Dan River Boat Race

If you can’t resist a good competition or race, you may want to get yourself ready for the upcoming 19th annual Dan River Boat Race. This is a 2.5-mile race on a mild section of the Dan River between Mayodan and Madison in Rockingham County. Registration for the race can be completed up until 3:00 pm on August 1st.

If racing isn’t your thing, but you would like to support the event by being a safety boater, the Madison-Mayodan Recreation District is looking for a few more volunteers to do just that. You can contact Dixie Penn of the Madison-Mayodan Recreation District at dpenn@embarqmail.com for more information on volunteering, or call her at 336.548.9572.

Don’t forget that you can also just head to the race site on August 2 to enjoy the race and walk around the historic towns of Madison and Mayodan. We highly recommend a visit to Madison Dry Goods and their upstairs museum, or lunch at Fuzzy’s BBQ or dinner at the new Brickyard Tavern.

For more information or to see pictures from past races, visit www.danriverboatrace.org. The race will also be featured this weekend on UNC-TV's “North Carolina Weekend,” which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. and repeats on Friday and Saturday. Check your local listings.

Article by: Brian Higgins

DRBA's August First Saturday Outing

The Dan River Basin Association’s First Saturday Outing on August 2 will explore a portion of Philpott Lake accessible only to small boat paddlers. Meeting at 10:00 a. m. at the rustic Jamison Mill Park, about six miles northwest of Henry, Virginia, the group will begin its four-mile round-trip float by paddling down Nicholas Creek less than a quarter mile to a point of land where a picnic area offers shade trees, tables, a restroom, and a great view of the lake.

Trip coordinator is the Association’s Outings Chair, Paul Johnson, former director of the Halifax County Library, who is among the founding members of the Association. According to Johnson, “The shallow water along the creek to the lake is impassible to large craft but easily navigable by kayak or canoe. Once we reach the main body of Philpott Lake we will follow along the shoreline to the next tributary on the northern side, Beard Creek. “We will paddle a mile upstream through a wooded area where wildlife abounds,” Johnson continued. “Philpott Reservoir's upper reaches are a great escape to clear waters amid forested foothills, with occasional glimpses of the Blue Ridge in the distance.”

After returning to the picnic area the paddlers will enjoy facilities maintained by a newly formed local group that has devoted many hours to Jamison Mill. The Friends of Philpott formed in response to an announcement by the Army Corps of Engineers that budget constraints would cause some recreational facilities at Philpott Lake to be closed, including picnic areas at Jamison Mill. Just over a year old, the group has 100 members who have put in many volunteer hours building and maintaining trails at Jamison Mill and other areas. The mission of Friends of Philpott is "to provide environmentally responsible use, development and protection of the natural and recreational resource at Philpott Lake through community involvement and education." The Dan River Basin Association invites Friends of Philpott members to join them on the paddling trip or the picnic following.

Another newly created group invited to join in this outing is The Creek Freak Paddlers of Franklin County. Their website explains that they are a Virginia Paddling Club, co-sponsored by the Franklin County Parks & Recreation Department. The group “is family oriented, and about exposing kids and families to the local rivers in Franklin County,” which is showing a huge increase in paddle sports activities.

As a regional organization DRBA welcomes the creation of local recreation and conservation groups throughout the Dan River Basin. After the picnic, an optional third phase of the outing is a hike on the nature trails at Jamison Mill, which are continually expanding, thanks to the work of Friends of Philpott.

Paddlers are asked to meet at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot at the end of Jamison Mill Road adjacent to Nicholas Creek. Bring boat, paddles, life jacket, lunch and water, and dress in layers of artificial, quick-drying fabric or wool. All participants in the outing will be asked to sign a waiver.

Directions from US 220: drive west on Henry Road, State Route 605, to a left turn at Nicholas Creek Road, State Route 778, which is marked by a sign to Jamison Mill. At the end of Nicholas Creek Road, turn left on Jamison Mill Road and follow it to the end. The park is six miles beyond the community of Henry.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For more information, contact Paul Johnson, kpauljohnson@yahoo.com or 434-579-7599.

For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.

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.