Smith River Film Festival a Success

"Team DRBA", Brian Williams & Jennifer Doss,
in front of the historic Rives Theater.

More than 100 friends of the Smith River packed the Rives Theater on Friday night for the first annual Smith River Film Festival. Guests enjoyed a jam packed show featuring films by Andy Parker, Iris Gillispie, Jason Burton, Trent Fentress, James Whitlow, Linda Drage, Lynn Pritchett, Darrin Doss, Jennifer Doss, Brian Williams, and Southside Up Productions.  The audience laughed at river bloopers, admired the scenic beauty on the Smith River and even got a close up look at some of the region's wildlife.

Several lucky audience members even won door prizes! They were Niel Tatum, Joshua Ticker, Dale Swanson, Jim Tobin, Mike Leggett, Paula Bowen, Danny Smith, Barbara Thompson, Tamara Poles, Brad Wright, Barb Speece, Trent Fentress, and Marcia Dameron. Thank you to Southeastern Outdoor Supply, Angler's Choice, Applebee's, Chick-fil-A, Smith River Sports Complex, and Great Outdoor Provisions for providing door prizes for the event!

Now the question on everyone's mind is "who won the film contest????"

Join us at 3 p.m. Monday at the Smith River Fest stage to hear the contest winners announced. Hope to see you there. And don't forget to join us on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. for DRBA's Gear Swap!

Visit http://www.smithriverfest.com/ for more details.

October First Saturday Outing

DRBA Celebrates Eden’s
Land of Two Rivers

OUTING USES THREE ACCESS POINTS IN EDEN, NC

INCLUDES NC BIG SWEEP RIVER CLEANUP

The City of Eden, North Carolina, is known as “The Land of Two Rivers,” and the Dan River Basin Association’s October 3 outing will celebrate the city’s latest success in making its two rivers more accessible to the public. The two-part float will use three public access points now available in Eden on the Smith and Dan rivers.

Meeting at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Three Rivers Outfitters, participants will launch their boats at Island Ford Landing, located at the Meadow Road trailhead of the Eden Smith River Greenway. This new public access point was officially opened on August 24, 2009.
Floating two miles to the Smith River’s confluence with the Dan, boaters will take out at the Eden Wildlife Access, locally known as “the Boat Landing,” a popular Dan River access point beside Bethlehem Church Road.

Loading up their boats for a short shuttle, participants will lunch at Leaksville Landing Access and Park, which was dedicated on August 22, 2006. After lunch, the float will resume with a 1.5-mile paddle back to the Boat Landing.
Although the rivers flow through the City of Eden, high forested banks hide many of the homes and businesses and provide a pleasant rural setting. Gravel bars may generate riffles, but the rivers tend to be shallow and easy to navigate.
The entire trip is rated Class 1 in difficulty.

At the new Island Ford Access, MillerCoors Brewery is partnering with the Association on a reforestation project to protect the river, including a rain garden to capture runoff from the picnic shelter and parking lot.

As part of North Carolina Big Sweep, the annual watershed cleanup in which the Association always takes part, participants will collect any litter they find along both rivers. Cornerstones of DRBA’s mission are education, recreation, and stewardship of our resources.
Each river boasts its own rich history. Island Ford is named for the place where Colonial travelers on the road from Salem, North Carolina to Petersburg, Virginia crossed the Smith River.

Leaksville Landing is the only known existing port in the United States for batteaux, the long, narrow boats that carried nineteenth-century commerce on our shallow inland rivers. Just downstream from Leaksville Landing is the 30-foot-tall stone piling from the 1852 Leaksville Covered Bridge, which fell into the river in 1943.

Other interesting facts about these sections of the rivers are found in the Association’s two new publications: Map 1 of “An Insider’s Guide to the Smith River in Virginia and North Carolina,” and Maps 47 – 48 of “An Insider’s Guide to the Dan River in North Carolina and Virginia.” Both are available at http://www.danriver.org/ .

An added bonus of the outing will be the Association’s observance of Mountains-to-Sea Trail Month. The 1,000-mile trail, which includes Rockingham County’s rivers and some of its footpaths, crosses North Carolina from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks.
Participants are asked to meet at 10:00 a. m. at Three Rivers Outfitters, 413-B Church Street, Eden, NC. Please bring boat, life jacket, plenty of fluids, lunch, and work gloves. North Carolina Big Sweep will provide trash bags for the cleanup. Although the trip is not technically demanding or hazardous, boaters will be asked to sign a waiver.
In addition, those who sign a separate waiver for NC Big Sweep and participate in recording the types and amounts of trash collected will be eligible for prize drawings provided by the Rockingham County Beautification Council.

Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215 or http://www.3-r-o.com/, will offer boat rentals and shuttle for the float.
To reach Three Rivers Outfitters, take NC 14 to Eden, North Carolina. Turn west on Meadow Road (NC 770/NC 700). Go through one traffic light at Stadium Drive. Cross the Smith River on Island Ford Bridge, enter the traffic circle, and immediately turn right into the parking lot.

All First Saturday Outings of the Dan River Basin Association are free and open to the public.For more information, contact T Butler, 336-349-5727 or members@danriver.org

They're Here!

The Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail shirts have arrived in celebration of the amazing 4.5 mile long greenway that will soon pass though Martinsville & Henry County!

Shirts are $10 each and available in Green or Tan. Be the first on your block to own the coolest shirt around! The shirts will be available to purchase tonight at the Smith River Film Fest, Sunday at the DRBA Gear Swap, Monday at Smith River Fest, and the remaining stock will be available for purchase online at http://www.danriver.org/ next week.

Come and get 'em while they're hot!

Kayak Clinics

Interested in picking up a new hobby, or need to brush up on some old skills? Come join Smith River Adventure Outfitters for a beginner kayak clinic on Saturday September 26th, and an intermediate clinic on Sunday September 27th.

Eric Juday of Smith River Adventure Outfitters is running kayak classes to teach new paddlers the basics, and to teach some new skills to more experienced kayakers. Eric is a DRBA member and a new outfitter in our area offering canoe/kayak rentals, guided trips, and private lessons.

The course fee for beginners is $40 and $55 for the itermediate clinic. To register, contact Eric at Smith River Adventure Outfitters by September 16th.

Check out http://www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com/ for more information!

Join us for the River Heritage Float on the Dan!

Join us for the DRBA River Heritage Float at the Stokes Stomp Festival on the Dan River on Sunday, September 13, 2009, at 8:30am!

Local historian and Dan River fisherman, Steve Shelton, will guide an interpretive float on the Dan River from the Dan River Company's facility to the Stokes Stomp festival at Moratock Park in Danbury, NC. The trip will cover 5.5 miles and take approximately 2.5 hours.

Along the way we'll discuss the Native American cultures that lived here, the early European settlers, the mineral and agricultural industry that developed and the resorts that flourished 100 years ago. We'll investigate an Indian fish trap, see evidence of abandoned roads and river fords, and possibly get a look at the foundation remnants of the old dam that serviced the Moratock Iron Works (if the water is low enough and not too cloudy). In addition to issues of heritage we'll also look for evidence of local wildlife such as beaver, otter, deer, and the assortment of birds, fish, reptiles, bugs, etc. that call the Dan home.

Please call 336-593-8838 (Dan River Company) to reserve your spot on this unique new Stokes Stomp event. There will be a limit to 20 boats (canoes or kayaks), so please make sure to call now and ensure a spot! Free shuttles will be provided by the Dan River Company and
canoe & kayak rentals are available for those without their own boats, so everyone is welcome!

It should be a great morning on the river, hope to see you there!

Epiphany on the Smith River

Fact: I needed to become more physically fit and active.

Reality: I don’t care for walking, bicycles are not my friend, and heaven help me (and you) if you ever see me jogging. I was facing a major dilemma and needed to find an answer…..soon.

Friends and family had tried to convince me that kayaking was the ideal sport for me, but I would not listen. I just could not imagine that it would be enjoyable. I also felt that I might be a little too old to learn the sport. Because my family and friends are so involved in that sport, I would find myself being drawn to the river when they would head off on a trip or even waiting for them to arrive at the end of the trip.

My family was determined that I at least try it and took me to the river. I was taught how to get in and out, how to paddle, how to “read the river” and basic safety guidelines. They retreated up the bank to watch and left me to explore in a predetermined area with another kayak nearby for moral support and additional instruction.

It was a great experience and I as left the river that day; I remember feeling sad that the kayaking experience was over. I wanted to stay and play on the river. Once you get a taste of what you have been missing, it is hard to let it go again.

