9 replies to this topic

[WreckGoddess]

Hey everyone,

John has done all of the work on this trip -- so even if you have RSVP'ed on the web site, it would be a great help to us for planning purposes to RSVP via e-mail to jeshanks@novascuba.org. Also, be sure to read this whole message, as there are some questions at the end of this message that need to be answered.

We are planning to Dive and Camp at Lake Rawlings, VA, which is not far from Richmond, VA. Lake Rawlings is a private lake and specializes in Diving activities. Please visit thier website at http://www.lakerawlings. com for information about their facilities, and dive and equipment waivers.

We have reserved two cabins, each cabin sleeps 6 people, bunk house style. There is a 3rd cabin, but not sure if it is taken yet. If more people RSVP we can look into that, and there is also tent camping at Lake Rawlings.

There are several options:
- You can come Friday and Saturday nights or just Saturday night., but we need to know which.

- You can come down and dive on Saturday or Sunday, and camp out in a tent if you like, you do not need to stay in the cabins.

- You can come down and dive and not camp out at all, there are also small hotels and B&B's in the area.

Some of us plan on going down on Friday, June 9th, and staying the 10th and 11th, returning Sunday afternoon.

In order to get a discount on the cabins and diving (20%) I would need to turn in everyone's waiver and pay for the trip all at once.

If 12 people sign up, the cost would be approximatley $30.00 per person. That would include 2 nights in a cabin, and 2 days of diving. Of course meals, drinks, air, would be extra. This actually a very good deal. In addition, John and Vanessa are hosting a BBQ Party Saturday night -- and also request food/drink/money donations to help out!

In order to dive at Lake Rawlings everyone must fill out a waiver, the waiver can be downloaded on line at : http://www.lakerawlings. com/Diving/Forms.htm


So, what I would like to ask you to do:
Please send an e-mail to jeshanks@novascuba.org and let me know if you are planning to attend, which nights or days, and whether you want to sleep in the cabins, or if you want to tent camp.

Starting this weekend and all of next week, I will provide a fax number that you can send completed waivers to, so I can drop all that off at the Lake Rawlings office when I check in on Friday.

p.s. for you information only -- Dive Knifes are not allowed at Rawlings!

Who's Coming:
James
Drew
Chris
Lisa
Goose+4
John S.+1
CyberSurfer+1
MJ
Doris
Vanessa
Mario
Vinny

Who's Interested:
Joe
Pamela
Mike

[VADiver]

Is anyone planning on a night dive? I was planning on hitting the water Friday evening for a quick dive if anyone is interested. Let me know and we can plan accordingly.

This will be a weekend practice session for my dry suit, so nothing too involved. Plus it's a quarry!

[Ariesno1]

Is anyone planning on a night dive? I was planning on hitting the water Friday evening for a quick dive if anyone is interested. Let me know and we can plan accordingly.

This will be a weekend practice session for my dry suit, so nothing too involved. Plus it's a quarry!

Vinny, John said he wants to do a night dive on Friday. I think I will be too cold for a night dive in my 7 mm.

[WreckGoddess]

This will be a weekend practice session for my dry suit, so nothing too involved. Plus it's a quarry!

Vinny -- yeah yeah.. like you really look that good in the water in a wetsuit!
Doris -- 7mm..I'm diving a 5mm.. brr...Maybe I should rethink that..

[VADiver]

I look better in my 3mm than in my dry suit...that is until I get the weighting down.

Doris, I don't think the night dive will be much colder than diving in the day. The water should remain be about the same--COLD! The air temp might add a bit of a chill though.

I was at Millbrook yesterday and at 80' it was 41 degrees. I was getting chilly in my drysuit after an hour.

(The thermocline was at 30'--abobve that it was between 58 to 68 degrees)

[Ariesno1]

Doris -- 7mm..I'm diving a 5mm.. brr...Maybe I should rethink that..

Well, mine is a 5mm/7mm, but I will bring my hooded 3mm vest too.

[Ariesno1]

Doris, I don't think the night dive will be much colder than diving in the day. The water should remain be about the same--COLD! The air temp might add a bit of a chill though.

I was at Millbrook yesterday and at 80' it was 41 degrees. I was getting chilly in my drysuit after an hour.

(The thermocline was at 30'--abobve that it was between 58 to 68 degrees)

I hope Rawlings will be warmer than Millbrook. And since I do not want to go to bed being cold, I probably skip the night dives.

[WreckGoddess]

Alright Diver People,

For those that want to carpool, ya'll can meet @ my place at 6:15-6:30 on Friday and we can carpool down..?
Its about 10-15 mins off of 95 but there is a safe place to park the cars. It’s then a 2 1/2 hr drive from my place w/out traffic. So I am thinking about a 3 hour drive.

