 PEOPLE HAZARDS:
Parts of the trail are quite isolated, and you may not want to walk too
far from Riverview Park at off-peak times without being accompanied by
other people -- unless you're fairly confident your dog is both willing
and able to protect you (the protective instinct is NOT shared equally
by all types of dogs). The likelihood of being assaulted along the path
is extremely small, but we should note that in recent years, a woman
walking her small dog along the Greenbelt was raped and nearly killed.
We should hasten to add that -- at least as far as we know -- this is the
only
serious assault to have taken place at this park to date. Also, people
-- usually teenagers -- have been known to operate illegally mopeds, motor
bikes and ATVs on the trail, often at reckless speeds. Be sure to
report suspicious and dangerous activity to the police and encourage the
police to do regular patrols on the trail.
 CRITTER HAZARDS:
In addition to the run-of-the-mill snakes and snapping turtles that one
is likely to find near any significant source of water in this area during
the summer months,
BEAVERS are present in large numbers
along the Greenbelt and, unlike snakes and snapping turtles, they don't
cease their activity during the colder months. Take a good look at the
numerous stumps of trees all along the path that show obvious signs of
having been gnawed through by beavers; imagine your dog's butt in place
of these tree stumps; take
reasonable precautions accordingly.
 SKUNKS may also
be found along the Greenbelt. We know this because St.Ella found one --
or, rather, it found her -- during her very first trip there (July 1993).
We don't know whether skunks still reside along the Greenbelt, but during
a recent walk (March 1999), we could detect the distinctive and unforgettable
smell of a skunk somewhere in the vicinity. It's a smell we know all too
well because despite bathing St.Ella innumerable times in tomato juice
and trying any number of other so-called sure-fire remedies, we were forced
to live with its traces (at least) for several weeks in the late summer
of 1993. It's an experience we'll never forget; we don't recommend it.
Nothing good can come from the meeting of skunk and dog; take reasonable
precautions accordingly.
 WATER HAZARDS:
With great swimming (for dogs) prospects come both greater and different
potential dangers. If the portion of Moore's Creek that flows through Azalea
Park may be likened to a wading pool (except after a heavy rain, when it
has been known to do a decent impression of the mighty Mississippi), the
Rivanna River is more like an Olympic size swimming pool; at the risk of
belaboring the obvious, you should only take your dog swimming here if
he or she is a pretty accomplished swimmer.
Another potential hazard here is the presence of fish hooks --
a lot of people like to fish along the banks of the Rivanna during the
warmer months, and fish hooks often get caught in the underbrush along
the bank. Dogs are sometimes drawn to the scent of the bait left on the
hook, even months or years after the hook has been abandoned. If you spot
a red and white bobber caught in the bushes along the bank, be sure to
keep your dog clear of the immediate area because it's quite likely that
there is a hook attached to the end of that line. |
GOOD
POINTS:
HAPPY
TRAILS: An advantage RP/RG has over Azalea
Park is that it has a paved footpath which follows the bank
of the Rivanna River for a fairly long (roughly a mile from Riverview Park
to Free Bridge) stretch. Much of the path is quite scenic (with practice,
one can learn to block out some of the less appealing sights along the
way, such as the gigantic powerlines that run through part of the path).
If you don't already have a dog, you may want to get one just to have an
excuse to take this walking path on a regular basis (see the Where
Can I Adopt One? page). The path is narrow in places and you're likely
to come across a fair number of non-dog people enjoying the path for its
own sake, so this is NOT a good place to take a very hyper-active dog that
wants to run and is prone to jump up on strangers. The Greenbelt is a popular
spot for many area senior citizens, so basic decency requires one to take
the "Please Control Your Dog" signs very seriously. This is, however, an
ideal place for a vigorous leash-walk or to take an older and/or well-behaved
dog off the leash.
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