Within a week I was fully outfitted with my very own, bright yellow, Old Town Vapor 10 kayak. I relied on advice from numerous friends as to the perfect kayak for a novice and the Vapor fit the bill. It has a large open cockpit and a very stable yet maneuverable hull. I purchased the necessary safety items and I was ready to go!

In Martinsville & Henry County, there is a fairly large group of kayakers and canoeists who are always eager to go on a paddle. They are very good at getting the word out on paddle opportunities. This group of experienced paddlers is also very good about mentoring those who are new to the sport.

For my first trip, we began our journey at the access point at Marrowbone Creek and floated/paddled down to the Mitchell Bridge take out. This trip was approximately 3.5 miles from start to finish. It was SO much fun! Since then, we have been on several trips.

I am on vacation this week and wanted to get on the river. Yesterday, my husband and I put our kayaks in at the South Martinsville access point and took a paddle down the river. It was a wonderful day. We paddled, we floated, we had lunch on huge rocks in the middle of the river and we played in the water! We observed wildlife and beautiful plants and trees as we made our way down river. It was a unique mixture of calm waters, moving waters, an almost total absence of sound at times, and then the call of the birds or the sound of the water rushing over the rocks would take center stage. It was exhilarating yet calming, all at the same time.

As we approached the take-out point, Marrowbone Creek, I had my epiphany. I had found MY sport, the answer to my fitness dilemma. I had just completed a 7.5 mile paddle on the Smith River. It took us approximately 4 ½ hours to make this trip. Was I tired? Yes, but the journey gave forth so many sights, sounds, opportunities to interact with nature, that you barely knew that time was passing. I had been one-on-one with nature, had my quiet times, had my fun times and had fulfilled my quest to find a way to become more physically active. Was I too old to take on this sport? Absolutely NOT! Come on 50th birthday and I’ll take you paddling with me!

Contributed by: Martha Smith

Help Virginia Win a Tourism Award

One of our Rivers and Trails Group partners, Martinsville & Henry County's Economic Development Corporation, has a special request for everyone to please help Virginia win an award to enahnce our tourism potential.

Advertising Week has just announced that the Virginia is for Lovers slogan is a nominee for the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame. We need you and all of your contacts to vote so that we win this competition. To vote for the Virginia is for Lovers slogan, go to www.advertisingweek.com/wof , click on the Slogan section, click Virginia is for Lovers and the hit the Vote button. Cast votes by Sept. 18.

The winners will be inducted into the Walk of Fame during Advertising Week (September 21-25) and will gain a permanent position on the advertising industry's version of Hollywood and Vine -- Madison Avenue. Recognition like this goes a long way in our work to bring more visitors to Virginia and support the state's $19 billion tourism industry.
The Walk of Fame nomination coincides with the 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers and follows on the heels of Forbes.com naming Virginia is for Lovers one of the top ten marketing campaigns of all time.

Please send this link to all of your friends, outlook contacts, post on your facebook page and tweet on your Twitter account if you have one. If you follow VirginiaLove or VAtourismpr please retweet their links to this competition.

As they say at the Oscars, it is an honor just to be a nominee, we're in the running with serious competitors. And true to the VTC BTO spirit we want to win…and badly. So share the love and vote for Virginia is for Lovers http://www.advertisingweek.com/wof!

Information submitted by Felica Rupert, EDC

Another Animal Story

Fall is drawing near and wild animals throughout Martinsville and Henry County are busy foraging to prepare for the months ahead. A DRBA member submitted these photos of some beautiful deer in the area. Notice the massive buck in the center. Their location is undisclosed to protect their identities and hide (no pun intended)!

Photo submitted by: annonymous

They Do Exist...

No we're not talking about the tooth fairy and easter bunny, but massive catfish on the Smith River. Two 30+ pound flathead catfish were recently retireved from intake grates to the Spray Dam Canal in Eden, NC. It is unfortunate that these fish did not survive, but very interesting to be able to see them and know that these large fish inhabit portions of our local river. Thanks to Mark Bishopric, Spray dam operator, for sharing this story.

Group Bike Ride

The Henry County Bike Club, a M-HC Rivers & Trails Group partner, would like to invite area cyclists out to ride with them this Thursday evening. Meet at the Uptown Farmer's Market at 5:45 p.m. Contact Tommy Smith for more details.

