Smith River Mini-Triathlon Postponed

I’m sorry to announce that the Smith River Mini-Triathlon for June 13 has been cancelled due to change in trail conditions and the high level of water in the Smith River. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but the race will be postponed to a new date sometime in late July or the first few weekends in August. As soon as we pin down an exact date that is convenient with all the sponsors for the race, there will be another mass email stating the new date for the event. Please pass on this information to anyone who was planning to come to the race tomorrow.

Gary Cody, Director
Martinsville Leisure Services

Upcoming Water Quality Monitoring

The public is invited to join DRBA, Friends of Philpott, and the US Army Corps of Engineers for free water monitoring certification testing and more training for those who need it using the macroinvertebrate sampling used by the Virginia Save Our Streams (VASOS) protocol for stream monitoring on Saturday, June 13, from 11am to 2 p.m.

Linda Drage, President of Friends of Philpott stated there will be a cookout with hot-dogs, all the fixins, chips and sodas/water ($3 suggested donation per plate). According to Jenny Edwards (DRBA) “there's no limit on the number of times you can test for the certification. After the cookout, we'll do the monitoring of Nicholas Creek at Jamison Mill Park.”

Directions to the monitoring site from Fairystone Park Highway (Hwy. 220): turn left onto Route 605 (Henry Road) Travel about 8 miles and turn right on Jamison Mill Road (SR 780). Travel 2 miles to park entrance. Much of the initiative is made possible with funding from the Virginia Environmental Endowment. For more information, contact Mary Lawson, Conservation Biologist, Philpott Lake, at 276-629-4512 ext. 227 or mary.c.lawson@usace.army.mil

Submitted by Linda Drage

Celebrate July 4th on the River!

July 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM

Celebrate July 4 close to home with DRBA! Our Independence Day float will cover six scenic miles of the Mayo and Dan rivers in Rockingham County, NC with coordinators T and Lindley Butler.

Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, beside the NC 135 Bridge over the Mayo River, we'll set the shuttle and float 1.5 miles of the Mayo to its confluence with the Dan. After another 4.5 miles on the Dan River, the take-out will be at the mouth of Jacob's Creek. Both put-in and take-out are with landowners' permission on private property.

Although this portion of the Mayo River flows through Mayodan and Madison, the river's high forested banks hide the towns and provide a pleasant feeling of timeless wilderness. The entire six-mile trip is rated Class 1 in difficulty.

Sites of interest on the lower Mayo include Mayo Ford, which dates from Colonial times, and a stone pier from the 1892 Mayo River Bridge. Upon reaching the confluence with the Dan River, participants will encounter six historic structures from the batteau navigation system that made this river usable by flat-bottomed batteaux in the nineteenth century.

Robertson's Fish Trap Sluice includes a widened fish weir originally built to collect fish making their great spawning runs upriver from the coast. Slink Shoal Sluice and Wing Dams, called the navigation system's "crown jewel," includes the longest sluice, or channel, and the only surviving log-crib wing dams on the river.

Bring boat and paddles, life jacket, lunch and water, and dress in layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric. Boaters will be asked to sign an "Assignment of Risk / Waiver of Claim" form.
Boats may be rented from Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215 or www.3-R-O.com, which will provide shuttle as well.

DIRECTIONS: Meet at 10:00 a. m. at the Wall Lumber Company parking lot, 104 East Roosevelt Street, on the west side of the NC 135 Bridge in Mayodan, NC. The NC 135 Bridge is about two miles west of US 220 Bypass.

FURTHER INFORMATION: T Butler, 336-349-5727 or members@danriver.org.

Beginners' Bike Ride - Uptown Spur Trail

Join members of the Henry County Bike Club each Monday as they host the Beginners' Bike Ride on the Uptown Spur Trail off Depot Street. The ride begins at 5:30 p.m. Cyclists should meet at the Gazebo. Enjoy the fresh air and take in the beautiful sites of the magnificent gardens and artwork along the trail. Meet new friends and have fun while you learn biking riding techniques and get your activity in for the day.

If you do not have a bike but would like to participate, contact Activate at 276-403-5087 or email jfrisco@activatemhc.org. Please submit any requests for use of bikes or need for helmets by the Friday before the ride so that Activate staff can arrange to accommodate you.

Clank of ChainGang

The Martinsville City Police Department
and Activate Martinsville Henry County teamed up to revive the local ChainGang “Earn a Bike” Program. This program teaches students how to repair and maintain bikes while educating them on the importance of helmet and bike safety.

The first graduating class for the rejuvenated program was recognized during a ceremony hosted by Activate on Monday, June 3rd. Parents, officials and volunteers were in attendance

as students were presented a certificate of completion and their recycled bike.

School Resource Officer, Vollie Norris, acknowledged the accomplishments of each student and talked about how they had grown over the five week course. Norris told those in attendance,“though we hope to serve even more students each year, we want it to remain a place where each student can receive individual attention and where we can provide a constructive environment for local youth after school. These students not only learned hands on skills in bike repair and safety but also how to respect one another”.

Jeannie Frisco, Activate Program Director thanked the various partners and sponsors that made the program successful. “The community really came through for us. We have over 100 bikes waiting to be repaired and we are still receiving calls from our citizens who want to donate their old bikes so that even more children can be served.”

During the ceremony, Frisco acknowledged each volunteer that took

time out of their day to be there for the students. She also thanked

Cardinal Bike out of Roanoke, Virginia for allowing their employees to assess each bike donated to determine the necessary bike parts needed for proper repair. The bike shop also provided training for free to ChainGang volunteers, City Police Department Officers and Activate staff. Frisco also acknowledged one vital partner. “Without the donation of the use of a facility by Tim and Fred Martin with Fred Martin Associates, this program would not have happened.” Frisco said.

