Lightning Safety

In the United States, an average of 66 people are killed each year by lightning. Especially for paddlers who spend a lot of time outside, lightning is a serious threat, and everyone needs to understand the risks, and know how to protect themselves.

Know the Weather Forecast

Modern weather forecasting is extremely accurate, so be sure to check the forecast before paddling. If the forecast calls for some chance of thunderstorms, cancel or postpone your trip and go another day – better safe than sorry.

Watch for Developing Thunderstorms

Even on the water it is a good idea to watch for storms. Thunderstorms are most likely to develop on warm summer days and go through several stages of growth, development and dissipation. On a sunny day, as the sun heats the air, pockets of warmer air start to rise in the atmosphere. When this air reaches a certain level in the atmosphere, cumulus clouds start to form. Continued heating can cause these clouds to grow vertically upward in the atmosphere into "towering cumulus" clouds. These towering cumulus may be one of the first indications of a developing thunderstorm.

Approaching Thunderstorms: When to Seek Shelter

If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning, and should seek shelter immediately! The first stroke of lightning is just as deadly as the last. If the sky looks threatening, take shelter before hearing thunder. You can get struck by a storm that’s up to 10 miles away.

The 30-30 Rule

Use the 30-30 rule where visibility is good and there is nothing obstructing your view of the thunderstorm. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles of you, and is extremely dangerous!

The threat of lightning continues for much longer than most people realize. Take shelter as soon as you hear thunder, and wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before leaving. Don't be fooled by sunshine or blue sky!

Outdoor Activities: Minimize the Risk of Being Struck

During a thunderstorm, each flash of cloud-to-ground lightning is a potential killer. In addition to the visible flash that travels through the air, the current associated with the lightning discharge travels along the ground. Although some victims are struck directly by the main lightning bolt, many more victims are struck as the current moves in and along the ground.

There is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm. The only way to significantly reduce your risk is to get inside a substantial building or automobile as fast as you can. If you are stuck outside in a thunderstorm, you should avoid the following:

• Open areas including water – you don’t want to be the tallest object in the area.
• Hills, isolated trees, towers or utility poles - lightning tends to strike these taller objects.
• Metal conductors such as wires or fences - metal does not attract lightning, but lightning can travel for long distances through it.

If you are on the water you should get off the water at the first sight of lightning or sound of thunder. Avoid rocks and look for lower ground under uniform tree cover away from the water. Exposed sheds, picnic shelters, tents or covered porches do NOT protect you from lightning. Do not assume the storm is over until you haven’t heard thunder for about 30 minutes.

Crouching Can Help—But Lying Down Makes Things Worse

If you find yourself in a situation where you are exposed to the elements with nowhere to shelter, make yourself as small a target as possible. Crouch down with your feet together, hands on knees and your head tucked in. Don’t lay down on the ground. You want as little of yourself in contact with the ground as possible.

Be Prepared

Check the forecast, and cancel or postpone your trip if lightning is a threat. In the event of a storm, fully enclosed buildings with wiring and plumbing provide the best protection. If a sturdy building is not available, get into a car and close all the windows. Stay inside for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.

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National Weather Service Lightning Safety

Two Weeks on Salt Water - End of Another Great Vacation

Yesterday on Wickford Harbor

Our annual summer vacation in South County ends today, so we are packing up and heading home. Now that I have a sea kayak, this is the first year that I didn’t bring my solo canoe. To be honest, I didn’t miss it. The sea kayak made it much easier to deal with the wind and waves in this coastal environment – right boat for the job. I did bring my tandem canoe, so Michelle and I paddled down to the Beach at the Narrows. I spent a lot of time paddling on Point Judith Pond, including my annual RICKA trip. I also got out to a few old favorites – Narrow River, Jamestown Harbor, Dutch Harbor, the Harbor of Refuge and Wickford. It is windy and rainy with rumbles of thunder this morning, so I’m done paddling for this vacation.

South County Vacation 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Wickford Harbor - July 28, 2023

The Castle

It was my last full day at the cottage, so I decided to head out to paddle at Wickford Harbor. With last night’s storm it would be sheltered form the wind, and I’d be able to check out the North Kingstown Town Beach for the RICKA Picnic.

