Enjoying some last-minute fun before school starts

SLIDESHOW: Last days of summer vacation

On the last weekend before school starts, Kevin Spicer went shopping.

He wasn't looking for last-minute school supplies for his 12-year-old son Michael, though. Spicer bought some fishing gear and a big blue inner tube to haul behind his speedboat.

Dad, son, and friend Brooks Coombs, 13, went to Osborne Boat Landing in Henrico County yesterday to spend the day on the James River.

"This is going to be our first tubing experience," Kevin Spicer said.

Off they went, down the river, past the power plant and into prime tubing waters.

Like many around the region, they were hoping to cram in some last-minute fun before the school year starts. Some hit the river, others went to parks, pools and farmers' markets.

Farther down the river, a group of 16 kids and adults lazed on inner tubes along the James near Browns Island.

Earlier in the week, Rand Burgess and some friends put up fliers in his Richmond neighborhood Newtowne West advertising a river float.

It's the second year the group has hit the river for a Labor Day trip before the school year starts, said Burgess, owner of the Camel restaurant and bar on Broad Street.

"The kids really like this," said Burgess. "The first time we did this, they didn't know there was a river in Richmond. They don't get to see this stuff."

One tuber was Man-man Clake, 12, who is starting fifth grade at William Fox Elementary School. For him, the river is way better than school. "It's fun," he said.

The parks also drew crowds.

At the South of the James Market at Forest Hill Park, Mark Abernathy from Little Jimmy's Italian Ices of Carytown served the masses. It was the busiest day all season, and by noon, Abernathy had already sold more than 125 ices.

Sydnee Voigt, who is visiting her grandchildren from Brazil, was among his customers. Pina colada and watermelon ices went to the kids. "We're just going to spend Labor Day together as a family," Voigt said.

As for Abernathy, his plan after work: Head down to his boat on the Chesapeake Bay.

Nearby, the ice cream man played the flute. A man sold violins and farmers sold their wares. Artisans, musicians and food vendors mingled.

"This is my treat to myself," said Dennis M. Brumback, owner of Vanity Fair Flowers & Gardens, who bought a rare plant at the market. "I spend the rest of my weekend working with gardens."

He didn't get to enjoy summer much this year, much like most years.

"I think, 'Oh great, it's Memorial Day, maybe I'll see summer' and then it's Labor Day and . . . 'I missed it,'" Brumback said.

Contact Emily C. Dooley at (804) 649-6016 or .