There was a column by Darrell Laurant published in The News & Advance in Lynchburg on Thursday 6-17-2010.
http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/opinion/darrell_laurant/article/wheres_the_batteau_buzz/27902/#comments
I wrote a long comment regarding the column and the other comments. I’m re-posting my comments here:
With all due Respect to Mr. Laurant’s opinion about the state of the batteau festival and all the other comments regarding Lynchburg, I would like to say that there is and always has been a big misunderstanding about the “Batteau Festival” name and the facts about what the “James River Batteau Festival” actually is! For many years Lynchburg has attempted to put on events sponsored by various organizations such as Lynch’s Landiing. The public was invited to these events and used the “Batteau Festival” name. Some years there were huge carnival events and other years there were smaller activities on the island etc. All these events were actually just events planned for the Lynchburg site by people and organizations in this area. The ACTUAL James River Batteau Festival is on the James River. Lynchburg hosts the beginning of our eight day event that is spread out along the river in eight separate locations. Each site has their own event in conjunction with the James River Batteau Festival. For instance, Scottsville put on a wonderful event last year, timed with the arrival of the Batteaux into town. There were crafts, musicians, and of course the batteaux at the river. Each locality tries to coordinate an event to go along with our festival. The James River Batteau Festival organization plans the campsites, lines up portable toilets and much more for lots of sites. We can’t possible afford to put on special community events at each location. We really appreciate all that the many organizations in Lynchburg have done for us over the years. Its unfortunate that many people are confused about “The Batteau Festival” and think it is only rides and cotton candy in Lynchburg or a beer festival downtown. The facts are that we start in Lynchburg as a re-enactment of the old trade route that took tobacco and other items to Richmond. The history of the Lynchburg area regarding the Batteaux is rich. I encourage everyone to please come down to the river to Percival’s Island in time for the 11am departure. Come early and talk with the crews. Dogs are welcome too! And yes they do what dogs do, so what. If you love the outdoors thats part of life. And Life on the river is great! Come and enjoy it for yourself. Come and join us on the river. Visit the many locations. Relax and smell the roses so to speak. Come to Wingina—nothing could be finaaa…lol.. And Darell did you forget the time you and your wife rode my batteau years ago from Scottsville to Slate River? I recall you enjoyed it very much. In our Batteau family the batteau BUZZ is loud and clear. New and old crews are coming together for this 25th anniversary and building new boats, pulling up and fixing old boats and we have several generations of batteau family members now. The fact that Lynchburg doesn’t have a lot of money to put on a carnival or whatever this year doesn’t mean we aren’t excited. Come and join us in any way you can. For those who are bored, and have a been there done that attitude after reading some comments I ask you again to dig a little deeper and learn more about us. Batteauing is the hardest work you will ever love I used to say. When the batteau bug bites you, there is no cure. Oh and I miss my friend Matt who used to write for the News & Advance years go. He did the best job anyone has ever done in covering the many days.
I’ll be covering this event and posting photos and such as many days as I can find internet and the time to make web pages and others may be posting to our blog page. We have tons of information on our website http://batteau.org . Sorry if Darrell can’t hear the buzz and we love Lynchburg. We just need to clear up the misunderstandings and all enjoy the Batteaux and the James River.
Holt Messerly, Former JRBF Chairman, 1996, VC&NS;Trustee, and former Captain of the retired batteau “James River”.
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