le Voyageur

About 99 per cent of Americans belive that the Boston Tea party was the start of the Revolutionary War. (the fact is that the seeds for the rebellion were planted on 10 Fed.1763, being the 1763 Treaty of Paris, ending the French and Indian War.)The catalyst for the war, was the War of the Regulation (the Regulator Movement) a North Carolina uprising, lasting from approximately 1764 to 1771, where citizens took up arms against corrupt colonial officials. Lexington and Concord would have to wait till 19 April 1775 for "the shot heard around the world." btw...the first patents for teabags was 1903 (tea in the 18th century was pressed into hard blocks allowing ships to carry more of the product) (This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

Johnnylaw101 The short answer is no to your question. For pools, and protected waterfronts each are more then capable. However, on rivers with strong currents, or swift water neither, unless trained and experienced otherwise for this enviroment should be considered qualified.

No problem using the link for the elearning sites.....the only disapointments were the weak courses. No where close to NOLS standards, being able to knock out 6 (Trek, YP and YP quiz, Weather, Safety Afloat, and Safe Swim) in around 45 minutes or so.

Groundhogs are best broiled to medium rare....however, I plan to try this one soon... Groundhog Meat Loaf Yield: 6 Servings Ingredients: 1 lb ground Groundhog meat,1 lb ground pork,1 egg lightly beaten, 1 c milk, 1/2 c dry bread crumbs,1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp freshly-ground black pepper, 1 tb Minced onion. Mix meats completely; add egg, milk, crumbs, seasoning, and onion. Mixwell and put into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let set for 5 minutes before slicing.

Hal, This group's river trek would fall under BSA guidelines for a high adventure activity in which there is an age limit; age 10 in no where close.

You bring up some good points. However, this section of the James is rated for the experience, to expert paddler. Rockbridge Gazette... The Buena Vista Fire Departments swiftwater rescue team, as well as the Buena Vista and Glasgow rescue squads and Glasgow Fire Department, responded to the call. Emergency services personnel from Amherst and Bedford counties also responded. Buena Vista Fire Chief Tommy Keiser said two rescue boats were deployed from the Glasgow boat landing and from Balcony Downs and rescued at least two of the Scouts, who ranged in ages from 10 to 12 years old, from their perch on a rock in the middle of the river. 10 and 12 year olds on a section rated for experienced to expert!!!! (I hoping that 10 year old is actually 11, and not a Webelo). Again, adults showing very poor judgement, and not following safety afloat guidelines. Now,if this Crew had saw canoes on the river as suggested, there would of been no way for them to know the skill level of those paddlers, or if those paddlers were familar with this section, or what knowledge they had of the hazards ahead. (use Google Earth, and note the dams on this section). Basing a decision to run on the assumption that's it's safe to run because others are doing it, is a bad decision. The other failure was not taking into consideration the huge watershed that feeds this river. With it's hundreds of creeks, and streams the James at 320 miles in length, can go to flood stage fairly quickly. Gotta check those upstream gauge levels. Also, as this Crew was from Hampton (around a 4+ hour drive to Snowden)it's very likey they were not familar with the area, and had not worked out an alternative plan should their primary been unworkable. A good Plan B would be an hour drive south to Long Island, putting in on the Staunton, for a 11 mile, Class II run to Brookneal, plus an hour closer back to Hampton from the take out. However, the better choice would of been to simply pack up on Sunday, and gone home...Rockbridge Gazette ....the Scouts had begun their trip on Saturday in Buchanan and had camped overnight near Glasgow. (This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

SMT224 My observations, and comments are based on over 30 years of experience of river running, and as a professional guide. Having led treks on the James, and knowing the nature of that river at different times of the year, my decision to cancell would of been swift, and not debateable. Instead, we would of headed a very short distance south to run Plan B on the Blackwater,or Nottoway.

A big welcome to the forum...lots of great folks here with a wealth of experience, and information to tap into. For myself, when in Mississippi, I like to ramble near Corinth, and Iuka staying at a nearby State Park with it's easy access to Shiloh...

