Right Around the River Blog
20th Annual Canoe-A-Thon Launches From Rocketts Landing
Post Date: 05-02-2012
Okay river friends, we have to admit something: Keeping up with all the awesome sports events happening on the James River at Rocketts Landing is certainly getting harder and harder to do! But, as fellow river enthusiasts, we wouldn't have it any other way -- and we're completely excited about all the river action around Rocketts Landing!
One such activity this weekend is the Varina Lions Club 20th Annual Canoe-A-Thon. Bringing together paddlers of all ages, the Canoe-A-Thon encourages participants to enjoy a day of fun and camaraderie out on the James River while raising money for the Club's largest fundraiser, "Paddling for Sight." Whether through sponsorship or personal donations, all collected funds support funding local scholarships and helping the blind and seeing impaired, including Prevent Blindness of Virginia, Leader Dog, Inc. and eye exams and glasses for the needy.
Launching from Rocketts Landing at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday, around 78 participants — ranging in ages from 10 to 76 years old — will paddle 10.5 miles down the James River to arrive at Osborne Landing in Varina, where they’ll be greeted by a lively picnic celebration.
“The event is different things to different people,” explains Canoe-A-Thon Chairman Will Harlan. “Some [paddlers] are racing one another for the first-place prizes of first canoe and first kayak. Others are taking a leisurely paddle down the river.”
The James River Association’s River Keeper and the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries will join paddlers along the river. And while en route, they all have a chance to take in the historic landmarks along the way:
- Rocketts Landing: First visited by Christopher Newport in 1607 and also the landing spot for Abraham Lincoln after the Civil War
- Tree Hill Farm: The site of Chief Powhatan’s last village
- Deepwater Terminal: Richmond’s port for ocean-going ships up to 559 ft.
- Drewry’s Bluff: The site where Confederate Gen. Beauregard defeated Union Gen. Butler on May 15, 1864
- Chaffin’s Bluff: The site where Adm. Semmes scuttled the ironclad ships CSS Richmond, Fredericksburg and Virginia II to slow the final Union advance on Richmond on April 2, 1865
- Osborne Landing: The site of the Revolutionary naval battle between Benedict Arnold and American troops on April 27, 1781
Although participant registration already closed, Hardin pointed out that spectators are certainly welcome to watch as paddlers launch from Rocketts Landing. He also mentioned how grateful the Lions are for having access to our facilities. Because we believe the Lions Club is a valuable organization, we’re always happy to accommodate them — and support their cause.
And if you aren’t participating but would like to support their fundraiser, you can email the Lions and make your donation today!
Publicity photo courtesy of the Varina Lions Club