Take ownership of the James this river season

Spring is here, even if the recent cold and rain won’t let us revel in it. I’ve had Pony Pasture on the brain lately. I was getting updates on the salamanders that breed in late February/early March. I paddled from there two weeks ago across the river to Williams Island for a hike. I took my son’s Cub Scout den there Monday to explore nature and learn about trash collecting. It’s a special place.

Missing a red bottomed paddle boat?

While adventuring on Williams Island this weekend, I noticed a red-bottomed paddle boat turned upside down just below the north dam at Williams Island, which is just across the river from Pony Pasture Rapids. It probably was washed down during the past flooding on the James River, but it could have been there even longer since that area is not visited much during the winter months.

Pony Pasture salamanders make annual rite of passage

I’ve been told these little creatures don’t get in to the river, they just lay their eggs in the muddy pools of mud on the south side of Riverside Drive between The Meadow and Pony Pasture. Rex Springston of the Richmond Times-Dispatch made note of the salamanders annual rite of passage:

Refrigerator pulled out of James at Pony Pasture!

The abandoned refrigerator at Pony Pasture Rapids has been pulled from the James River and left beside the trash recepticle along the River Trail. The mini-refrigerator had been floating about 50 yards east past the takeout this past weekend and I had been told it might have been there for a week or so.

Who pulled it out?  Take credit for your good deed please!

Anybody leave their refrigerator at Pony Pasture?

Did anybody lose a refrigerator at Pony Pasture Rapids? There is a mini-refrigerator about 50 yards east past the takeout. I wasn’t able to get it out by myself, it was water-logged and muddy. It didn’t seem like it had been there very long, but certainly needs to go. If anyone gets it out, it would probably be best to leave it at the parking lot and let the park system take care of it.