Watching the late news this pm on this event, I'm guessing their rescue cost the State 30 to 40 k, and endangered several swift water rescue teams, and an air crew. Luckly no lives were lost, and none of the Scouters will be facing fines for their poor judgement. All of this could of been avoided had someone in that Unit had made a few phone calls to any of the local liveries, Sheriff departments, or checked the internet for water conditions such as this site... http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/rt The James river is a great paddling river, but at flood stage (currently running 8 ft over normal) this river with it huge volume spews running strainers, and sinkers. I've a feeling that the COR will be holding a very serious talk with the Committee, and the SM on this matter.

What were these unit leaders thinking... http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/breaking_news_boy_scouts_rescued_from_james_river/16014/

Nor should secular humanists cut themselves off from da religious soil and roots from which they sprung and which continue to support and nourish 'em The only reason Christians are not still burning each other is because the secular state stopped them. None the less, we are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some just goes one god more.... (This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

imho....Religious people should be careful not to saw off that tolerant, secular humanist branch they're sitting on.(This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

For those new Climbing Directors soon headed to their Camps...a self equalizing anchor that's not taught in the NCS curriculum. Start with about 20 ft of 10.5 mm static line.... Bring the two ends together http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0294.jpg Form two additional bights http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0297.jpg Tie a overhand knot http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0298.jpg Then a second overhand with the large loop http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0300.jpg Clip in carabiners http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0304.jpg Add a carabiner to the bottom loop http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0306.jpg

Team Ashley's with Graumont's Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Rope Work. It'll keep him busy for years

Actually what these young folks are doing is nothing new. Milita training in the 18th century on the fronteer started around age 14, and this current type of training falls well under the 2nd Amendment for a "well regulated milita". Where the great big sticky is, that this is para military training; not, and let me repeat myself here, this is not criminal justice training, even though the Bush Doctrine has royally trashed posse comitatus via the Patriot Act,this type of training pretends to be what it isn't . As para military training this unit is no longer operating within the scope of BSA rules, and regulation. I'm sure BSA's uniform policy on the wearing of cami's will even apply here. As para military training, those Unit Leaders are now in the wind. I would suggest that they consider a mult million dollar insurance policy for their own protection, as that BSA's umbrella which protects us Scouters has legally slammed shut.

Pitts: Unchristian response from American Christians Leonard Pitts Jr. Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. Between 1933 and 1945, as a series of restrictive laws, brutal pogroms and mass deportations culminated in the slaughter of 6 million Jews, the Christian church, with isolated exceptions, watched in silence. Between 1955 and 1968, as the forces of oppression used terrorist bombings, police violence and kangaroo courts to deny African-Americans their freedom, the Christian church, with isolated exceptions, watched in silence. Beginning in 1980, as a mysterious and deadly new disease called AIDS began to rage through the homosexual community like an unchecked fire, the Christian church, with isolated exceptions, watched in silence. So who can be surprised by the new Pew report? Specifically, it's from the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, and it surveys Americans' attitudes on the torture of suspected terrorists. Pew found that 49 percent of the nation believes torture is at least sometimes justifiable. Slice that number by religious affiliation, though, and things get interesting. It turns out the religiously unaffiliated are the least likely (40 percent) to support torture, but that the more you attend church, the more likely you are to condone it. Among racial/religious groups, white evangelical Protestants were far and away the most likely (62 percent) to support inflicting pain as a tool of interrogation. You'd think people who claim connection to a higher morality would be the ones most likely to take the lonely, principled stand. But you need only look at history to see how seldom that has been the case, how frequently my people -- Christians -- acquiesce to expediency and fail to look beyond the immediate. Never mind that looking beyond the immediate pretty much constitutes a Christian's entire job description. In the Bible it says, Perfect love casts out fear. What we see so often in people of faith, though, is an imperfect love that embraces fear, that lets us live contentedly in our moral comfort zones, doing spiritual busywork and clucking pieties, things that let you feel good, but never require you to put anything at risk, take a leap, make that lonely stand. Again, there are exceptions, but they prove the rule, which is that in our smug belief that God is on our side, we often fail to ask if we are on His. So it is often left to a few iconoclasts -- Oskar Schindler, the war profiteer who rescued 1,200 Jews in Poland; James Reeb, the Unitarian Universalist minister murdered for African-American voting rights in Alabama; Princess Diana, the British royal who courted international opprobrium for simply touching a person with AIDS in Britain -- to do the dangerous and moral thing while the great body of Christendom watches in silence. Now there is this debate over the morality of torture in which putative people of faith say they can live with a little blood (someone else's) and a little pain (also someone else's) if it helps maintain the illusion of security (theirs), and never mind such niceties as guilt or innocence. Thus it was left to Jon Stewart, the cheerfully irreligious host of The Daily Show, to speak last week of the need to be willingly bound by rules of decency and civilization or else be indistinguishable from the terrorists. I understand the impulse, he said. I wanted them to clone bin Laden so that we could kill one a year at halftime at the Super Bowl. ... I understand bloodlust, I understand revenge; I understand all those feelings. I also understand that this country is better than me. So there you have it: a statement of principle and higher morality from a late-night comic. That Christians are not lining up to say the same is glaringly ironic in light of what happened to a Middle Eastern man who was arrested by the government, imprisoned and tortured. Eventually he was even executed, though he was innocent of any crime. His name was Jesus.

