First trip to the James River alone

Well today was my first trip to the James alone. Wow the sound of the river, nothing is more peaceful. Hear the geese fighting? Look at the tall, full, beautiful trees. Some are already starting to turn colors as the next season is almost upon us. Light green and a slight purple are scattered amongst the tips of the trees. I will finally get to see a season and enjoy it. Not like Texas where its one season for two days and another for 4-5 months. Birds are chirping, critters are crackling the brush and leaves that have fallen to the ground.

Turn on the Ipod and be inspired. Wait.. better yet just listen to yourself. Relish in the moment. Your first trip to the river on your own. Take it all in. Stop floundering. This is your calm. No one can take this peace away from you.

The breeze is cold enough for a sweat shirt but still you can wear shorts. When the breeze hits you it sends chills. It will pick up for a moment and slow down again almost as if the earth was breathing. The huge rocks formed by the river are inviting to lay on. They are flat and call your you to enjoy the sun on them.

This is solitude.... This is peace

Two more people have joined me. Looks to be an older man and his daughter. Ahhh... Breakfast at the James. Quiet conversation between the two of them. Very hushed and murmured. They both look at something very intently in between them. I can not make out what it is. He then lights a cigarette. For someone who has smoked for as long as I have you would be surprised that I really didn't want one. I am really surprised that I didn't go over there to get one from him.

The geese are still bating in the water. Dunking their heads and shaking them off. You can see the water that has shaken off them in the sunlight. Every once in a while you will hear one of the "honks" that sounds almost like a party horn. All of the sudden I hear a plane and the geese start to signal that something is going on. It's not a plane at all but a train on the other side of the river. The wheels screeching on the tracks. No whistle warning. Just the sound of train rushing towards the city. Birds have now emerged from the trees on the other side of the rive because of all of the commotion. They are soaring high and gliding with the wind. The train has now passed and all you hear is nature and the river again.

Good bye my first day at the river. I will be back to you to keep me calm and keep me energised for the day. Now its off to the world I have up here. Finding things to do and trying not to feel alone. Setting off on another day of making this big, huge, world feel like mine.