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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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