Wickford was established in the early 17th century when Roger Williams purchased land from the Narragansett Indians and established a trading post. In 1637, Williams sold the land to Richard Smith who constructed a large fortified house on the site, giving the house its nickname the “Castle”. That house was burned during King Philip's War, and the structure that can be seen from the put-in today was built in 1678.

Wickford Shipyard

Wickford grew to become a major port and shipbuilding center, and today contains a large collection of 17th and 18th century homes. It is a picturesque village whose streets are lined with shops and restaurants, and whose harbor is filled with sailboats and yachts.

I headed out from Wilson Park into Wickford Harbor and paddled out past the breakwater into the surprisingly calm waters of Narragansett Bay. It’s just a short paddle over to the North Kingstown Town Beach. There were a couple of kayak fishermen outside of the breakwater, but otherwise I had the harbor to myself.

Sailboats in Narragansett Bay

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Point Judith Pond with RICKA - July 26, 2023

Paul heading out from Marina Park

I had to reschedule Sunday’s Point Judith trip due to family obligations. We decided to do a mid-week trip on Wednesday. The forecast was for a hot day with winds from the south. We had 6 boats – all kayaks.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Lunch at the beach

The weather was hot with a slight breeze as we met at the town boat ramp at Marina Park. We headed out into the Upper Pond, paddled through the Narrows and out into Point Judith Pond. We explored the coves on the west side of the pond on the way to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel. We paddled across the top of Great Island and stopped at the cottage for a picture before heading down the east side of Great Island into Galilee to avoid the wind.

We paddled across the top of Galilee and crossed back over the boat channel near Snug Harbor to have lunch at the beach in Jerusalem. Since the wind was blowing from the south we crossed the boat channel again returned up the west side of Great Island. With the wind to our backs, the return trip went much faster. Eight miles total – everyone did great.

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Harbor of Refuge - July 24, 2023

Point Judith Light

I was up early and the wind and water were calm, so I headed over to Camp Cronin to paddle inside the breakwater at the Harbor of Refuge.

Even after construction of the Point Judith Light (c. 1810/1857) conditions remained treacherous at the tip of Point Judith and a Federal project was initiated to construct over 3-miles of jetties to provide a secure breakwater refuge for shipping. Work began in 1890 with construction of the east (3,640 feet) and west (2,240 feet) jetties, and was completed in 1910 with construction the V-shaped center jetty (6,970 feet). A 1,500-foot opening was left for the east passage, and a 1,200-foot opening was left for the west passage.

Across the east passage

While the jetties were originally constructed to provide a refuge for ships traveling between Boston and New York during bad weather, they also protected the newly constructed Port of Galilee. In 1910, the Town of South Kingstown and the State of Rhode Island dredged the current Breachway and stabilized it with stone jetties. Then, in the 1930's, the State of Rhode Island dredged an anchorage basin just inside the Breachway and built wharves to create a port for large, ocean-going fishing vessels. This allowed the Galilee to become one of the largest fishing ports on the east coast

During World War II, much of the land on Point Judith was part of Fort Greene - named for Revolutionary war hero Nathanael Greene. Huge sixteen inch guns were located in the area now known as Fisherman's Memorial State Park to protect the west side of Narragansett Bay. Smaller fortifications were located along the shoreline. Fort Greene was part of a network of forts protecting Narragansett Bay including Fort Adams in Newport, Fort Greble on Dutch Island, Fort Weatherill in Jamestown, and Fort Hamilton on Rose Island.

Birds on the breakwater

There were just a couple fishermen on the breakwater, and a couple of boats heading out the east passage. The sea was relatively calm behind the breakwater with small wind-blown waves, but I crossed the east passage in 1-2 foot rolling waves. I usually I do the loop up the east jetty, down the west jetty and across the beach - about 4-miles. Today I did an up and back along the east jetty - about 2.5 miles.

The east side of the center jetty is in much worse condition than the west, which has been rebuilt. Huge boulders have been pushed aside leaving large gaps in the seawall. It's hard to imagine that water can move those huge rocks. I paddled by the cormorants and other shore birds resting on the seawall out to the tip of the "V" in the center jetty before heading back.

