#SEstreetlife photos- The Mighty James River in Richmond, Virginia- 2019

Just before sunrise, looking east over the James River while it really high in the spring.  I was camped under the huge I-95 bridge for a couple of months, on the south, Manchester side, and shot this photo on my walk out one morning.  For many years in the late 1700's, and 1800's, slaves were unloaded about a mile downstream, marched up this river bank, across the Manchester Birdge, to the slave markets adjacent to downtown.  Richmond, Charleston, and New Orleans were the main slave ports during that terrible part of American history.  A walking and bike path now runs along part of the old slave trail.  Manchester District in Richmond, Virginia.  #RVA, #SEstreetlife, #steveemigphotos.

Another pre-dawn shot of the James River in flood stage, from the Manchester side.  The first European attempted settlement in North America, Jamestown, is about 30 miles downstream, to the east.  Richmond, VA, 2019.  #RVA, #SEstreetlife, #steveemigphotos.

Another pre-dawn shot of the James River, looking east from the Manchester Bridge.  Richmond, Virginia, spring 2019.  #RVA, #SEstreetlife, #steveemigphotos.

There are huge flood walls on both sides of the James River in this area.  On the Manchester District side, there's this little lookout area on top of the floodwall.  I've seen fishermen pull 4-5 pound blue catfish up on the bridge, and land 20+ pounders on the near bank in this photo.  Here's the Manchester Bridge, looking across towards the Shockhow Bottom District and downtown Richmond, Virginia, 2019.  #RVA, #SEstreetlife, #steveemigphotos.  

Looking west across the James River from the Manchester Bridge area, towards downtown Richmond.  Crazy as it sounds, it's not unusual to see opsreys and even a bald eagle or two here.  Richmond claims to be the only state capitol with bald eagles nesting in the city limits.  There are also otters living in that river.  I had no idea there were bald eagles or river otters on the East Coast.  Richmond, Virginia, 2019.  #RVA, #SEstreetlife, #steveemigphotos.

"The Mighty James River" mural, in the Richmond arts district, on Broad, 2019.  #RVA, #SEstreetlife, #steveemigphotos.