General Information about 2012 James River Batteau Festival
We hope for good weather, good water, and great participation for the upcoming 27th Annual James River Batteau Festival June 16-23rd. The following information is by no means everything but hopefully will answer a lot of your questions.
from JRBF Chairman, Ralph Smith.
Fees
Batteau Programs $200.00. If a batteau program has 4 current VCNS members then the fee is reduced to $100.00.
Camping Fee: Canoe/Kayak/others $5.00 per night per canoe/kayak, $25.00 for the entire week.
(VC&NS Online Store – Pay Camping Fees online.
Note: Paypal fees added to online price.)
Just FYI, we have over $7,000 in expenses for toilets and insurance alone and also have many other miscellaneous expenses. Nobody likes fees but hopefully everyone agrees that this is a minimal fee for what is provided.
Boat Launching
The Riveredge Park Ramp in Amherst County (Smiley Block) is under construction and will be closed basically until November. Thankfully and largely because of the Batteau Festival, they are stopping construction and making the site available for use from 6/11/12 to 6/24/12. We are not sure what kind of shape the parking area will be in, but the ramp will be available for launching boats between the dates above.
The city ramp at Griffin Pipe is available for kayaks and canoes to launch but not for batteaux. There is limited parking so it will help if everyone launches their boat and then moves their car asap. Camp Kum By Yah will be providing some shuttle Sat AM for moving vehicles away from the ramp.
Camp Kum-Ba-Yah
Camp Kum-Ba-Yah has joined our events festivities and will be hosting a Fishing tournament, sponsored by the B.A.S.S. Federation of Virginia, and will be holding their 3rd Annual River Race for canoes and kayaks. The fishing tournament will be held from 6:30 to 9:00 AM. The Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Canoe/Kayak-River Race will begin at Percival’s Island at Noon. (Note: The Batteaux leave at 11:00 am from Percival’s Island and THEN the Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Canoe/Kayak Race starts at 12:00 Noon) For additional information about these events or to register, visit: www.campkumbayah.com
Site information for the James River Batteau Festival
Day 1 Sat. June 16th Lynchburg
Batteau will arrive at Pericival’s Island between 9:00AM and 10:00AM. The Batteau roll call and departure will begin at 11:00AM.
Lynch’s Landing presents the Lynchburg Launch of the JRBF by hosing a day of celebrating the James River. In the parking area and walkway to Percival’s Island there will be demonstrations, exhibitors and vendors from 9:00am until 3:00pm. If you’re participating in the festival I encourage you to fully enjoy your trip by spending some enjoying the festivities planned by Lynch’s Landing.
Day 1 Sat. June 16th Lynchburg to Stapleton
Batteau will travel 14 miles to Stapleton arriving late afternoon. A dinner of Hot Dogs and Bar-B-Que will be available for purchase by Amelon United Methodist Church. Breakfast will also be available Sunday AM, Ice will be available for sale but water is not provided.
Saturday Evening Music will be provided by Farm Use starting around 6:00PM.
Day 2 Sun. June 17th Stapleton to Bent Creek
Sunday’s trip is 15 miles and ends at a field river left just past the Rt. 60 bridge. Dinner will be provided by Vito’s Pizza and breakfast will be available if enough people request and pre-pay. Ice and water will be available, trash will be removed from site.
Day 3 Mon June 18th Bent Creek to Wingina
The Bent Creek to Wingina trip is 13 miles and ends river left just upriver from the Rt.56 Bridge and DGIF Ramp. The dinner in Wingina is provided by the Lovingston Volunteer Fire and Rescue squad. Please download the meal order form and send in your order and payment in advance if you want a steak dinner.A steak dinner is available with advance reservations, form available on the batteau.org website. Bar-b-que and hot dogs can be purchased with no advance reservations. Breakfast will be available, water and Ice will available also.
DOWNLOAD WINGINA MEAL ORDER FORM – CLICK HERE
Monday Evening Music will be provide by The Hot Seats starting around 6:00 PM.
Day 4 Tue June 19th Wingina to Howardsville
This day is 13 miles long and ends river left just past the Rockfish River in Howardsville. A Spaghetti Dinner is provided by Jimmy Crews who owns the property and is our host, breakfast will also be available. Ice and water are available for purchase are as other supplies at the Howardsville General Store just a short walk across the tracks.
Tuesday Evening Music is provided by the “Faster than Walking” band starting around 6:00 PM.
Day 5 Wed June 20th Howardsville to Scottsville
The 12 mile trip to Scottsville ends river left just after the Rt 20 bridge. We’re hosted by the James River Reeling and Rafting company on property just upriver from the DGIF ramp. Camping is also available at the School in Scottsville and at the property next to the Canal Basin exhibit. Dinner, breakfast, ice, and water are available at many establishments in Scottsville, all within walking distance of the ramp.
PLEASE NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NO ONE TRESPASS ON EITHER LITTLE ROCK ISLAND OR BIG ROCK ISLAND. THESE TWO ISLANDS ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY, OWNED BY THE TAPSCOTT FAMILY. THEY HAVE OWNED THESE ISLANDS SINCE 1847 WHEN THE ISLANDS WERE DEEDED TO THEIR MT. WARREN FARM.
Please also mark through any brochure copies referencing stopping at Rock Island. This information is to be struck through. The pdf file online has been blotted out if you wish to print out a new copy of the brochure. Thank you, Holt Messerly, VC&NS Trustee/Webmaster.
Click the link here for the revised brochure:
JRBF_2012_revised_brochure
We’ll be staying again at the Solite Plant river right just past the Slate River. Dinner will be provided by Dillwyn Baptist Church, ice and water will be available but no breakfast.
Day 7 Friday June 22nd Slate River to Cartersville
We’re again staying just below the DGIF ramp in Cartersville after a long 21 mile day on the river. Dinner and breakfast will be provided, ice is available but water is not.
Day 8 Saturday June 23rd Cartersville to Maidens
Boats will arrive late afternoon after the 120 mile trip from Lynchburg, some vendors will be there and dinner may be available.
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Available on this site is a pdf version of the flyer which was created by the JRBF. You are encouraged to download this as the map and other info may be of further assistance to participants.
JRBF_2012_revised_brochure
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If you’ve been on many festivals, you’ll notice that there are no significant changes to sites for 2012. If you’ve never joined the festival we encourage you to get your canoe and come along. The above will give you a pretty good idea what to expect will be available to you, and of course there are always people willing to answer questions and provide assistance as needed.
