Quinebaug River - Fabyan to West Thompson – February 23, 2020

At the Fabian Dam

I’ve paddled the sections of the Quinebaug from Holland Pond to East Brimfield and Sturbridge to Southbridge to the north, and Putnam to Dayville/Brooklyn to the south, but I had never paddled the section in the middle. When Earl posted that trip on the RICKA Flatwater Message Board I decided it was time.

The Quinebaug River arises above East Brimfield Lake in Sturbridge and flows generally southeast for 60 miles through MA and CT to Norwich where it joins the Willimantic to form the Shetucket. We would be paddling the 5.8-mile section from the Fabyan Dam down to West Thompson.

Me and my Mohawk

We met at the Fabyan Dam (622 Fabyan Road, Thompson CT 06255) for the shuttle. The Fabyan Dam was built in the 1820’s to provide power to a carding/fulling mill, and later to a foundry and textile mill. The mill was damaged in the 1938 hurricane, and destroyed by fire in 1939.

As we put-in the day was sunny and warm, and the river was running at 2 feet, 300 cfs on the West Thomson gage. I was paddling tandem with Bill, and we had 7 other boats – 3 canoes and 4 kayaks. The river alternates between flatwater and quickwater as it twists and turns though forests and fields.  

At the top of Auger Brook

We stopped for lunch at Auger Brook, which cascades down a rocky waterfall into the Quinebaug River. We hiked to the top to check out the view and the old stone foundation from a colonial sawmill. This site is also along the old Connecticut Path – a Native American trail that became one of the main colonial roads between Boston and Hartford.

After lunch we continued downstream to the takeout at the pair of bridge abutments that used to support the old Blain Road Bridge (326-342 Ravenelle Rd, North Grosvenor Dale, CT 06255). This marks the beginning of West Thompson Lake, the mile-long, 200-acre impound of the West Thomson Flood Control Dam. 

Approaching the take-out

Since the takeout above the dam was iced in, Earl decided to have us take-out here. We carted, dragged or carried our boats up the long, icy hill to our cars - just one of the many things we are willing to do for a great day on the water.

Quinebaug River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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West Thompson Lake

Quinebaug River Paddlers Trail

West Thompson Gage

Providence River/Waterplace Park – February 16, 2020

Danny and Bill at the put-in

The forecast was cold on Saturday, but warming on Sunday, so Sunday was the day to paddle. Fortunately, I can always count on Bill to join me. His only requirement was that we do something local, so we decided on the Providence River from Bold Point. I posted it on the RICKA Flatwater Board, and Danny joined us as well.

“Many years ago - before there was a Waterplace Park, Waterfire or a River Relocation Project - there was the Woonasquatucket River and the many parking spaces over it in downtown Providence.” This is a quote from story that Bill wrote for the Paddler about his first RICKA trip on the Providence River back in 1978. In those days the river was covered with a deck along what is now Memorial Boulevard. “When someone asked what the widest bridge in the US was in 1978, the answer was the bridge and parking spaces over the Woonasquatucket River” Bill continued. 

Providence Skyline

Today, a paddle in downtown Providence is one of the finest urban paddles in the country thanks to the removal of that bridge deck and the completion of Waterplace Park in 1994. Located along sections of the Moshassuck, Woonasquatucket, and Providence Rivers, Waterplace Park is a four-acre park located in the heart of the city. Pedestrian bridges over the river connect over a mile of cobblestone-paved walkways known as the Riverwalk. The park is home to the popular summertime Waterfire events.

We put in at the Bold Point 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 wind-blown waves. Rounding Fox Point and entering into the Providence River we passed some tugboats before paddling through the hurricane barrier.

Danny near South Water Street

As we paddled upstream we passed under the new pedestrian walking bridge built on the piers of the old I-195 Bridge. We continued upstream past the South Water Street Landing and through downtown Providence 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 we paddled under the Providence Place Mall and upstream as far as the US Rubber Mill. The river was getting low, and I didn’t want to scratch my Spirit II, so we turned around there and headed back downstream. After a few pictures in the Cove, we headed back to Bold Point. Fun trip, as always!

Bill and Erik in the Cove

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Bill’s story his first RICKA trip on the Providence River from the Paddler (page 5)

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary - February 8, 2020

A tough decision today - there was a RICKA hike at Tillinghast Pond and a Papa Joe hike at Broadmoor Wildlife Sactuary. The Broadmoor hike won out since it started earlier and would be my first hike of the season with the Papa Joe crew. I also thought it would be good to talk with Jonathan and Bill about our spring camping trip. Jonathan is pushing for the Allagash, but we'll see. Combine a hundred or so pictures with a new Jerry Vandiver song and what do you get - a new video...

Broadmoor Wildlife Sactuary from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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Broadmoor Wildlife Sactuary

River Island Park - February 1, 2020

I have to read at 10:30 Mass on Sunday, and the only trip on Saturday was a late afternoon run at Tville, so I ended up at River Island Park for a quick run with my whitewater boat. The river was at a nice level - 2.75', 800 cfs. At this level the surf spots aren't too big, but aren't washed out either. I brought my cameras with the intention a taking some video, but I didn't bother. This is the only picture I took - the new stairs at the  put-in.