This morning comes a fresh reminder — two, actually — that the James River is not to be trifled with, no matter the water level.

Paul Whelan reports in the T-D that the James claimed two more bodies within 12 hours of each other on Tuesday evening and yesterday morning. The first was that of an 89-year-old pulled out near Brown’s Island — cause of death unknown. The second, on Wednesday morning, was of a man out for a morning paddle in his kayak at Robious Landing Park (picture above). Eyewitness reports are that he lost control of the boat (with his life vest in it), it went under and he died going after it.

That makes four deaths on the James in the Richmond area this summer, all while the river has been low and, by its standards, placid.