Posted by ppeery on July 7th, 2010
Leif Riddervold, Bundoran Farm’s natural resources manager, is a man of the land and water. When he is not tending to the 2,000 plus acres of pasture, orchards and forest within Bundoran Farm’ preserved and protected farmbelt & greenbelt, he is often involved in other pursuits that foster a greater appreciation of our natural resources the cultural legacy of the Virginia Piedmont.
During his recent vacation, Leif participated in the 25th Annual James River Batteau Festival. The festival included 25 flat bottom, wooden vessels that are replicas of the boats used Colonial times into the 19th century to move cargo along the James River and is a tradition for many boating fans. Some even dress in period colonial outfits. Leif helped crew the Rosalee on the 120 mile trip down the James River from Lynchburg to Maiden’s Landing.
As highlighted in the May 26, 2010 issue of the Washington Post, these “boats were vital to Virginia’s early commerce, when much of the state could only be traveled by horseback. The cargo typically included tobacco and other crops, along with some passengers, and were navigated by batteaumen who used long poles to push the huge boats around rocks and through shallow water. The first remains of the ancient boats were found in 1983 at a construction site in downtown Richmond. From that discovery, the first reproduction was built.
Here’s a link to a great narrated photo essay about the trip. James River Batteau Festival
Filed under: Baldwin Center for Preservation, Education and Inspiration, General, Nature/Environment
Very nice. It changes the perspective to think about navigating the James for the motive of work, rather than purely for fun or to enjoy nature.