Break at the top of the breakwater

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Dutch Island - July 23, 2023

Jamestown Bridge from Dutch Harbor

It was a beautiful morning, so I decide to head over to Dutch Harbor to paddle out to the Dutch Island Light. The bay was calm, winds were light and conditions were perfect.

Dutch Island is located in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay and took its name from the Dutch East India Company that established a trading post here around 1636. After the Revolutionary War the island was fortified to protect the West Passage from invasion by sea. In the 1890’s the Army established Fort Greble here. Like Fort Weatherill on the East Passage, Fort Greble was active through World War II and was part of a series of heavily fortified artillery placements that protected Narragansett Bay.

Dutch Island Light

The first lighthouse was completed on the southern tip of Dutch Island in 1826. The original tower was replaced with the current tower in 1857. The lighthouse remained in service until 1979 when it was replaced with a flashing buoy. It then fell into disrepair until 2007 when it was restored by the Dutch Island Lighthouse Society.

I put in at Dutch Harbor and paddled out toward the Dutch Island Light. After snapping a few pictures, I continued around the west side of island before retuning to the take out.

Newport Bridge

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Jamestown Harbor - July 22, 2023

Newport Bridge

I decided to head over to Jamestown this morning to paddle around Jamestown Harbor and get some pictures of the Newport Bridge. I put in at the East Ferry Boat Ramp and headed out into the harbor.

The Newport Bridge was completed in 1969 and is the longest suspension bridge in New England. It spans the East Passage of Narragansett Bay from Jamestown to Newport. The main span is over 1,600 feet long, and the road deck is more 200 feet above the water. The towers themselves are over 400 feet tall.

Clingstone

I followed the boat moorings down to the Dumplings - a grouping of rocks just off Bull Point. The most prominent of the Dumplings is Clingstone or the "House on the Rock". This massive post and beam home was built in 1905 and has been recently restored.

It turned out to be a nice morning with the tide going out and 1 to 2 rolling waves - great conditions for the trip.

Newport Bridge and the Dumplings

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The Coves on Point Judith Pond - July 21, 2023

Smelt Brook Cove

I slept a little late this morning, and with the kids coming down today, I was back out for a paddle on Point Judith Pond. It was a bright, clear morning with just a touch of wind, so why not. This time I padded up to the coves in the northeast corner of the pond - Turner Cove, Smelt Brook Cove and Cogdon Cove - and around Commock Island before heading back. Birds everywhere - seagulls, egrets, cormorants and osprey.

Hidden cottage on Cogdon Cove

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Paddle Map - Upper Point Judith Pond

The Beach at the Narrow River - July 19, 2023

Our view of the waves

I was back on the Narrow River this afternoon to paddle with Michelle down to the beach at the Narrows at Cormorant Point.

We put in at the Sprague Bridge on Boston Neck Road at the John H Chafee National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1973, the refuge includes over 300-acres of saltmarsh around Pettaquamscutt Cove that provides habitat for shore birds like egrets, herons, cormorants and osprey.

Cormorant Point

We headed the other way through the Narrows down to the beach. As always, the shore was lined with motor and paddle boats, but there were very few people on the beach itself. We sat on the ocean side to enjoy the waves at Cormorant Point and down the beach to the Dunes Club and the Narragansett Town Beach.

The trip back was a little tricky with the out-going tide, but we managed just fine.

Ready to head back

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Paddle Map - Lower Narrow River

Upper Narrow River - July 19, 2023

Paddling through the Narrows

After three days of paddling on Point Judith Pond, I was looking for something different. It needed to be someplace that wouldn’t have too many waves, so I decided to paddle the upper section of the Narrow River.

The Narrow River, also known at the Pettaquamscutt River, is the tidal extension of the Mattatuxet River. It begins below the Carr Pond Dam at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and flows south for 6-miles forming the border between South Kingstown and Narragansett before entering Pettaquamscutt Cove and then flowing out into Narragansett Bay above the Narragansett Town Beach and the Dunes Club.

The bridge at Bridgetown Road

There are five distinct sections of the Narrow River – the Upper Pond, the Lower Pond, the “Narrows” from Bridgetown Road and Middlebridge Road, the “Flats” at Pettaquamscutt Cove, and the “Narrows” at the mouth of the river where it flows into Narragansett Bay.

