RICKA Picnic - Goddard Memorial State Park - August 24, 2013

I went to the RICKA Picnic yesterday at the Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick.  We put in near the beach on Greenwich Bay, and paddled around the point into Greenwich Cove.  There was a good wind blowing off the bay kicking up some easy 1-foot rollers. This could have been avoided if we put in at the boat ramp on the cove, but I liked it.  Once we turned the corner into the cove I was surprised to see how many boats there were in the marina.  We paddled to the end of the cove and a short ways up the Green River before turning back around.  It was a nice trip, followed by a great BBQ.

The flatwater crew on greenwich Cove 

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Goddard Memorial State Park

Providence River – August 20, 2013

At the put-in

We had our last Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip of the year on the Providence River in downtown Providence. 

We put in at the Bold Point access in East Providence and headed out across Providence Harbor towards the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. The water was calm with just a slight hint of some rolling waves. Century old pier pilings dot the surface. Rounding the corner we passed some tugboats before heading through the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier and into the Providence River. 

Riverwalk

I was surprised how developed the riverfront had become in this area. The lower section of the Providence River includes the Riverwalk. Passing through downtown Providence we will came to the confluence of the Woonasqatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. Bearing to the left we paddled up the Woonasqatucket River into the Basin at Waterplace Park. 

The tide was up, so a few people paddled further up the river to enjoy the sunset. I was content to enjoy the view from the Basin before heading back.

Fox Point Hurricane Barrier

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Fife Brook Section of the Deerfield - August 17, 2013

Miami Beach

We did our annual RICKA Flatwater/Whitewater trip yesterday on the Fife Brook Section of the Deerfield. Release was at a little low – 850 cfs.

Since the turnout of flatwater paddlers was light, we decided to run the upper section.  Earl was nice enough to take a few flatwater paddlers down the lower section.  We had 7 boats – 3 canoes (Jim, John and me) and 4 kayaks (Bob, Tim, Pat and Byron) on the upper section.  The day was sunny and warm.

The trip itself was uneventfull.  We got delayed about a half an hour at the put-in waiting for the rafts and tubers to get started.  We had three successful runs at Zoar Gap, and one swim. 

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Round Island on Lake Winnipesaukee - August 10, 2013

This tandem kayak worked out great

Michelle and I got out for a short kayak trip at Round Island on Lake Winnipesaukee. Yes, you read that right – a KAYAK trip.  We were visiting our friend Bob on the island.  I left my canoe at home, but Bob had a tandem kayak that we could use.

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in NH and the third largest in New England after Lake Champlain and Mousehead Lake.  It is approximately 21 miles long 9 miles wide covering 69 square miles.  Round Island is one of approximately 263 islands on Lake Winnipesaukee.  At 47 acres it is one of the larger islands on the lake and it has been in Bob's family for over 100 years.

There was a slight wind from the northeast blowing up 1-foot rollers, so Michelle and I stayed close to shore at the southern end of the island.  After a short paddle, we decided to take a break and enjoy the beach – good decision.

The "big" house on Round Island

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Lackey Dam and the Mumford River - August 7, 2013

Jim and Rosco at the put in

We had another nice paddle with the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club above the Lackey Dam on the Mumford River in Sutton.

The Mumford River is an 18-mile river that arises from the Manchaug Pond in Sutton and Douglas, and flows east until it joins the Blackstone River in Uxbridge.  The many dams on the river provided waterpower to the mills that grew up along the river during the 19^th century.

We put in just above Lackey Dam and paddled upstream into the Lackey Pond.  This time of year the pond is full of weeds, but it was still an easy paddle.  Once we found the channel, we paddled up the Mumford River and up beyond Route 146.  Fallen trees make this a little challenging, but you can actually make it quite a ways up the river. 

Hard to believe that it is already August – just two paddle club trips left.

The canoe guys

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Pier 5 - August 2, 2013

Putting in at Pier 5

It was poring rain when I woke up, but there was one more place that I wanted to paddle - Pier 5 or South Pier in Narragansett.

In the late 19th century, this section of Narragansett became a thriving resort community with 10 hotels and many Victorian and Shingle style cottages.  The Towers is all that remains of the old hotels, but many summer cottages - old and new - can still be seen along the shore.

By the time I got down to the pier the rain had stopped, but there was still a strong wind blowing.  I paddled out into the 1 to 2 foot rollers.  It was easy paddling, but I knew that the trip back against the waves and into the wind would be a slog, so I stopped at the Towers and bobbed in the waves for a while to enjoy the view before heading back.

The Towers

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Sunrise at Black Point - August 1, 2013

Pink sunrise

This morning, I traded my water shoes for my hiking shoes and went to catch the sunrise at Black Point.

I arrived just before sunrise and began my trek north along the shore.  Most of the southern coast of Narragansett is lined with a pretty pink granite known locally as Narragansett Pier granite.  Boulders of various sizes line the shore.  

I met a couple of fishermen along the way, but otherwise the morning was quiet.  About a 1/2 mile up the coast, I got a great view of the formal gardens and gatehouse at the Dunmere.  Dunmere was built in 1883 for Robert Dun of Dun & Bradstreet, and was one of several large estates that lined the coast along Ocean Road.  I hiked along the rocks for about a mile to Newton Avenue before walking back down Ocean Road to my car.

A little later it was a yellow sunrise

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