A few weekends ago, my friend and I decided to go to the river on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. We'd been once before so we thought we knew what we were doing. Boy, were we wrong. The river can be a great place to go get some sun, hang out with friends and swim during the summer in Richmond. However, if you're relatively new to the river like I am, here are some tips on what not to do when going to the river.
1. Don't go later than 1 on a really nice day.
The river will be packed on any nice day, especially on the weekends, after 1. Unless you know a secret spot somewhere or you're meeting people, I wouldn't expect to find the best spot anytime after 1.
2. Don't forget to check the tide.
If you don't check the tide, you'll show up with no idea of what to expect. If you go and it's on the higher side, there may be limited rocks and the river could be harder to swim in.
3. Don't go without people who know the river better than you do.
This is a rookie mistake. If you're going to a new part of the river, I suggest you go with people who know the area better than you or you may end up hiking through the woods all afternoon looking for a spot. (Warning: Texas Beach can be very confusing if you've never been before.)
4. Unless you are absolutely certain you have a spot, don't carry a ton of stuff.
Regardless, you may end up walking around a little bit to find a good place. If you try to bring everything you could possibly want, such a cooler, a float, speakers, towels, food, etc., the amount of walking you may do could become exhausting. Stick to the essentials (for me, that's a towel, sunscreen and a cooler) and you'll be good to go.
5. Don't forget sunscreen or bug spray.
If you burn like me, once you get out on the river you're going to need sunscreen. And depending on which part of the river you go to, you may want bug spray too because some parts are more in the woods than others.
6. Don't wear shoes you care about.
You may end up walking through the woods a little bit. And if you're in the woods and by the river, there's bound to be mud. Your shoes may get ruined, so don't wear your favorite pair of sandals.
7. Don't forget snacks.
I mean, who doesn't want snacks? If you find a great spot, don't ruin your afternoon by getting there and forgetting snacks.
8. Don't let one bad experience keep you from trying again.
So maybe you walked around the woods for a few hours, not wanting to give up your afternoon of sun and the river, but eventually had to call it a day. Or maybe you found a nice spot, but your favorite pair of flip flops got totally ruined in the mud on the way there. Or you got to the river and it was high tide and there was no where to relax. Don't let one bad experience keep you from going back, because a nice day on the river will definitely be worth it.