Check flea markets, and yard sells... I've a mix of cast iron goodies, with the cost of each not exceeding 10 bucks per.

The location is Merchant Millpound in Gates county, North Carolina, a part of the Great Dismal Swamp. The last shot is a very young Tupelo Gum

From last week's Merchant Millpond trip http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0217.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0008.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0018.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0264.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0009.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/Millpond1.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0267.jpg http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh427/Chowanoke/DSCI0004.jpg

Let's see if I can get this thread back on track.... Cardinal50 Here's what I would do to retire a Confederate Battle Flag A 4 man color guard in period dress The flag on a staff Someone to read, or recite's Lee's Farewell Address - "After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell the brave survivors of some many hard fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them. But feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from a consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a Merciful God will extend to you His blessings and protection. With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your Country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you all an affectionate farewell." As the Address is read dip the Colors in the flames allowing it to be consumed. The color guards saluting.

When we retire a Confederate battle flag during historical re enactments, the ceremony is always done with great sadness, as we burn our Colours from the staff, in one last act of defiance to prevent them from falling into enemy handsthen, a final volley of rifle fire to honor those who wont be returning home with us I would suggest for those performing the ceremony, doing this in the period garb of the Civil War, to keep it in it's proper contexts..(This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

Woodruff has one very fine climbing tower, and a great vertical playground..

Not many folks are aware that this part of Virginia was the extreme range of the voyageurs, and at our Scout reservation (BRMC) we run a 50 miler program based on this, paddling the Kanawha (the NC and Va sections of the New) during the summer. I average about 300 to 400 river miles during the 8 weeks that the program runs...the down side of the program is that it eventually comes to end, and the upside is spending time with some pretty good scouts, and scouters each week.

You're right about using straps to prevent damage, more so for smooth bark trees as small diameter cords will cut into them fairly deep. If lacking straps, then heavy weight canvas will serve the same purpose. For the past two weeks, I've been diverted from heading out to the Millpond to spend a night in the Enchanted Forest, near Monkey Island. I think this coming week I'll see that trip happening... Found this site on the net for the Millpond... For those in Tidewater Council, nows the time to enjoy this park before the heat, and humidity sets in...(This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

What makes hammock great is the varied types of terrain that they can used be in. Tents are impossible for swamp camping, and camping hammocks are the only way. Since you stated you are a side sleeper, pitch the foot end just a little higher, just a few inches to start. It'll be trial and err until you get the correct pitch.