Have you paddled the Appomattox River below Lake Chesdin? That is a great stretch of river and plenty of variety and scenery. See this release from the Chesterfield County:

Join Friends of the Lower Appomattox River on Saturday, Sept. 15, for  the Fifth Annual Battle or Paddle, a 10-mile paddling adventure along the lower  Appomattox .

Paddlers may choose to battle the course for time or paddle at their leisure while taking in the river’s abundant natural beauty and wildlife. The  course will run from Hopewell City Park to Petersburg’s  Pocahontas  Island. Leisure paddlers will start at 9 a.m., and racers will take to the river at 10 a.m. A shuttle  will be provided to return participants and their canoes or kayaks to Hopewell, or participants may choose to drop off vehicles  at the Petersburg site (plenty of parking available). A continental-style breakfast will be available at the Hopewell site between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and lunch will be  served at Pocahontas Island between noon and 2 p.m. A limited  number of kayaks will be available to rent.

The  registration form is available at folar-va.org, under “2012 Battle or Paddle.” Advance  registration is $25 per adult and $10 for children and active military  personnel. Participants also may register the day of for $30 per adult and $15  for children and active military personnel. Please send registration forms and  checks to FOLAR, P.O. Box  1808, Petersburg, VA 23805, or fax them to 804-732-8972.

FOLAR is a regional nonprofit organization focused on protecting and  conserving the Appomattox River. Formed in  2000, FOLAR is working to complete a “greenway-blueway” trail system along  nearly 23 miles of the Appomattox River between the dam at Lake Chesdin  to where the Appomattox meets the James River at  Hopewell. Many  trail sections have been completed, as well as parks and other improvements  providing public access to the river. Proceeds from the Battle or Paddle will  support this effort.

The entire  course is flat water in the tidal section of the river, and the course direction  was set to paddle with the tide.

For more information, visit folar-va.org, or call Wayne Walton at 804-943-6278 or Richard Taylor at 840-2757.