Category: riverine

the right stuff


Yeager, who never attended college and was often modest about his background, is considered by some to be one of the greatest pilots of all time. Despite his lack of higher education, he has been honored in his home state. Marshall University has named its highest academic scholarship, the Society of Yeager Scholars, in his honor. Additionally, Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, is named after him. The Interstate 64/Interstate 77 bridge over the Kanawha River in Charleston is named for Yeager.–Wikipedia

Cooper River Bridge


The bridge superstructure is designed to withstand shipping accidents and the natural disasters that have plagued Charleston’s history. The span is designed to endure wind gusts in excess of 300mph (480 km/h), far stronger than those of the worst storm in Charleston’s history, Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Engineers also had to be mindful of the 1886 earthquake that nearly leveled Charleston. The Ravenel Bridge is designed to withstand an earthquake to approximately 7.4 on the Richter scale without total failure. To protect the bridge from uncontrolled ships, the towers are flanked by one-acre rock islands. Any ship will run aground on the islands before it can collide with the towers.

The bridge includes a shared bicycle-pedestrian path named Wonders’ Way in memory of Garrett Wonders. Wonders was a navy ensign stationed in Charleston and was in training for the 2004 Olympics before he died in a bicycle-vehicle collision. The path was included in design of the new bridge because of grassroots efforts by groups such as the fifth grade class at a local elementary school.–Wikipedia

north slope of the James River

workers ahead making beautiful stuff. Suburbs of Richmond, Virginia

Put together an iMovie, apologies for the color… Close encounters with four motor vehicles today.

Guitar by Jim Orr
Video with 1st generation Flip.
Voices:
Bill Emory (photographer)
Angela Tucker (Charlottesville Development Services Manager)
Dr. David Brown (Mayor of CHO May 21, 2007 when recording was made)
Kevin Lynch (Councilor)
Craig Brown (City Attorney)
Dave Norris (Councilor)

National Trails Day


Saturday, June 5, 2010, Charlottesville, VA-Riverview and Darden Towe Parks
Join us to celebrate the trails we have, working to make them better, and learning about future plans for trails of all kinds. There will be fun, food, and volunteer projects for trail people of all ages.
Come take a tour on foot, bike, stroller, or boat of the trails and river between these two wonderful parks. See trail improvements including new bridges, removal of invasive vines from trees, benches for viewing the river, and other work that has recently be done to make your trail experience more pleasant and fun.
ADDITIONAL INFO

Earth Day

river cleanup sponsored by Rivanna Conservation Society

One of the goals of the clean water act was to ensure that surface waters would meet standards necessary for human sports and recreation by 1983. In Virginia we have been talking about the the value of state waters for awhile.

To the end that the people have clean air, pure water, and the use and enjoyment for creation of adequate public lands, waters and other natural resources, it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to conserve, develop and utilize its natural resources, its public lands and its historic sites and buildings.
Further, it shall be the Commonwealth’s policy to protect its atmosphere, lands and waters from pollution, impairment or destruction for the benefit, enjoyment and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.–Constitution of Virginia, Article 11

Alex Epstein has written about canceling earth day. There is an idea. Hey Alex? How about going for a swim in Moore’s Creek?


more Charlottesville videos by wakethinkact