A Day on the Batteau
Winner of Virginia Press Association First Prize "Combination Picture & Story" 2024
Batteaux of the James River Batteau Festival rest in the river at Howardsville's boat ramp on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, as the various crews prepare to depart on their journey to Scottsville. Final preparations include dumping out excess boat water, fixing seams, and buying ice and other supplies from local stores.
Ralph Smith, a seasoned member of the James River Batteau Festival, fixes the bow of his batteau, the Anthony Rucker, before that day's voyage to Scottsville on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The piece he is fixing will hold the bar which keeps the boat's rudder, known as a "sweep," in place.
Will Smith looks ahead to the landing at Scottsville during the James River Batteau Festival's voyage down the James River on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
Josh Seay participates in a rock skipping contest during a stop of the batteau boats on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during their voyage to Scottsville. Seay's final rock won him the contest, and bragging rights for the rest of the day.
Four batteaux, from left to right, Lady's Slipper, Morning Dew, Buffalo River, and Anthony Rucker, stop off to the north side of the James River for an impromptu party on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during their voyage to Scottsville.
Josh Hinkle shows off a plank on the top of his batteau that was damaged in the rapids on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during the James River Batteau Festival's voyage to Scottsville.
Will Smith pilots the batteau Morning Dew through strong rapids on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during the James River Batteau Festival's voyage to Scottsville. While Smith, an experienced batteauman, piloted the Dew through the rapids with no problems, past years have seen boats severely damaged if they collide with rocks.
Will Cash, left, and Will Smith, right, drive their batteau, the Morning Dew, down the James River on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, on their way to Scottsville. Cash uses a wooden pole to propel the boat, while Smith wields the sweep oar, which turns the boat left or right.
A batteauman rests during a stop on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during their voyage to Scottsville. Unlike the batteaumen of the past, these modern reenactors often take breaks to the side of the river.
Jackie Lambert, of the batteau Buffalo River, empties water out of the boat on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during a break in the James River Batteau Festival's voyage to Scottsville. Emptying water is a routine maintenance task, as all batteaux are plugged with a natural rope and they will take on small amounts of water.
Will Smith uses a pole to propel the batteau forward during the James River Batteau Festival's voyage down the James River on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Each day, the batteaux cover between 13 and 21 miles, and travel from sunrise to sunset.
The batteau Morning Dew, lit by wax candles, passes under the Scottsville Bridge, to end the fifth day of their voyage on the James River, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The festival camps on private farms every night of their nine-day journey, with some also sleeping on their batteaux.
Jubilee: True/False Film Festival's Opening Night
Dozens of festivalgoers turned out on Thursday evening at the Missouri Theatre in downtown Columbia for the Jubilee, the party that kicks off the annual True/False Film Festival. Clad in masquerade masks and colorful costumes, participants from near and far enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres before a screening of the festival’s opening film, “The Dating Game.”