I put in at the Narrow River Fishing Area off Pollock Avenue and paddled upstream into the “Narrows” between Bridgetown Road and Middlebridge Road. This section of the river is lined with boat docks and summer houses.

Casey's Sill between Upper and Lower Ponds

Above Bridgetown Road, I paddled through the Lower Pond, and then the Upper Pond before paddling up a short section of the river that leads to the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace. It was too shallow for me to go up very far, so I turned around had headed back downstream.

Nice trip, and even with a strong wind it was easy to do in my sea kayak.

View up the Lower Pond from the Bridgetown Road Bridge

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Paddle Map - Upper Narrow River

Upper Point Judith Pond - July 18, 2023

Egrets at Ram Island

It was another foggy morning, so I stayed close to the cottage and paddled to Upper Point Judith Pond. I'll be leading a RICKA trip from there next week.

Unlike Rhode Island’s other large salt ponds (Ninigret, Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug) that are coastal lagoons, Point Judith Pond is an estuary where the Saugatucket River empties to the sea. I paddled up past Ram Island and Harbor Island, through the Narrows into the Upper Pond, and into the Saugatucket River at Silver Spring Cove. Lots of birds out this morning.

Osprey about to fly off near Silver Spring Cove

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Port of Galilee - July 17, 2023

Snug Harbor Light

With pea soup fog I didn’t get many pictures this morning, so I put my boat in the water this afternoon and padded down to Galilee. I headed south into a moderate headwind down the west side of Great Island past Thomas Point, Little Comfort, Snug Harbor and into the Port of Galilee. It was easy in my sea kayak.

The Port of Galilee was created in 1935 when a harbor was dredged and a dock constructed at the mouth of Point Judith Pond. Connected to the ocean by the Breakaway and the Harbor of Refuge, both completed in 1910, Galilee eventually became the home port for much of Rhode Island's fishing industry. I paddled down to the mouth of the Breachway on the Jerusalem side, and back up past the fishing trawlers, lobster boats and charter boats on the Galilee side before returning to the cottage up the east side of Great Island. 

At the mouth of the Breachway

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Around the Islands in Point Judith Pond - July 17, 2023

Cormorants at the oyster farm

It was foggy morning, so I decided to stay close to home and paddle around the islands in the middle of Point Judith Pond. Point Judith Pond has three large islands – Great Island, Harbor Island and Ram Island – and four smaller islands - Jonathan Island, Beach Island, Gardner Island and Plato Island. Ram Island is posted no trespassing. Great Island, Harbor Island, Jonathan Island and Plato Island have houses on them. Gardner Island or Beach Island are the best places to stop for lunch.

Egrets were foraging on the banks of Jonathan Island and Ram Island. I crossed over at Beach and Gardner Islands, and paddled up the west side of the Point Judith Pond past the oyster farms before crossing over to Pine Tree Point and heading back to the cottage. With the fog it was tough to get any good pictures.

View down Point Judith Pond

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Around Great Island - July 16, 2023

Our cottage on Horseshoe Point

On one of the paddling message boards that I follow, I am constantly telling people to get the right boat for the conditions. This morning I did just that. It was the first morning of my summer vacation at Point Judith Pond, and I went out for the traditional paddle around Great Island. A strong wind was blowing from the southwest. It would have been a slog in my canoe, but in my sea kayak it was easy.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Separated in the south behind sand dunes and barrier beaches, Point Judith Pond is connected to the ocean through the Breachway at Galilee.

Ferry heading out the Breachway

Great Island is one of three large islands on the pond - the other two are Harbor Island and Ram Island. Great Island is about 2-miles long and 1/2-mile wide, and full of summer cottages. I paddled down around Frank’s Neck before heading into Bluff Hill Cove and paddling under the bridge into Galilee.

The fishing village of Galilee was developed in 1935 when the State of Rhode Island dredged out a harbor suitable for commercial fishing vessels. I paddled down into the harbor to snap a few pictures of boats going through the Beachway before heading back up the west side of the island to the cottage.

Glad that I had the sea kayak today

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Allagash for All - An Overview from Jonathan Ludlow

This overview was prepared by Jonathan for the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society. I hope to be there when Jonathan completes his 30th visit.

