At the Trailhead

When I first decided to return to Richmond to complete this project, I asked two of my closest friends in college (Deema and Hannan, pictured) to come with me. I thought it would be exciting to bring them to a place that was formative to me in my childhood and in high school. Before heading over to the park we grabbed takeout from Soul Taco, a Richmond city staple and one of my favourite Black-owned restaurants in the area. We packed bags with sunscreen, water, and speakers and rode to the trailhead.

"Texas Beach" was named by locals after the street that leads to the parking lot at the trailhead. It is a part of the James River Park System and one of the most verdant and shady outposts. The trail that we walked on this trip is part of the larger North Bank Park trail, which winds around the riverside and along the railroad to Belle Isle and Tredegar (other popular outdoor recreation spots on the river).