over the large stepping stones, looped back to the Japanese hut over the pond and watched the large Koi and Canada Geese for a spell.  We walked by the Black Bear enclosure, Raptor exhibit (Bald Eagles, Red Shoulder Hawk, Red Tail Hawk, Broadwinged Hawk, Horned Owl and Barred Owl), and through the Rhododendron garden up towards the Maymont animal farm and then exited out towards Dogwood Dell and Pump House Park. Another enjoyable GO trip.  It was a sunny, balmy January Sunday which made this trip so enjoyable.  Total mileage was a little over 7 miles