The pair of tracks at its top are very active, a main path for freight and passenger travel connecting north and south. It is a common sight to see dozens of Tropicana box-cars lined up. Amtrack also runs along these tracks and stops just a few miles north at the Staples Mill Road station.
It's not easy to get down to the river near the bridge without walking through woods and thorny thickets. The river bank level is about 80 feet lower than the road above. A couple paths will take you there from Riverside Drive - made primarily by young people who fish and party along the rocks. At the bottom, you are very much in a different place. Graffiti and some trash is splattered about, evidence of the many people who use and abuse this natural place. The sense of isolation and challenge in finding this spot surely has something to do with this.
When venturing down the hill to this spot, take the time to sit on a rock and just listen to the sounds. After filtering out the droan of the Parkway, you'll begin to hear and see the geese and ducks. The small stepped falls of the river are very calming. And if you're lucky, one of the bald eagles who are nesting on the nearby island will fly overhead.
No comments:
Post a Comment