Last October I completed my 29th visit to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Yes, I like the place.

It occurs to me that while my fellow Chowderheads are probably aware of the Waterway they may not realize what a wonderful place it is.

My strong impression from advertised club trips and accounts in the truly estimable trip book is that club members focus is either on courageous white-water descents on Class 3+ Spring run offs or on heroic saltwater voyages of discovery.

While I know that the PPCS tribe indulges in other modes of messing about in boats, I want to use this opportunity to promote what I consider the third leg of canoe/kayak sport – down river tripping. I will do this by describing the wonders of the Allagash Waterway and offering some suggestions for key factors to be considered in planning and executing a trip.

First of All – What and Where

The Allagash is a 100-mile-long protected limited access wilderness waterway that includes headwater lakes and 98 miles of North flowing river. There are no public roads, permanent habitations, or retail stores. There is no cell service. The waterway is surrounded by North Maine Woods administered forests. Access is over logging roads. It is as close to a pure wilderness experience as you will get east of the Mississippi.

The longest potential trip of 100 miles from Allagash Lake to Allagash Village involves only one significant portage. The waterway is dressed with 81 rustic camp sites equipped with a fireplace, picnic table, tarp rail and a proper outhouse. Very few of the campsites are car accessible. What is not to love?

Where to Go

The “Classic” Allagash trip starts at either Chamberlain Bridge or (in the Spring) Allagash Lake and ends at Allagash Village. These trips are a long haul – probably 10+ days. My personal recommendation, especially for first timers with a week to spend, is have a little less ambition and put in at either Indian Pond Stream or Churchill Dam. You will get to see the major sites, experience quite enough lake paddling and not miss any of the white water.

To my mind the best starter trip is from Churchill Dam to Michaud Farm. You will paddle the core of the Allagash and will have a comfortable five- or six-night trip. You will bounce around on Chase Rapids, cruise down Long Lake, run down to Round Pond and get to choose between all the best camp sites. The following year you can come back and run all the way to Allagash Village via Allagash Falls (and its 1/3-mile portage).

When to Go

My trips have spanned the last week in May and the first week in October. At both extremes there have been crispy mornings that can be mitigated by having a copious supply of firewood. The last week in May usually beats the black fly hatch and provides great views through the leafless forest. June is probably to be avoided on account of the aforementioned Simulium trifasciatum. July is a little busy with camp groups. My choice in the summer is late August or any time in September.

Who Should Go with You

You can solo if you wish but my recommendation is a group of four or six in tandem canoes. The mix of skills is not important. The critical issue is that you should all be there for the same reason. There are those for whom the primary goal of camping is sitting in camp and relaxing all day with adult beverages. Others want to do 40-mile days and have oatmeal for breakfast and dinner (skipping lunch). Make sure your party agrees on where they fall in this range.

Also, you should make it clear from the outset that the Allagash is not a “long weekend” trip. Unless you are blessed with a residence in The County you will need a day at both ends for travel so a five-night trip means setting aside at least a week.

What to Bring

You all know how to camp. In my mind the Allagash essentials include an ax and a saw (for all that firewood), a nice big tarp – the campsites are set up for tarps and it has been known to rain, and gear for cooking over the wood fire. I bring a small stove but seldom use it.

Oh, and an ABS/Royalex canoe. There are plenty of rocks and maybe a bit of dragging on late summer trips.

What to See

A hundred years ago the Allagash was a busy industrial site. The industry in question was the felling and transport of first growth forest timber. Many of the facilities are still in place, rusting in the woods or tastefully preserved for your inspection. The Tramway, the abandoned steam engines on Eagle Lake, and the Lombard Log Haulers at Cunliffe Depot are well known. You should not miss the museum at Churchill Dam nor should you fail to look at the camp sites and imagine them in their former roles as Native American camps, abandoned farm sites, or locations where old time guides brought “sports” from the city to enjoy the wilds.

Where to Camp

There are 81 official camp sites on the Allagash. I have some favorites that I am willing to share.

