Jan. 29, 6:20 am: Dennis is 80 today- Early Morning Hike #108

As Dennis is age 80 today his birthday present to himself is to do this same hike (except it was 3 miles longer beginning at Stuart Circle) he did solo hundreds of times about 5 times each week beginning November 2009 which was 15 months before he founded James River Hikers 15 years ago on January 30, 2011.

This is the 108th Legendary Early Morning Hike, formerly titled - The Most Noble Order of the IHWDATJRH-HWHOTTBTJRSEIWD

or:

"I hiked with Dennis and the James River Hikers - Hiking With History on the trails by the James River so early it was dark."

This hike where you can be Knighted becomes everyone's favorite, but you may not believe, understand or appreciate that until you too have done it before dawn.

Only 6.8%, 349 of the current 5,119 James River Hikers, have been Knighted as of Jan. 12, 2026.

The 6:20 a.m. start time, 55 minutes before daybreak, is timed so that we will predictably be on the suspension bridge to Belle Isle at an ideal time to photograph daybreak over the James River and Richmond. Sunrise on January 29 is 7:15 a.m.

Here's a map of our August 18, 2023, 5:32 am 7.3 mile, 3 hour 45 min. hike that we completed at 9:13 am.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/morning-hike-4ef1477-52?p=-1&sh=1kl23s

We will hike east from Riverview Cemetery to Belle Isle, head west on the Buttermilk Trail (or the riverside trail if the group prefers), cross the river again at the Boulevard (Nickel) Bridge, make a loop by the water plant, and return east to Riverview Cemetery on the North Bank Trail until the Texas Beach bridge and stairwell are repaired so we can return on the Texas Beach Trail.

Bring an apple, and you will be eligible to participate in the World Famous Apple Core Throwing Contest as we cross the Boulevard (Nickel) Bridge.

Here's a map pinpointing the spot where we'll begin hiking.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.5374008,-77.4629398/37.530511,-77.460973/@37.5340128,-77.4642488,17z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0

Don't make the mistake of entering Mt. Calvary Cemetery on your right as you enter the cemeteries or the mistake of parking at the Riverview Cemetery entrance.

Take the first road after the flag pole on your right after entering the cemetery. Then drive on the winding roads to the southeasternmost corner of the cemetery where you will find ample parking on the grass.

You will be able to see the river from where your car is parked.

Dog policy for Dennis’s hikes. Dogs are ok under the following conditions.

1. Your dog will be on a leash and under your control the entire time of the Meetup.
2. You will ensure that your dog keeps a distance from all the other hikers such that neither your dog nor its leash will become entangled with any of them. That’s another way of saying you and your dog will not be allowed to hike either adjacent to nor either closely directly in front of nor closely behind any of the other hikers.
3. Your dog will not become the center of attention.