Otherwise, those who are leaving earlier or later, etc... we will meet you down there!



Directions:
From I-95, north of the Lake
(Richmond, VA; Maryland; Pennsylvania)

Take I-95 south to Exit 51, I-85 South (near Petersburg).

Take Exit 39 Rawlings and turn right towards the Nottoway Inn.
After 0.2 miles, at the "T" intersection, turn left onto Route 1 South.
After 1 mile, at the dive flag sign, turn right onto Rawlings Rd/Route 629.
After 1.4 miles, turn right onto Quarry Lane (dirt road).
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!
From I-95, south of the Lake
(North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)

Take I-95 north to US 58, Exit 11 in Emporia, VA.
Take US 58 west about 7 miles into Brunswick County.
Go another 7 miles to Rt. 712 in Edgerton, and turn right onto Rt. 712.
Take Rt. 712 about 12.5 miles, crossing I-85 and passing the Nottoway Motel/Restaurant on left.
At the intersection, turn left on US 1 (south), and go 1.2 miles.
At the top of a hill, turn right on Rt. 629 (Rawlings Road).
After 1.4 miles, turn right onto Quarry Lane (dirt road).
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!
From I-85, south of the Lake
(North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)

Take your route of choice to Durham, NC, and join I-85 North.
Take Exit 39 Rawlings and turn left towards the Nottoway Inn.
After 0.2 miles, at the "T" intersection, turn left onto Route 1 South.
After 1 mile, at the dive flag sign, turn right onto Rawlings Rd/Route 629.
After 1.4 miles, turn right onto Quarry Lane (dirt road).
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!
From US 460
(West of Blackstone, VA)

Take U.S. 460 East into Blackstone.
Look for Route 40, and go East to McKenney, VA.
Turn Right on U.S. 1, Heading South.
Go approximately 5 1/2 miles, passing the Nottoway Motel / Restaurant on Left.
After crossing Route 712, go 1.2 miles to Route 629, and Turn Right.
Go 1.4 miles on Route 629 to Quarry Lane and turn right.
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!
From US 258
(East of Lake Rawlings)

From Hampton, take U.S. 258 (Mercury Blvd.) across the James River Bridge.
Continue U.S. 258 west (through Smithfield) to Windsor.
In Windsor, turn right onto U.S. 460 (west).
Take U.S. 460 to Waverly, and turnleft onto Route 40 (west).
Take Route 40 to McKenney, and turn left on U.S. 1 (south).
Take U.S. 1 to Rawlings. Look for the Nottoway Motel & Restaurant on left, and then go 1.2 miles to Route 629.
Take Route 629 west 1.4 miles to Quarry Lane and turn right.
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!
Note: Lake Rawlings is approximately 98 miles from the James River Bridge in Hampton.
From US 58
(East of Lake Rawlings)

From Chesapeake/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, take U.S. 58 west to Edgerton (about 14 miles west of Emporia).
At Valero Convenience Store & Gas Station at intersection of U.S. 58 & Route 712, turn right onto Rte. 712
Go about 13 miles to U.S. 1 (look for Nottoway Motel & Restaurant on left).
Turn left on U.S. 1 (south), and go 1.2 miles to Route 629.
At top of hill, turn right onto Route 629 (west)
Go 1.4 miles to Quarry Lane and turn right.
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!
Alternative Route from US 58
(East of Lake Rawlings)

From Chesapeake / Norfolk / Virginia Beach, take U.S. 58 west to U.S. 460 (west).
Take U.S. 460 to Waverly, and turn left onto Route 40 (west).
Take Route 40 to McKenney, and turn left on U.S. 1 (south).
Take U.S. 1 to Rawlings, crossing the Nottoway River.
Look for Nottoway Motel & Restaurant on left, and go 1.2 miles to Route 629.
Take Route 629 west 1.4 miles to Quarry Lane and turn right.
Follow Quarry Lane straight to the main gate!.
Note: This route appears to be the most direct route to Lake Rawlings.

[VADiver]

http://www.lakerawli...iving/index.htm



here is the link

[JohnnyBravo]

I do believe Millbrook is colder at this time of year. But maybe it just seems colder because it's murkier.

Here's what I recorded on the weekend of May 18 at Rawlings:

-Surface temps were in the mid 60s -- swimmable in bathing suit, though chilly.

-Above thermocline at about 30 feet it was about 61

-Below 30 feet it dropped to mid 50s

-Temp at 50 feet was 54 degrees. With nothing terribly compelling to see, I didn't see a point of going deeper/colder.

On the other hand I'm sure it's gone up 3-4 derees in the past couple weeks, especially in the top 30 feet. Down at the wheelhouse, it's never going to be much above 55.