DRBA's "Tub-o-Bugs" visits the Collinsville Library

The Dan River Basin Association's (DRBA) "Tub-o-Bugs" show made a special visit to the Collinsville Library this week to take part in storytime. Brian Williams, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Jennifer Doss of DRBA presented three programs on macroinvertebrates and stewardship to children ages 3-11. The programs included stories about rivers and the animals that live there, games where the children pretended to be their favorite river creature, and the famous "Tub-o-Bugs" display where the youth got to see and touch creatures living in our local rivers such as crawfish, creek-chubs, hellgramites, snails, and stoneflies. The older youth also participated in a skit called "Steam: The Movie" where they learned how we can protect local streams and rivers. To have the "Tub of Bugs" show visit your group, please contact DRBA's Education and Outreach Coordinator, Brian Williams at 276-634-2592.

Jennifer reading The River to the group.

Brian explaining about the macroinvertebrates living in our local rivers.

Brian telling about the "Tub-o-Bugs" as Wayne catches some bugs to show.

Librarian Kimberly Martin and some library patrons examining stoneflies in a magnifiying box.

Youth looking at crayfish, mayflies, and other creatures.

Jennifer leading the group in "The Macro Dance"

Exploring in the "Tub-o-Bugs"

Local Youth Enjoy Spending Time Outdoors

Participants in the M-HC After 3 Program are learning to enjoy the outdoors through a series of programs provided in partnership with the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA). Over thirty Middle School aged youth from the Martinsville YMCA and Spencer-Penn Center summer programs recently spent a day hiking at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve and canoeing on the Smith River.

Playing games at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve

The group rented boats for the event from Smith River Junction in Fieldale, VA. Volunteers from DRBA and the Smith River Valley Canoe Club taught the youth basic paddling techniques and river safety tips, before paddling 5 miles down the Smith River with them from Fieldale to Doe Run. After a little practice, the youth got the hang of paddling and had a great time!

Learning to paddle takes practice!

Brian Williams of DRBA in "The Shark Boat"

M-HC After 3 leader, Jerelle Carter takes a turn kayaking.

Martinsville YMCA youth taking a dip in the river to cool off!

Youth from Spencer-Penn Center approaching the boat ramp at Doe Run

See more pictures here: http://www.pbase.com/rsweatt/mhstrip

Thanks to all who assisted with this trip!

• Volunteers: Jim & Alissa Martin, Randy Cook, Randy Sweatt, Jamie Walker & Betty Kirkpatrick
• DRBA Staff: Brian Williams & Jennifer Doss
• Buster Ferguson and the staff of Smith River Junction Outfitters

Fun Summer Day Out

Summer is a great time to get out and explore nature! The Sell Family of Martinsville recently enjoyed a visit to the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve in Ridgeway. They ate a picnic lunch under the covered pavillion and took a hike through the preserve's beautiful trails. The park is open seven days a week and admission is free. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash. For more information about volunteering or visiting the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve, please contact Jennifer Doss at jdoss@danriver.org.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday Morning Strolls- Join us to enjoy a guided tour of the Gravely Nature Preserve
August 5 @ 8 am
September 2 @ 9 am
October 7 @ 9 am
November 4 @ 9 am

Mayo River Float, July 5, 2008

Mayo River_July 5, 2008
Dan River Basin Association
Saturday outing


I'm not sure at what point a party becomes a procession, but I am sure when it becomes a parade....42 boats! So many canoes and kayaks, it looked like demo days for an outdoor store. The Dan River Basin Association's July "First Saturday" float trip was down the Mayo River, from below Anglin Mill, 9 miles downstream to the 220 access ramp.

The put-in location was on the private land of Ginger and Franklin; long time river lovers and bee-keepers, as we found out, near the ramp. As the crowd grew in size, we actually had a traffic jam getting boats to the river. The trip leaders, Lindley and T, made last minute changes to the plans, and the trip was cut down to 6 miles with the take-out location changed to the 770 bridge.

