The Batteau "Grace of the James" takes an historic trip
down "Balcony Falls" on the upper James River.

On Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, the Batteau "Grace of the James" was led by Captain Mason Basten down the section of the upper James River known as "Balcony Falls".

The day started out at a riverside camp spot just down-river from Natural Bridge Station. Holt Messerly drove over the mountain from Lynchburg Wednesday morning to meet the crew, and greeted Mason with a breakfast of dark chocolate peanut m&m's washed down with fine bourbon, sipped out of Holt's prized 1000 mile Jefferson Cup! We would need all the warmth we could get for this cold overcast day!

As we left the campsite and headed on down to the confluence of the James and the Maury River at Glascow, the crew told tales of the prior days of this multi-day trip. Roger Nelson's dog "Ginger", a really cute, tiny female Jack Russell Terrier, had gone to battle with a duck the day before and the account of this epic battle brought laughter all around!

Upon reaching Glascow, the boat was tied off and two additional crew members from the Lynchburg area came on board. Firewood was gathered from the woods by the boat and soon a roaring fire was helping to keep us warm and build up some coals for Mason to cook bacon and eggs with corned beef hash, served on toasted tortilla's, all cooked in cast iron skillets on-board the batteau, using the hearth that is built into the rear of the boat. Finally after this meal was over and the cooking gear put away (and some heavy items stashed on the bank), we prepared the boat for the trip down Balcony to follow.

Anticipation of what could happen was high. The river was higher than a summer level, crisp, clear and real cold. Most of the crew had wetsuits and fancy dry suits which were put on while the Captain gave his safety talk which boiled down to making sure to swim to the left bank and don't get caught between the boat or broken parts thereof and a rock if the worst should happen. Captain Basten acted cool and calm but I know he was really sweating bullets after having worried about the possibilities of what could happen for days. Finally at 1:40 PM we shoved off from Glascow.

The scenery was beautiful and all the while the air kept getting colder. I was wishing I hadn't forgotten my socks but glad I had at least put on my old and too tight wetsuit boots. My old life jacket was way too small for my middle but at least the string tied. I was hoping I wouldn't have to swim and had my dry bag at my feet ready to stow my digital camera at a moments notice. I hoped for the best for the camera gear and yet couldn't worry but so much if I wanted to get some good shots. I asked everyone if they were ok with these photos being posted online and everyone said "yes" and were excited about seeing the photos later!.

I reminded everyone that i felt especially proud to be on board due to the fact that in the summer of 1992, I was standing on the rocks at Balcony and took photos of the Batteau "Frank Padgett" as they passed through the rapid. I have since seen photos of myself from the back taking photos of this event. This was back in the days of film cameras and I took all I could of the boat, captained by Herb Baty and Neil Long went down the river. That being 17 years earlier and me being on the very next batteau going down this section (to several old time batteau people we don't know of any other batteaux running Balcony in this time period) was very cool to me.

Prior to the "Frank Padgett", the founder of the James River Batteau Festival, Joe Ayers took his batteau, the "Minnie Lee" down this section and was on a National Geographic Special. Most on board had never seen the tape of that journey, but it was vivid in my mind and I could remember the statements of how "the wind blew down there...", speaking of the gorge the river passes through in the mountains.

I remembered that tape as we passed by beautiful rock outcroppings on the steep mountains. We could also see the awesome stone works from the old James River and Kanawah Canal. Mason began telling the story of the slave "Frank Padgett" who died saving others on this section in the 1800's. After all this reflection and awesome scenery, we were ready.

Before we knew it rapids were before us. The batteau easily glided down between the best routes, guided by Mason Basten on the front sweep and Roger Nelson on the back sweep. They made it look easy while I took photos, enjoying the trip to the maximum. Finally the wait was over, Balcony was upon us! Polers took their positions in case they were needed to shove off a rock. Down the entrance of the rapid we went with no stopping to look and think about it first, we just ran it! WHOA, water splashed over the bow! Good shot I thought as I clicked the camera as fast as I could. No worry's now about any problems. We made it look easy! How great was that! Someone said, "hey we should back up and do it again!...haha", yeah right, I thought. On to the next set of rapids, no time to worry about what was behind us.

As we maneuvered some fairly complicated turns, not a pole was needed as the sweeps carried us through, again making it look easy. We passed by a hunters camp on the right and headed for the flat water. Everyone was in the best mood. The time was about 3:00 and the white water was already over with. We all sat back and relaxed as Andrew Shaw took the front sweep from Mason and Sebastian Backstrom took the rear sweep.

The float down the flat water section in route to the take out took about the same time as the white water section. We poled a little bit as the rain and cold started to set in. As we ducked under the low water bridge that carries US 501/130 we arrived at the boat ramp at about 3:40 pm.

Stepping off the boat with my two bags in hand, I could only hope my camera's memory card made it home ok with it's precious digital cargo! We ran shuttles back to get our cars as the boat was loaded onto the trailer. We said our goodbyes as darkness and the rain was setting in. Following behind the trailer on the ride home to Lynchburg, the slow pace of hauling the boat over the mountain on US 501 made no difference. It seemed like we made it home in no time as the days events were so fresh in our minds. What an awesome day this was.

