September 3 Outing - Relocated

The September 3 First Saturday Outing had to be relocated since the Mayo River is too shallow, and the take-out access point is closed temporarily.

Instead, we will be running the Madison-Jacob's Creek section
NC 704 Access in Madison. Group leaders will be at the original put in site to pick up paddlers that did not get the info about the trip change.  From the Anglins Mill site they will go to the 704 Madison Access.  Most should be there by 10:30-10:45. We'll sign the waivers and set the shuttle from there, so there will be a few minutes' leeway.

Here are the directions to the Madison access point:

1.     Take US 220 South toward Greensboro.

2.     Cross Dan River, and take first ramp onto NC 704 toward Madison.

3.     At the first traffic light, turn right onto Market Street (small brown sign directs to Dan River Access).

4.     Go two blocks, and turn right onto Murphy Street.

5.     Cross the railroad tracks and turn right at the bottom of the hill onto Water Street.

6.     Continue under the bridge. The access site is on the left.

DRBA SEPTEMBER 3 OUTING - FLOATS MAYO RIVER

You're invited! Spend part of your Labor Day holiday close to home, in a beautiful setting with friendly companions, as DRBA floats the Mayo River in Rockingham County, NC on September 3.

Meeting at 10:00 am at Old Anglin Mill Road (GPS 36.52976, -79.98952), downstream from Anglin Mill Bridge, this First Saturday Outing will cover nine and a half miles to US 220 Business Access, near the towns of Stoneville and Mayodan.

Trip coordinator is experienced paddler, musician, and solar power pioneer Kirby Wilkins, known for his musical talent and scientific acumen. Wilkins, a guitarist with his own band, also repairs guitars and gives guitar lessons. He often sets up his telescope away from city lights and sometimes teaches about stars at Rockingham Community College.

The Mayo River between Mayo Beach and the US 220 Business Access is a fairly easy section of Class 1 and Class 2 rapids suitable for a family outing. There is one tricky rapid just below the put-in which can be avoided by putting in downstream from it. Those with a yen for a little more excitement will have the option of running the famous "Boiling Hole" and the "S-turn" (alias "Blender") before proceeding with the rest of the trip.

Participants in the outing are asked to bring boat, life jacket, lunch and water, to dress in artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver.

Direction: To reach the put-in, from 220 north of Stoneville, exit onto Smith Road (SR 1360) and turn west. Go four miles to a T-intersection with Anglin Mill Road (SR 1358). Turn left on Anglin Mill Road and travel about a half-mile to within less than a mile of the Anglin Mill Bridge over the Mayo. Turn left onto unpaved Old Anglin Mill Road (SR 1385). Go one-half mile to a T-intersection with Mayo Beach Road (SR 1359).

Information: Trip Coordinator Kirby Wilkins, 336-349-5948.

Smith River Cleanup

Volunteers once again gave back to the Smith River Saturday, August 6, 2011, as Gateway Streetscapes, Dan River Basin Association and Smith River Trout Unlimited combined forces for a clean sweep down a one mile section of the river, loading canoes, supplied for free by Smith River Adventures Outfitters, with everything from plastic bags to old tires.

“I think the river grows tires on the bottom down in this section,” said Lisa Hall, Trout Unlimited volunteer.
“There certainly were an abundance of tires littering the bottom of the Smith, we can’t get them all but we’ll get what we can in one day”, said Eric Capps of Gateway.
The section from Fieldale Bridge to the Fieldale Trail Canoe Ramp was selected as the target area. About 25 volunteers showed up to help out unfortunately, most were the same volunteers who show up whenever these events are done. “We haven’t figured out yet how to get all the “talkers” and other users of the resource off their butts to give back a little” said Al Kittredge. Seems like that attitude of “let the other guy do it” is what’s wrong with the country today.
A cookout was held after the clean-up to feed the group and plan for the next one! Our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers for coming out to lend a hand in making this a cleaner place to live and play.

Friends of Philpott Gear Swap

Saturday, August 13 · 9:00am - 4:00pm

Smith River Sports Complex - Smith River Fest
1000 Irisburg Road
Axton, Virginia

At the main festival grounds. Earn some extra cash! Bring your unwanted, gently used recreational gear and accessories so they can find a new home at the gear swap hosted by Friends of Philpott Lake.