With this many boaters, it would take a while to get everyone on and off the river, and the weather was threatening as well.

Boats and more boats lined up at the ramp waiting to hit the water.

They just kept coming…

..and coming. What a party, er, parade!

Finally the Flotilla gets underway.

This entire section of the Mayo is quite beautiful... no houses, traffic, 4-wheelers......a couple of Blue Herons did join us for part of the trip, but it was nice to be in such a beautiful place and experience such tranquility.















It's amazing, anywhere else you
had that many people, you would not have
the quiet we experienced on the river...
guess that's just the way paddlers roll.

Boats drift quietly down the river...

The rhododendron blooms were hanging on for one last display of the season.

There were quite a few shallow stretches that made the trip "interesting." Our lunch stop was on a nice sandbar, river right.

We all pulled up and you finally realized just how many boats there were on the river!





























We saddled up and hit the water...off again "like a herd of turtles!"












We had a few spills….a “strainer” in a fast, shallow run caused a few boats to roll and before the carnage was over, were up-righting and draining four boats!















It was a nice day to be wet so no problems, and before long, we were all back on the water and catching up to the pack.














Some native Americn fish weirs and rapids made the trip interesting as well.




























As with all good river trips..they eventually come to an end..or at least a take out point.
Ours was the bridge at 220.














Everyone pitched in to help drag boats up the hill until we had the vehicles loaded and ready to go.















Thanks to T and Lindley Butler for leading another great DRBA outing on the river!

Article and photos by Brian Williams
Edited by Vicky Thomas

Summer in Rock Castle Gorge

Summer is the perfect time to get out and explore local trails! Rock Castle Gorge Trail is one of those local gems found within the Dan River basin. The lower end of the trail is located in Patrick County on CC Camp Road in Woolwine, Virginia. The 11 mile long trail follows the beautiful Rock Castle Creek for 4.5 miles before climbing up to Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd. Primitive camping is also available along the trail with a backcountry permit that can be obtained by contacting the Rocky Knob Visitor's Center at 540-745-9662. Darrin Doss, a DRBA member and owner of Doss Nature Photography, enjoys visiting Rock Castle Gorge and shared the photo shown above that was taken during a recent visit. A map showing the trail is shown below. As with any hiking or backpacking trip, always contact local rangers first to check trail conditions.

Paddlers Enjoy a Day on the Mayo

DRBA's 1st Saturday outing for the month of July was a huge success as over 50 paddlers showed up to enjoy a float on the Mayo River in Rockingham County, NC. The group paddled six miles from Anglin Mill to the 770 bridge below Stoneville. Along the way, trip coordinators T & Lindley Butler pointed out historic Native American fish wiers dating back over 1,000 years.


Everyone enjoyed lunch on a rocky island in the Mayo before finishing their journey.


DRBA 1st Saturday outings are free and open to the public, additional 3rd Saturday outings are available exclusively for members. For more information on outings and about becoming a DRBA member, visit www.danriver.org.

Hikers Visit Rhododendron Trail

The new Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve in Ridgeway has been open since April and getting quite a bit of use too! Now hikers have another reason to enjoy the preserve. Rhododendron Trail offers a challenging one mile hike down switchbacks and along the Smith River. The narrow path leads visitors through a wide variety of lush ferns and then through a tunnel of Rhododendrons.


Eileen Bourne (below) of the Martinsville-Henry County Master Gardeners shows Rhododendron blooms to a group of hikers.


One of the highlights of the hike is a bench overlooking the Smith River where visitors can relax and listen to the sounds of birds, leaves blowing in the breeze, and flowing water.

The Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve is located on Eggleston Falls Road in Ridgeway Virginia. The preserve, funded partially by a grant from the Harvest Foundation, is open year round and admission is free. For more information on the preserve and other natural areas in Martinsville and Henry County, call Jennifer Doss at 276-634-2545.