35th ANNUAL – JUNE 20-27, 2020.
Slate River was calm and clear Friday morning. The sun peaked out over the top of the trees and the view over the point was beautiful. Up-river a short distance at a private boat ramp were several batteaux tied off and people still sleeping. The sun creeped up on to them as the morning started.…
The Slate River site was busy with the local Masonic Lodge members preparing Catfish dinners and Hamburgers and Hot Dogs to sell for dinner. A dark cloud and bad storm warnings were seen and it rained for a while. I was lucky to get a boxed Catfish dinner to take to the truck while it…
The weather was great for the start of the 2019 James River Batteau Festival. It was nice and clear and sunny, the river water was a good color, not muddy and conditions were just right! The batteaux slowly drifted down to Percival’s Island to wait for the official launch as they were announced by Jeff…
Please note that the food available at three sites has been updated as follows: Revised 6-13-19, 7:00-a.m. Galt’s Mill Supper Sat. Night: Three food vendors: 1. Vitos – Burgers Menu & Ice Cream. 2. Food Truck – Philly Cheese Steak & Mexican Food. 3. Food Truck – Shaved Ice. Galt’s Mill Breakfast Sun. AM: Food…
In preparation for the 2019 James River Batteau Festival, there will be three site cleanup days. Please bring weedeaters and other appropriate equipment to help clean up the sites. Please contact Andrew Shaw if there are any questions or concerns. See the Calendar of Events for maps to the sites. Wingina – Friday afternoon, June…
There is a new page with this information in the menu bar and also posted here: “Rucker Landing” – Amherst Public Boat Ramp Percival’s Island Galt’s Mill Bent Creek Wingina Howardsville Scottsville Slate River Cartersville Maiden’s Landing
The batteaux floated between Howardsville and Scottsville on Wednesday. Ms. Polly Wooldridge was there and sent the photos above to share! Thanks Polly! Thursday the batteaux go to Slate River. If you are going, please be aware that the site moved last year to a new location, just across the Slate River (up-river on the…
Photos above from the Hardware River boat ramp which is between Scottsville and Slate River. Thursday morning in Scottsville was very wet as a big storm hit during the early hours. Rain continued to fall during the morning while the batteaux loaded up to head down-river. Ralph Smith was helpful to the crew of the…
What the hey? I don’t even know where I am. I think about six of those trains in Scottsville ran over my SUV in the middle of the night. (The first train that came by, I woke up and thought I must have parked on the train tracks by mistake. What a fright! and you…
Please be sure and go to the Slate River site of the JRBF. The two home batteaux for this site, The Slate River and the Spirit of Buckingham welcome you! Please send photos and account of the river.
The new Batteau “Slate River” arriving first at the Slate River Site Thursday afternoon. Photos from Slate River: The Slate River site of the 2012 James River Batteau Festival was in one word, HOT. Jeff Taylor laid back in a nice chair beside where I was sitting on a towel and several other ground crew…
From Randy Waycaster, Capt. of the batteau “Slate River”. The boat has been in the pond for almost a month and a half, but we pulled it out last week to complete the cap-boards and front/rear decks. Sweep brackets and canopy arches are being made this week. We poled it around the pond this evening, a…
A note from Randy Waycaster regarding the new batteau “Slate River”: Figured we’d give you a photo update on our boat, made a good bit of progress. We took a little different approach by cutting the flats on the ribs when making them. (All miter saw and skilsaw cuts) Also we are planking the hull…