Float Away From Your Worries

By Dave Thompson
Media General News Service
Published: June 18, 2008

Near 90-degree temperatures weren’t enough to keep hundreds of spectators from lining the downtown riverwalk for the highlight of Lynchburg’s annual Batteau Festival.

Manned by crews dressed in 18th century attire, more than 15 batteaux took off for Richmond amid a gaggle of “batteau groupies” in their kayaks and canoes.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, the batteaux took off from Percival’s Island to begin the 120-mile, eight-day journey down the James River. Batteaux from as far away as Cumberland County showed up for the launch. Charlottesville’s representative, the Lady’s Slipper, featured an all-female crew.

Spectators young and old gathered early to watch the boats’ final preparations before they got under way. Sandra Scott said she has been attending the festival since it began 23 years ago. She said she loves the sense of community it brings, and the fact that there’s no age limit on who can enjoy the festival. “The children are enjoying it, and hopefully they’ll keep the tradition going,” Scott said.

One particular batteau, the Spirit of the James, survived a scare over the winter, sustaining some damage after dropping from its trailer. “We had to do a little extra shoring up,” said the boat’s captain, Ellen Blankinship.

Ken Ryan, who built the batteau, said he prefers not to test his handiwork personally. “Knowing how it’s built, I don’t go on the boat,” Ryan joked, adding “if you keep dropping it on its head it’s not going to hold up.”

The crew on the Spirit of the James, now in its third year, said they were looking forward to a relaxing trip. “I expect a lazy time floating down the river,” said Robert Wilson, one of the crew.

His time won’t be completely lazy, though. Wilson, participating in the journey for his second year, will work one of the poles used to propel the boat.

He said until last year, when the Blankinship mentioned her part in the festival, he had only considered joining in. “It was something I’d thought about for a long time,” he said, “so I started last year and kind of fell in love with it.”

The trip takes the batteaux and their crews to various overnight stopping points over eight days, until they reach Maiden’s Landing, near Richmond. Blankinship said the experience blew her away, though she wasn’t too thrilled about the idea when a friend approached her about it six years ago. “It was like any worries or any kind of negatives in my being just disappeared,” she said, “and I haven’t gotten it back. I look forward to this dose of good medicine every year.”
Jeff Taylor, the launch’s emcee, said the turnout was good, though not as many boats showed up as last year. The only notable sticking point in the launch came when, attempting to pass under the bridge at Percival’s Island, the Lady’s Slipper ended up stuck parallel to a hefty log for a few minutes. Another boat stuck momentarily on shallow rocks.
Other than that, Taylor said, it was a smooth launch. “We get one boat hung up every year,” he said.

• Dave Thompson is a staff writer for The News & Advance in Lynchburg.