A 10% commission fee from each sale will benefit the development of Bowens Creek Park, a fully handicap accessible recreation facility.

For those that are not able to attend. Friends of Philpott will make arrangements to pick-up/drop off items you want to sale at the Gear Swap and settle afterwards.
Contact: Linda Drage, Complete Handicap Wellness Park @ Bowens Creek: Chairperson
ldrage@comcast.net or call 276-681-6805.

The Explorer's Club

A group of eight local students had no idea what was in store for them as they scampered their way down rocks and through a hidden passage to a beautiful, majestic waterfall nestled right in the heart of Kibler Valley!

Thanks to an exciting new program, known as the Explorer’s Club, developed by the Dan River Basin Association, a select group of students became the first participants in this new adventure to experience and learn about everything from kayaking and canoeing to map and compass orientation and even wilderness survival skills.  The students ranged in age from 10 to 13 and all were from the Martinsville-Henry County area.  They were brought together through a selection process which involved filling out an extensive application providing summaries of their backgrounds and brief narrations of why they would like to be a part of the program.  They spent eight days together acquiring new skills and experiences in the outdoors. 

The young explorers met almost every day for two weeks and learned about topics such as how to survive in the outdoors, how to explore without leaving a trace, and how to identify certain plants like trees and wild flowers.  They were encouraged to push their comfort zones and explore beyond their usual boundaries while learning how to kayak and canoe and take wilderness hikes.  The group was lead by Smith River Adventure Outfitters, Eric Judday and botany enthusiast, Chad Lange.  Each day the group was also accompanied by a DRBA staff member or DRBA volunteer.

When the group first came together, the young explorers were anxious to get started but also a little shy about being around people they had never met before.  After a few days, the kids were no longer strangers; they had broken out of their shells and became a tight group that could depend on one another.   Each child showed how adventurous and courageous they really were when it came time to try something new.  On one hike, a northern water snake was discovered and each explorer got a chance to touch or hold the snake.  On another day, Wayne Kirkpatrick, DRBA President introduced the group to all kinds of aquatic life and all the explorers were brave enough to try their hand at holding a crayfish that was found hiding in the river.  Lisa Hall, DRBA volunteer also spent some time teaching the techniques of fly fishing to the explorers on the beautiful Smith River.

When it was time for all the fun to be over, it was no doubt that this group of young, courageous explorers would go back to their daily lives with a new kind of self assurance and courage.  Hopefully, one day when passing a local stream or river, a glimpse of something they learned or experienced will make them smile and they will share it with their friends and family so they too can want to be a part of enjoying the outdoors.  All of this was made possible through sponsorship of the Dan River Basin Association and funding from the Harvest Foundation.

First Saturday Outing - July 2

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing on July 2 will be a 5-mile round-trip paddle on Philpott Lake from Ryan's Branch to Emerson Falls.

Meet at Ryan's Branch on the Union Bridge Road (GPS 36.849853,-80.10227).
Dress in layers of synthetic fabric, wear sunscreen and hat, and bring boat, paddles, life jackets, lunch and water.

Free and open to the public.

For more information contact: Craig S. Rockwell, 276-629-4512 Ex 224, Craig.S.Rockwell@usace.army.mil

PHILPOTT LAKE PHOTO CONTEST

Here is your chance to enter your picture and a chance to win some fantastic prizes including money (Based on the number of entries)???
PHILPOTT LAKE PHOTO CONTEST
THIS CONTEST IS INTENDED FOR ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE

1. THERE WILL BE A $15.00 DONATION FOR EACH ENTRY. ENTRANTS MAY ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS THEY WISH.
ALL PROFIT FROM ENTRY FEES WILL GO TO THE BOWENS CREEK HANDICAP WELLNESS PARK.For the purposes of this Contest, no judges or anyone associated with judges, including family members, will be able to enter.

2. CONTEST ENTRY PERIOD: The Contest Entry Period begins at 12:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“EST”) on April 18, 2011 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on June 30, 2011. Entries must be received and recorded by Photo Contest Manager’s computer during the Contest Entry Period. The Photo Contest Manager’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Contest.

