July 27, 4:45 am - The Longer Earlier Hike #9

This the same hike at the same time of day Dennis did alone five days a week for a year an a half before there ever was a James River Hiker Meetup group.

4:45 am is 1 hr 25 min before the 6:10 am sunrise on July 27 and is timed to position us on the suspension bridge to Belle Isle just before sunrise.

We'll begin at One Monument Apartments at Stuart Circle, hike to Riverview Cemetery, do our normal loop trail including Belle Isle, Buttermilk Trail, Boulevard Bridge, Pump House Park, North Bank Trail and Texas Beach and then return to Stuart Circle One Monument Avenue.

June 30, 2016 at 8:52 am we completed our 11 mile 4 hr 26 min hike. Here's the map.

http://gps.motionx.com/maps/615f20d7cfbf05a615c681e6f527119a

Here's a map of our April 27, 2016 10.6 mile 3 hr 51 min journey.

http://gps.motionx.com/maps/15d24755fc4c69a97ea8a367a088638c

Parking is available on the 1st level of the parking structure across Lombardy Street from One Monument Avenue apartments and behind the First English Lutheran Church.

The address of the church is 1603 Monument Ave, Richmond, VA 23220.

All first level spaces are good for you to park on evenings when the First English Lutheran Church isn't having a function EXCEPT those spaces reserved for Laurel Hill and marked with one of these two signs.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/3/8/3/600_441509571.jpeg

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/3/8/8/600_441509576.jpeg

To repeat the above, do not park in spaces reserved for Laurel Hill. All others on the first level are ok.

There should be plenty of parking in the ok spaces on the first (street) level, but overflow additional parking can also be made available on the 4th (top) level. Arrangements can be made to open the auto security gate separating the 1st level from the levels above if necessary.

Below is a view looking north. Notice Stuart Circle in the background and One Monument Avenue Apartment to the right.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/9/a/c/event_250287052.jpeghttp://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/9/b/6/event_250287062.jpeg

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/4/1/5/600_441509717.jpeg

Those who complete this hike will be commissioned into the Most Noble Order of the Dukes of the Longer Earlier Hike.

Only 23 or .616% of the current 3,731 James River Hikers have become Dukes and Duchesses as of June 30, 2016

On Jan 2, 2016 these became the first ever Dukes and Duchess.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/e/d/f/600_445584287.jpeg

These completed the journey Jan. 3, 2016.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/8/8/600_445623208.jpeg

Four more completed the 11 mile journey Jan. 29, 2016 in 5 hours.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/3/8/d/600_446385965.jpeg

Three more were added Feb. 28, 2016 by hiking 11.4 miles in 4 hr 25 min.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/5/c/d/600_447338349.jpeg

These ladies completed the 10.6 mile journey March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday morning in 3 hours 58 minutes.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/f/5/c/600_448377180.jpeg

Art Bykonen completed the 10.6 mile journey April 27, 2016 in 3 hr 51 minutes.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/8/6/f/600_449395407.jpeg

These four completed the 11.8 mile journey May 27, 2016 in 4 hr 25 min finishing at 8:51 am.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/0/e/f/600_450424335.jpeg

Two JRHikers and one guest completed the 11 mile journey in 4 hr 24 min June 30, 2016 finishing at 8:56 am.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/7/8/1/600_451654689.jpeg