Holt Messerly
Photographer and Webmaster for Batteau.org.

Please click play to see the slideshow-flash video from still photos below:

All photos contained in the above slide show/video © 2009 by Holt Messerly, All Rights Reserved.

If you like any of the photos in this slide show and would
like to purchase digital downloads, available in several sizes,
and/or order prints, please click here, to visit messerlyphoto.com .

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Limited Prints Available

On Sept. 12th, 2009, Ned Nelson from the Dreaming Creek
went to Monticello to give a history talk on the canal and batteau.
Limited Edition, Signed Prints were shown. Most of these are signed as print#1.

Ned asked me to produce some prints to be able to show at this event.

Click here or photo above to see gallery.

These prints are for sale.
Contact Holt Messerly for details.

I'm posting this on the batteau web site because I went out of my way to produce
these prints for the batteau festival/canal society to display at a historical event,
therefore I'm going to show them here also. I'd like to recoup my costs. Thank you, Holt.

Batteau Festival Map from brochure.
Click here to download larger size pdf file of map that you can print out.

New: Driving Directions - Click here to download pdf file to print out.
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2010 James River Batteau Festival Dates:

The Festival will be from June 19-26.

FESTIVAL
CHAIRMAN:

Buddy High
434-532-5554

Please contact Buddy if you need any assistance regarding this year's festival. Thank you!

2010 Fall Membership Meeting & Picnic:

TBT.

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Boat Blogs are being posted!

Imagine the cool stories we will have to look back on with the blog postings. Each boat will have an equal chance to have a login name and password. Also if you are associated with the Batteau Festival or the VC&NS and want to blog regarding either or both, please just ask for a login name and password.

holt@batteau.org

Click here to see the 2008 web site information while we build this new site:
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Messerly Photo
The Batteau.org and VaCanals.org
sites are updated as a community service by
Holt Messerly
MesserlyPhoto.com

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Virginia Canals & Navigations Society Dates:

VCNS Board Meeting: TBT
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VC&NS Memberships Due:

Please note that the VC&NS membership dues help to support the Canal Society! Without the Canal Society the Batteau Festival would not have the funds we need to operate! PLEASE join the VC&NS.

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Also note that donations to the VC&NS are mostly tax deductible, according to IRS regulations for 501-c3 organizations.

Please donate if you can or get corporate sponsors.

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VCNS Online Store:

Order your River Maps here!

These maps are the best maps and are a must have for any batteau or river person!

http://vacanals.org/store

The 2009 Dewey Pole Award

Brian Roberts, Captain of the new batteau "Rockfish Runner" accepts
the "Dewey Pole" for 2009 at the May Captain's Meeting in Faber.

Click here or photo above to read about this award.

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Batteaux that were built for 2009!

There were several new batteaux built for the 2009 festival!

Boats constructed in 2009:

Anthony Rucker
Building new boat,
and Morning Dew crew will use the old boat.

Tom Moore (l), and Ralph Smith (r) build the Anthony Rucker
in Amherst County Virginia.

Click here or on photo above to see more pictures
of The Anthony Rucker under construction.
(Descriptions for boat building to be added soon).

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Lord Chesterfield
Second old boat retired.

click here to read the Lord Chesterfield's Boat Page.

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Sedalia Endeavor II
Replacing old boat.

Click here or photo above to see more constructions photos.

Thanks to Elizabeth Davis for sending in these photos!

More photos to come. Mixup with emails received.

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Debbie
New crew and new boat.

New Batteau being built in Lynchburg
Click here to go to their boat page.

This new boat is being built by Andrew Shaw and friends in Lynchburg. The name will be "Debbie". This is a new boat with a new crew! Welcome Debbie to the James River Batteau Festival!

Construction update: March 22, 2009:


Sebastian Backstrom hard at work on the new Batteau
"Debbie" in Lynchburg on March 22, 2009.

Click here or on photo above to see more pictures
of "Debbie" under construction.

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Rockfish Runner
New boat for the 2008 Fluvanna crew.
The old Fluvanna is available for a museum or maybe a nice bonfire.

The Rockfish Runner construction crew March 22, 2009
in Roseland, Virginia.

Click here or on photo above to see more pictures
of The Rockfish Runner under construction.

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2009 Started out with Katy and the girls on the Batteau!

Katy, Joy and Grace Basten onboard the batteau
"Grace of the James", January, 2009!

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Food Lion MVP Card Numbers Needed!

The Batteau Festival gets a check from Food Lion every so often as a donation based on the purchases when you use your MVP Card.

Here is how to enter your MVP CARD NUMBER:

1. Please go to the following web page:
https://www.foodlion.com/IntheCommunity/ShopandShare/secure/RegisterMVPCards.asp
2. Find the organization choice: JAMES RIVER BATTEAU FESTIVAL / VA. CANAL

3. Enter your First and Last Name, Phone number and all 12 digits of your MVP Card number.

Note: This 12 digit number includes the small numbers before and after the main large numbers!
Or you can email Barbara Haney at Huckleberryann@aol.com with the above information,
and she said she can do if for you. It doesn't cost you anything and it helps the festival. Thank you.

Batteau.org is a program of VaCanals.org and is designed, maintained and © 2010 by MesserlyPhoto.com