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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