Belle Isle, Bridges & Brew Pub

Monday's forecast was not so hot. 

That didn't matter so much for the morning because the Giant Chocolate Bowl of Thanks backstage had already spoken:

Sounds like a plan.

but I did want to do something of import with the resulting free afternoon. 

Mexican leftovers for breakfast, lunch/brunch (Mission: Reduce Tupperware in Fridge underway), meanwhile the skies stayed grey but the anticipated rain never came.

To Belle Isle! 

Remember that path?
Not so submerged anymore.

 

The remains of the old trolley-bridge. 

This would have once carried goods from 

the quarry & the foundry 
(Old Dominion Iron & Nail Works, 
maker of horseshoes, nails & spikes)
across to the mainland.

More bridges, 

this time distinctly modern & certainly less precarious: 

the 1,100 foot-long pedestrian suspension bridge, set underneath the Lee Bridge, built in 1991 as "a key part in Richmond's renaissance James River Discovery programme", connecting the island to downtown Richmond by Brown's Island & Tredegar. 

I'd visited the area by Tredegar before as Richmond Folk Festival makes use of the space outside. Brown's Island also connects onto the Canal Walk but it was good to arrive at it from a new direction.

Curious?

"Directly ahead: Black Bird Island & four concrete piers

This island was the central point of the Haxali Mill Dam. The four piers later

held up electric lines that once powered a steel factory on Belle Isle."

Truth!

Explorations led us onto "Three Days in April 1865" bridge exhibit commemorating 

the events of that week - April 3rd as Union troops ("the boys in blue") entered Richmond, signalling for the Confederates the beginning of the end after four years of Civil War. Lincoln followed suit arriving April 4th to tour the fallen city. Nine days later, Lee surrendered.

“You are free—free as air…you can cast off the name of slave and trample upon it.”  

President Lincoln

“I know that I am free, for I have seen Father Abraham.”  

An African-American woman in the crowd surrounding Lincoln at Capitol Square
 

Richmond famously responded to the Union movement with Confederate troops 

evacuating the city and setting light to the bridges, armoury & warehouses. The fire, unchecked, then spread further, causing widespread damage to large areas of the city.

than give the enemy…one drop of aid and comfort.”

Our walk concluded at the Tidewater Connection. Still no sign of rain 
although  it was fast becoming muggy & humid.

 

Being but a stone's throw away, it made good sense for us to swing by whilst on 
the right side of the bridge for my first visit of the Other Local, 
 Legend Brewery. 

BlueRidgeOutdoors.com: 

 

 "From the 200-seat patio, you've got a shot of the rail yard below
(not impressive), the James River beyond the trains (kind of impressive),
and arguably the best view of Richmond's downtown skyline anywhere
in the city (very impressive.)If it's sunny, and anywhere near happy hour, the patio will be hopping.

VIBE: Industrial chic, minus the chic. But in a good way." 

The patio was not quite hopping, just fairly well-populated. (You know it's a windy day when tortilla chips start flying out of the dish in front of you.) We chose not to follow BRO's recommendation through ("ORDER THE: Lager. We love Legend because they have the balls to brew a lager"), opting instead for the seasonals. 

Hardywood released their Saison Rustica on Saturday so I decided to try Legend's farmhouse ale of the same,  Lost City Saison.  The Manly Man however made a smarter choice with Legend's Tripel with its spicier - as opposed to fruity -Belgian style. Thus tastier. Along with the Urban Legend series' Doppelboch, employing Vienna & Munich dark malts, chocolate malts, hops & a real "caramelized sweetness".  

Guardian Dog Doppelboch ties into the RVA legend of,

" a black dog that is said to guard a child’s grave. Some believe the iron statue of the black dog resided in front of a Richmond shop many years ago. During her short life, the little girl would pet and talk to the dog as she passed on her way to school. When she died of scarlet fever, the statue was given to her family in order to avoid being melted down for the war effort, and placed by her grave in Hollywood Cemetery. The dog has a personality of his own and has been reportedly discovered looking in various directions. He is said to come to life if he feels the need to protect his young mistress. "

(It's all a little bit Greyfriar's.)

Tasty beer & excellent company. Two summers ago, I would have been totally sold on this experience; nowadays my heart's probably more set at Hardywood, the wee upstart crow.

The rain turned up fashionably late at 7pm. Both home & dry already.
                               Winning team!  Happy Monday!  :)