• The Jaws above Churchill Dam – the best sunsets on the river and a handy first night spot if you are starting from Churchill Dam
• High Bank opposite The Jaws - a nice private spot with great views
• Jalbert’s on Long Lake – again sunsets and a private beach
• Outlet on Round Pond - nice set up and handy for the spring on Round Pond
• Five Finger Brook West - two words – Brook Trout. Do not tell anybody about this site. Please!
• Cunliffe Depot - any bits and pieces from logging days and the Lombards

How to Get There (and Back)

The big question for an Allagash trip is where to leave your vehicle and/or whether to get shuttled at the beginning or end of the trip. If you choose to leave your ride at the take-out, you will be driving up Route 11 (The Old Military Road) to Fort Kent and will leave your vehicle at or near Allagash Village.

If you drive to the put-in, you can either get shuttled back to your car or have it driven out to your take-out by an outfitter. The roads to the put-in are logging roads, and you will have to pay tribute to North Maine Woods at their gatehouse. High ground clearance vehicles are recommended. Do NOT trust your GPS or you will end up in Ontario.

In either case you can do no better than engage Norm L’Italien of Pelletier’s Campground in Saint Francis. Norm is the Gold Standard. Enough said!

What to Do Next

Well, now that you are convinced, the thing to do is download and study the excellent guide available at aww-guide.pdf (maine.gov). So, learn the history, study the map, recruit the rest of your team, and wait for ice-out.

It is a magical place

For extra credit and pleasure hunt down a copy of “The Allagash” by Lew Dietz (the author of A Seal Called Andre). It is the very best read on the history of the Allagash Country.

Team Ludlow-Wheeler pulling into Michaud Farm at the end of a very
successful five-night trip in 1998. Yes, the kids did grow up to be river rats.

Upper Millers – July 8, 2023

Heading out

With the torrential downpours on the 4th of July, lots of whitewater rivers were running this week. With my summer vacation starting next week, it really wasn’t a good time for me to take time off. I saw trips posted on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but had to pass. Fortunately, the water lasted until Saturday, and I was able to do a rare summer-time run on the Upper Millers.

The Millers arises in north-central MA and flows west for 52 miles to merge into the Connecticut River at Millers Falls. There are two sections that are popular for whitewater boating – the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), and the Lower Millers from Erving to Millers Falls (class II/IV). With the Upper Millers dropping, there was talk of changing the trip to the Lower Millers.

Above the first railroad bridge

Rather than dropping my boat at the put-in (Blossom Street in Royalston) as I usually do, I drove directly to the take-out (Crescent Street in Athol) in case the trip needed to move to the Lower Millers. The water on Upper Millers is controlled by releases from the Birch Hill Dam. It looked like the river would hold at around 1,000 cfs, so the Upper Millers run was on. We loaded up the boats and headed up to the put-in.

We had 8 boats - 4 canoes (Kaz, Rick, Dave and me) and 4 kayaks (Paddler Shawn, Andrew, Martha and Mary Therese). To me, 1,000 cfs is a great level for this run. The waves aren’t too big, the water isn’t too pushy, and there are tons of eddies to catch and waves to surf. It’s a nice class II+ run - just the way I like it. We got on the water at around 11:00 and headed out.

Buckman Brook Shelter

The first major rapid starts just below the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge – lots of waves and rocks to dodge. After some surfing and jet ferries below the railroad bridge we continued downstream. The next major rapid is Mile Long. As the name suggests, it is a long rock garden that ends at the shelter at the Bearsden Conservation Area. We worked our way down rock-hopping and catching waves.

After a quick break at the Buckman Brook Shelter, we continued downstream. There are a couple of class II rapids, including the wave train below the lunch spot and the island, before you reach the last major rapid – the Gorge. I had a swim at the Gorge last time I was here, but this time I made it through fine. We finished the run at around 1:30 with the class IV carry back to the cars. After shuttling Kaz and Shawn back to their cars, I was on my way home after a great summer-time run.

That's me - Mile Long I think

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Gages on the Upper Millers

Providence River - July 4, 2023

Crossing Providence Harbor

I have led a RICKA Flatwater trip on the Providence River on July 4th for the past few years. It seems appropriate since one of the first insurrections of the Revolutionary War – the Gaspee Affair – was carried out on the Providence River in 1772. Providence was also the first colony to declare independence on May 4, 1776, and Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution in 1790 after protections were added by the Bill of Rights.

