Pawtuxet Village – January 11, 2014

Put-in at Pawtuxet Village Park

I got my days mixed up. The RICKA trip I thought I was joining today is actually tomorrow, but I still did some paddling down at the Pawtuxet Village. 

Pawtuxet Village was established in 1638 – just two years after Roger Williams founded Providence, and one year after Richard Smith built the “Castle” in Wickford. Settlers were attracted to Pawtuxet for it’s sheltered harbor and for the waterpower available from the Pawtuxet Falls. The Native American term "pawtuxet" means "little falls". 

View from the breakwater

I put-in at 11:00 at the Aspray Boathouse at Pawtuxet Village Park. I paddled out to the breakwater, but decided not to venture out into the Providence River. I paddled back down the cove to the Broad Street Bridge to do some surfing at the Pawtuxet Falls before heading back. 

Pawtuxet Falls was the site of the old Pawtuxet Falls Dam. In the summer of 2011, the old dam was demolished in one of the largest dam removal projects in the state. The removal of the dam restored seven miles of free-flowing river habitat to one of Narragansett Bay’s largest tributaries. 

Pawtuxet Falls - site of the old Pawtuxet Falls Dam

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First Snow of 2014 - Ashton Snowshoeing - January 3, 2014

Fresh snow on the Bike Path

The first big snow storm of 2014 turned out to be a dud.  We got 6” to 8” instead of the 12” that was forecast.  Still. after shoveling out the driveway, I decided to head down to the bike path in Lincoln to do some snowshoeing.

I accessed the bike path at the Visitor Center on Route I-295.  This is a good starting point because it is always plowed. The temperature was around 15° when I arrived, but as long as you stayed out of the wind, it didn’t seem that cold.  I was the first one on the bike path and got to break a trail through the fresh snow. 

On the ridge overlooking the Ashton Dam

Once on the bike path, you can head south down around the Kelly House and the Blackstone Canal, or north along the river under Route I-295.  I decided to go north and was surprised to see the Blackstone River frozen over above the dam.  Along this section thickets of mountain laurel grow on the rocky slopes that lead down to the river – very pretty.  I always find lots of deer tracks when I come here, and today was no exception.  Maybe sometime I’ll see the deer.

I did a loop from the Visitor Center, down to the Blackstone River and back.  Enjoy it while you can!

Snow and ice on the Ashton Dam

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