3. TO PARTICIPATE: To participate in the Contest, contacted Linda Drage by email ldrage@comcast.net during the Contest Entry Period and follow the instructions to enter and upload a creative, well composed and well lit photo of the Philpott Dam/Lake in any direction

THE DAM NO LATER NEEDS TO BE IN THE PICTURE. Each photo must have a signed entry form. Signed forms maybe mail to Linda Drage; 330 Mack Rd., Martinsville, VA 24112. All photos must be sent by email. By participating, you agree to be bound by these Rules and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects

By submitting an Entry, you hereby grant Sponsor consent, the right to copy, publish, display and otherwise use your Photo for purposes of the this Contest or for any advertising or publicity on behalf of the Sponsor and you agree that the Photo may be cropped, or otherwise altered for this purpose only. The Entrants will still remain the owner of the photo.

All Entrants must have a valid email address. In the event of a dispute regarding Entries received from multiple users having the same email account, the authorized subscriber of the email account at the time of submission will be deemed to be the Entrant and must comply with these Rules

4. PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Photo must be in JPEG format


• Photo must be an attachment not imdded in the email


• Photo may not be sexually explicit or suggestive, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, profane or pornographic, cantain nudity or any dangerous activity.


• Photo may not promote alcohol, illegal dugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or any use of any of the foregoing), any actiities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message


• Photo may not be obscene or offensive, endorse any form of hate or hate group


• Photo may not defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about Sponsor or other people, products or companies.


• Photo may not contain trademarks, logos or trade dress owned by others, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind, or contain any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street address.


• Photo may not contain copyrighted material owned by others (including potographs, sculpture, paintings and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media).


• Photo may not communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill to which Sponsor wishes to associate
  Photo may not depect, and cannot itself, be in violation of any law
  ENTRIES POSTED TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE WILL NOT BE EDITED BY SPONSOR FOR THE CONTEST AND ARE THE VIEWS/OPINIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SPONSOR IN ANY MANNER.

5. WINNER SELECTION: All eligible Entries will be judged by independent judges, whose decisions regarding this Contest are final and binding in all respects, based on the following criteria: (a) 40% Adherence to Theme, (b) 30% Creativity, (c) 15% Composition and (d) 15% Focus/Lighting. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the highest score in the “Creativity” Judging Criteria. If a tie continues, then a tie(s) will be broken by the Entry with highest cumulative score in the second criteria, continuing thereafter to the third criteria, as needed, to break the tie the three Entries with the highest scores will receive a prize as set forth below.

6. PRIZES: One (1) First Prize: The Entrant with the highest score will receive a check for half the amount from total entries. The Entrant with the second highest score will receive a prize to be stated later; as well as the Entrant with the third highest score. Each Entrant will receive a Dam Post Card from the Dam Collectables. Limit one (1) prize per person. If a prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with another prize of equal or greater value. Prizes won by minors will be awarded along with minor's parent or legal guardian, who must sign and return form.

7. WINNER NOTIFICATION: Winners will be notified on June 30, 2011. Sponsor is not responsible for any change of email, mailing address and/or telephone number of Entrants.
8. GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating, Entrants agree to these Rules, which are final and binding in all respects. If the Winner cannot be reached within ten (10) business days of notification or winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Rules, prize will be forfeited. By entering, each winner grants (and will confirm that grant in writing) permission to Sponsor the right to use the winner’s name, picture, likeness, voice, biographical information, and Entry (whether modified, edited, used alone, or used with other works) at any time, in any form, in any media, without compensation of any kind and without notice, review, or approval. Entrants further agree that submission of an Entry is gratuitous and made without restriction, and will not place Sponsor under any obligation.
You will need to certify that you are the photographer and sole copyright owner of the submitted Photo, and you have obtained consent of all identifiable persons shown in the Photo for use by Sponsor as set forth herein. By signing you are agreeing to the terms of the contest.You can get your form by emailing request to Linda Drage: ldrage@comcast.net or calling me at 276-681-6805. You can also pick -up at the Bassett Community Market any Thursday afternoon from noon to 3:00 PM.