The Providence River is formed at the convergence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers in downtown Providence. It flows south through Providence for a mile to its convergence with the Seekonk River at Bold Point/India Point. It then opens up into Providence Harbor and the Green Jacket Shoal before continuing south for 8-miles to the narrows between Conimicut Point in Warwick and Nayatt Point in Barrington where it becomes Narraganset Bay.

Through the Hurricane Barrier

It was raining as we put-in at Bold Point and paddled up the Seekonk River though the narrows between Bold Point in East Providence and India Point in Providence. India Point was the base of operations for John Brown’s merchant fleet in the second half of the 18th century. John Brown and his brothers would go on to found Brown University.

We paddled past the Brown University Boat House and up to the George Washington Bridge that carries Route 195 over the Seekonk River. In 1776, George Washington marched his army across the Seekonk River at this point on his way to New York after successfully driving the British out of Boston. 

Approaching downtown Providence

We then headed out across Providence Harbor towards the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. The water was calm and the tide was high, but the rain was coming down heavy. Rounding Fox Point we passed the tugboats before paddling under the I-way Bridge and through the hurricane barrier into downtown Providence.

Providence was established in 1636 by Puritan theologian Roger Williams who was fleeing religious persecution in Boston. It became a major trading center in the 18th century, a manufacturing center in the 19th century, and a financial center in the 20th century. This history can be seen today in the warehouses, mills and office buildings that line the river. We paddled under the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, a pedestrian bridge built on the piers of the old I-195 bridge, and into downtown Providence.

Skyline from the Cove

In the heart of Providence the river passes through Waterplace Park. Completed in 1994, Waterplace Park includes pedestrian bridges over the river that connect over a mile of cobblestone-paved walkways known as the Riverwalk. The park is home to the popular summertime Waterfire events.

We followed the path of Roger Willams up the Providence River to its headwaters at the confluence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. We continued up the Woonasquatucket River into the Cove at Waterplace Park. The Woonasquatucket River arises near Primrose Pond and Stump Pond in Smithfield and flows generally southeast for 16-miles to Providence. We paddled under Providence Place and up past the Foundry mill complex before turning around.

Above Providence Place

Since the tide was high, we were also able to paddle up the Moshassuck River to the site where Roger Williams established the Providence colony at the Roger Williams National Memorial. The Moshassuck River arises near Lime Rock in Lincoln and flows generally south for 9-miles to Providence. The river became important during the Industrial Revolution, powering numerous mills (including the Moffett Mill on Great Road) and becoming the lower section of the Blackstone Canal.

By then, the rain has stopped, and we had a leisurely paddle back through the city and across the harbor. I brought my sea kayak so I could practice some of the strokes that I learned at the kayak training on Saturday. We arrived back at Bold Point at around noon - plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day. Too bad the rest of the day was filled with rain and thunderstorms.

In my sea kayak in front of Providence Innovation District Park

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Advanced Strokes at the Kayak Centre - July 1, 2023

I spent my birthday at the Just Strokes - Advance class at the Kayak Centre with Ken F.

I did the Essential Kayak Skills class with Ken last summer. That class covered basic strokes - forward sweep, reverse sweep, 360 degree turn, forward stroke, reverse stroke, stopping, stern rudder, stern pry, beam draw and low brace – with an emphasis on shaft angle, (high, medium and low), good torso rotation, and paddle placement. In the Just Strokes - Advance class the emphasis was on edging and boat control. We covered bow and stern rudders, low and high braces, low brace turns, side slips, and sculling draws.

It's funny how some things translate easier from canoe to kayak. Bow/stern rudders, low brace turns, bracing and side slipping all have comparable strokes in the canoe, and I picked those up a little easier. I still struggle with the forward stroke, which looks like a canoe stroke with a very high angle and the blade going parallel to the boat. Ken said it is a powerful stroke, but is all arms and shoulders with limited torso rotation. I need to work on keeping my top hand at about chin level, and allowing my bottom hand to sweep out a little more, and rotating my upper torso. The stroke should look like a butterfly wing - definitely not a canoe stroke.

No pictures from today – I forgot to bring my camera.