Submitted by: Tommy Smith

A New Adventure

Hello! My name is Kathryn Bongarzone, and I am a senior at Averett University. I am studying Environmental Science, which has led me to an internship with the Dan River Basin Association. I am originally from Massachusetts, but I have lived in Danville and attended Averett University for the past three years. Last fall I was lucky enough to spend a semester studying in Dundee, Scotland. While I was there I was able to pursue my interests in the environment with a class on conservation and ecology. Through this class I was able to experience some of Scotland’s oldest and most beautiful national parks and forests.

I have also spent the past three summers working as an aide at a school for children with autism and other special needs. Although this does not directly relate to the environment, I think that my experiences there will give me a head start when I begin working with the Trout-in-the-Classroom program and other Dan River Basin Association initiatives. I am looking forward to bringing two of my interests together.

After my senior year, I hope that my experiences through out college will propel me to a career in the field of Environmental Science. I look forward to the experience and knowledge I will gain this year while working with DRBA!

I am presently working in DRBA's Virginia office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

It's just around the corner...

Excitement is filling the air as Smith River Fest 2009 draws closer. You see, this festival is not just about paddling. It is a celebration of everything recreational in Martinsville and Henry County.We have so much to offer here and now it is time to showcase our potential for being a recreational destination to the region.

The festivities begin this Friday with the First Annual Smith River Film Festival at the Rives Theater. At this event, guests will be treated to an entertaining night of bloopers, scenic beauty, natural wonders, and paddling at it's finest. While watching some of the clips you will swear you are right in the river too! Ticket sales for this event benefit a good cause and will support the development of a formal river access at Mitchell Road Bridge. If you've ever had to drag your boat up that steep hill, you know why we desperately need a designated river access there with a more gently sloped ramp! Henry County Parks & Recreation has six superb river access points along the Smith River and this will be a welcome addition to the list.

On Saturday, paddlers of all skill levels will have a chance to enjoy the river. A recreational release of water is planned (tentatively) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. thanks to Dominion Power and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Two area outfitters: Smith River Adventure Outfitters and Three Rivers Outfitters will offer guided paddle trips throughout the day. Experienced paddlers can enjoy a swift ride down class II/III rapids, while novice paddlers can try their hand at a Beginner Fun Float on a calmer stretch of river.  If paddling is not your thing, take a walk, jog, or bicycle ride on some of the 14 miles of trail available along the Smith River Trail System. Tech wizards can also enjoy the outdoors with more than 150 hidden treasures located in the area for Geocaching. Or you can cast away the rest of the afternoon enjoying fly fishing at it's finest catching world class Brown and Rainbow trout.


On Sunday, another recreational water release will be held tentatively from 8 a.m.- 12 p.m., after the river run come on over to the North Bassett River Access to participate in DRBA's Gear Swap. Bring your recreational gear to buy, sell, and trade. Several items have been registered so far including...

Paddling Gear:
-- Propulsion Technologies PTR 197 Kayak Paddle, blue blades with reinforced tips
-- Old Town Otter Sport Kayak
-- 16 foot Water Quest 3 Person Canoe
-- Kidder Adult Life Jacket, Blue/black
-- Water shoes size 9/10
-- Cross bars for overhead carrier, adjustable for small SUVs 44" and up, comes with keys
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Camping Gear:
-- Alpine Peak Internal Frame Backpack, Maroon & Black
-- Assorted Camping Gear, Backpacks, & Sleeping Bags
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Books & Guides:
-- Assorted books on canoeing and rock climbing
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Biking Gear:
-- Swangman Heavy Duty Bike Rack, attaches to trailer hitch and holds three bikes, comes with keys to securely lock it.

On Monday (Labor Day) the North Bassett River Access will be hopping all day with a recreational water release (tentative) from  8 a.m. to 12 p.m.and the main event of Smith River Fest complete with live music from Montana Young, Dean Smith, Amy Stewart, Joe Washrag Band, and Presha Point; food from Chick-fil-A, Hammertime, Food For Fun, and Papa's Pizza, informative booths, FREE bicycle riding lessons from Activate M-HC, a canoe/kayak race, and Beginner Fun Floats. Drop your boats off at Philpott River Access, drive downstream to park and enjoy a FREE shuttle provided by Henry County Parks & Recreation.

It's going to be a great weekend. We hope to see you there! For more information checkout www.smithriverfest.com or call 276-634-2545.
 

A Fish Tale

Paul May, a DRBA member and volunteer, shared a photo with us from his weekend fishing float on the Smith River. This is one of two fish that he caught on the river. Great job Paul!