At the conclusion of the program, students enjoyed riding their bikes to their homes.

Volunteer Workday Postponed

Please note that the "Wednesday Trail Workday" planned for June 10 has been postponed. This trail building date will be rescheduled for a later date to be determined. I apologize for any inconvenience. For information on other upcoming trail building dates, please email jdoss@danriver.org.

Hike Blue Mountain

Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Blue Mountain Festival Grounds

2067 Coopers Mountain Rd. in Franklin County, VA

See directions below and watch for festival signage. Blue Mountain is located between Chestnut Mountain and Turkey Cock Mountain in Franklin County approximately 12 miles from Martinsville. This will be a 1-3 mile moderate hike with a couple steep climbs. This hike will take place in conjunction with Gemini Music Festival. Check out the music festival at http://www.bluemtnmusic.com/.

Any Blue Ridge Ski & Outing Club member or any Dan River Basin Association member interested in staying for the festival after the hike will get a reduced ticket price of $15 for Saturday only.

Anyone interested in the hike should meet across the creek at the foot bridge at 9:30 a.m.. The hike will begin at 10:00 a.m. and completion time will vary according to the number trails we do. The trails will be well marked and there will be a trail map available. There will also be trail leaders. When you enter the festival grounds you are to sign in with the person working the gate and state that you are there for the hike. If after the hike you decide to stay for the festival you can return to the gate and buy your reduced ticket and get an arm band for the day.

From Martinsville: Take Figsboro Road 5.5 miles from 174/108N intersection. Turn left onto SR-618 (Mountain Road). Take first right onto SR 632 ( Coopers Mountain Road). Continue for 2.5 miles to festival site. Watch for festival signage.

From Greensboro, NC: Take 220 N toward Martinsville. Take 220N Bypass toward Roanoke. Continue approximately 10 miles. Take Collinsville (US 220 Business South) exit. Take left at first traffic light onto SR174(Kings Mountain Rd). Travel 3.5 miles and turn left at 2nd traffic light onto 108N (Figsboro Rd.) Continue with Martinsville directions at this point.

From Danville: Take 58 West toward Martinsville. Turn right right onto SR57. Travel approximately 8 miles. Turn left onto Dyers Store Road. Follow to the end and turn right onto 108 N (Figsboro Road). Take first state road to the left SR618 (Mountain Rd.). Take first right onto SR632 (Coopers Mountain Rd.). Travel 2.5 miles to festival site. Watch for festival signage.From Roanoke: Take 220 S toward Martinsville. After third Rocky Mount exit take left at traffic light ( Sontag Road -- SR619). Travel 9.4 miles and take right onto SR 632 (Coopers Mountain Rd). Travel 4.6 miles to festival site. Watch for festival signage.

Field Trip to Grassy Hill Natural Heritage Preserve

Join us Thursday, July 25th for a field trip led by Bryan Wender, Mountain Region Steward of the VA DCR, Division of VA Natural Heritage. Bryan will take us to Grassy Hill Preserve, a special area protected by our state near Rocky Mount, VA. It features a nice trail through a Piedmont oak-hickory forest in addition to several rare plants such as fame flower, and a species of coneflower. This trip should prove quite interesting. Bryan is giving up his evening to lead us. So please come one come all. Walking may be a little weedy in spots so bring bug juice and long pants. If you would like to car pool to the trailhead at the Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career Exploration (across the street from the Franklin County YMCA) in Rocky Mount, please meet at the Henry County Administration Building parking lot early enough to leave promptly at 6pm to arrive at the trailhead by 6:30pm. For more information contact Ellen Jessee at ejessee.pls@comcast.net or cell phone 276-340-5836.

Volunteers Create Additional Trail

(L-R Rear) Nancy Kennett, Tracy Kennett, Karen Giles, Tommy Wyatt, Paula Wyatt, Benny Setliff, Glenda Scott, Danny Smith, (on golf cart) Chris Wyatt, (not pictured) Jennifer Doss, Darrin Doss, Martha Smith, and Hunter Doss.

The Fieldale Trail has really grown in popularity since the opening of the new Phase II extension, but people keep asking when will it get longer. Today with help from the "Friends of the Fieldale Trail" a team from the Smith River Trail System's Adopt-A-Trail Program, the Dan River Basin Association extended the Fieldale Trail by another 1/4 mile. The new section of trail was walked by seven visitors before we even could finish packing up our tools! It is now open and ready for you to enjoy-- happy hiking!

Benny Setliff blazes new trail

Chris Wyatt & Tracy Kennett clear limbs and small trees out of the path

To see more photos from today's workday, visit the
Dan River Basin Association's photo album on Facebook.

Support from volunteers is critical to the future development of the Smith River Trail System. For information on other volunteer opportunities,
please send your contact information to drba.va@danriver.org.

Perfect Day For a Paddle

It was a beautiful sunny day out today and a perfect time to try out a new hobby. That's exactly what ten residents of Martinsville & Henry County did as they took a beginner kayak course offered by the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, and Martinsville Leisure Services.
Instructor Eric Juday of the American Canoe Association led the participants step by step as they learned about the types of boats available, fitting for PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices), getting in and out of kayaks, and basic paddle strokes.To see more photos from today's class, visit the Dan River Basin Association's photo album on Facebook.

If you would like information about future beginner or intermediate kayaking classes, please send your contact information to drba.va@danriver.org.