Bristol Ferry - August 24, 2024

Heading out under the Mount Hope Bridge

Usually a warm summer weekend will find me on one of several dam-release rivers around New England with my whitewater canoe. This summer I have been trying to get out more in my sea kayak, so when I saw that Tony had a Level 2 sea kayak trip scheduled at Bristol Ferry in Portsmouth I decided to join. He described it as a “real” Level 2 - about 6-miles in mild conditions. There were 6 sites we would visit - Bertha K. Russell Preserve, Mount Hope Bridge, a small saltwater inlet, a large triangular pier, a tiny waterfall and a coastal skyscraper.

I met Tony, Mike and Don at 10:30 at Bristol Ferry Town Common, a.k.a. Mount Hope Park. Before the completion of the Mount Hope Bridge, this was the site of a ferry between Portsmouth and Bristol. We would be paddling in Mount Hope Bay – an estuary at the mouth of the Taunton River that flows into the East Passage of Narragansett Bay and the Sakonnet River.

Founders Brook against the tide

High tide was 12:29. Forecast was winds out of the west around 5 kt, becoming south in the afternoon with waves 1-foot or less. We put-in and headed out under the shadow of the Mount Hope Bridge. Completed in 1929, the Mount Hope Bridge is one of three bridges crossing Mount Hope Bay – the Sakonnet River Bridge to the southeast, the Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge to the north, and the Mount Hope Bridge to the southwest.

The Mount Hope Bridge connecting Portsmouth and Bristol is a 6,130-foot suspension bridge with a main span of 1,200 feet between piers. The deck is supported by two massive cables, each eleven inches in diameter, and 2,020-miles of wire. The Mount Hope Bridge was the first bridge not to be painted black. It was painted green to better fit into the surrounding scenery.

Hog Island Shoals Light

We headed east to the Bertha K. Russell Preserve. With the tide coming in, there was a strong current running down Founders Brook, where Anne Hutchinson and the founders of Portsmouth came ashore after signing the Portsmouth Compact of 1638. This was the first document in American history that severed both political and religious ties with England. It was easy to get down the brook, but a little more challenging to paddle back out against the current.

Then we headed west under the Mount Hope Bridge and along the beach to a small saltwater inlet with great views of the Mount Hope Bridge and the Hog Island Shoals Lighthouse. The Hog Island Shoals Lighthouse was built in 1901 to protect ships from the rocky shoals around Hog Island. The lighthouse is now privately owned and the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Portsmouth Station

From there we continued west to explore an old wooden pier and small waterfall before taking a break for lunch at the beach. There were lots of boats out on Mount Hope Bay, and we had great views of Bristol Harbor and Hog Island.

After lunch we continued west out into the East Passage and down to the Carnegie Abbey Tower condominiums. This 22-story high-rise seems out of place in otherwise suburban Portsmouth. The complex is built on the site of the Kaiser Aluminum plant that fabricated aluminum and copper wire in the 1960’s and 1970’s. When that industrial complex was demolished in the 1990’s, this residential development was allowed to replace it at the same size and height.

Sailboats under the bridge

We paddled into the marina that was part of the original Portsmouth Station. Built in 1855, Portsmouth Station was a critical piece of Rhode Island’s coal mining industry. In the early 19th century this area was the center of a vast network of mines crisscrossing the northeast of Aquidneck Island.

From there we headed back in light winds and easy waves to the put-in. Tony said my kayak stroke was looking more “kayaky” compared to the vertical, canoe-style stroke that I had when I paddled tandem with him at Fort Wetherill back in 2018. I took that as a compliment. We had a nice flotilla of sailboats come through just as we were leaving. 

Links:

My Pictures

Tony's Video

Slocum’s River - August 18, 2024

Russells Mills Landing

I wasn't able to paddle last weekend, so when Paul sent a text suggesting that we do the Slocum’s River I was in.

The Slocum’s River (AKA Slocum River or Slocums River) is the tidal extension of the Paskamanset River that arises in the Acushnet Cedar Swamp in New Bedford. While the freshwater Paskamanset River kept its Native American name, the saltwater Slocum’s River took its name from early settlers in the area. The Slocum’s River flows south through the Town of Dartmouth for 4.3-miles before emptying into Buzzards Bay.

Beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park

We met at 10:00 at Russells Mills Landing off Horseneck Road. We had 10 boats with mix of flatwater paddlers and sea kayakers. High tide was at 7:30, and low tide was at 1:00, so we would be paddling down on an outgoing tide. The river winds its way past farms, waterfront homes, and the marshlands of the Slocum's River Reserve and the Demarest Lloyd State Park.

Fishermen lined the banks as we paddled past the beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park and paddled out into the open water where the Slocum’s River opens up into Buzzards Bay between Barneys Joy and Mishaum Point. We could see the waves breaking on the sandbar at the mouth of the river, and the Elizabeth Islands in the distance.

Paddling out into the waves

The water was low, but we managed to work our way out to the sandbar to paddle out into the waves. We had a couple of minor incidents on the way back in (one rescue, one walk to shore) before we paddled/walked back to the beach for lunch.

After lunch it was an easy paddle on an incoming tide back the put-in. Mike called it a Level 2.2 - 7.5-miles round trip. The sun even came out as we were loading the boats – it figures.

The crew at the beach at Demarest Lloyd State Park

Links:
My Pictures
Tides at Slocum's River
Russells Mills Landing
Alternate put-in - Gaffney Town Landing
Slocum's River Reserve

Lloyd Center for the Environment

Demarest Lloyd State Park

Time to Step-up – URI Bay Campus – August 3, 2024

Heading out

The last time that I paddled out of the URI Bay Campus was July, 2019. Tony needed to return the Volunteer of the Year trophy, so we decided to paddle the West Passage checking out the lighthouses. This time, I would be doing the RICKA Sea Kayak Step-up trip, and getting the Volunteer of the Year trophy from Cat Ratcliff. I wonder who will be getting the trophy this year.

The URI Bay Campus provides access the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. To the south lies Bonnet Shores and Whale Rock - a frequent rock gardening site. From there, more experienced paddlers can cross to Beavertail at the southern tip of Jamestown - one of the most scenic and exposed-coast locations in Rhode Island. To the west is Dutch Island and Conanicut Island. To the north is the Jamestown Bridge and the more sheltered waters of the West Passage.

Rounding the point at Bonnet Shores

We would be doing a step-up/training trip to give paddlers who have done mostly Level 2 or even flatwater trips the opportunity to paddle in swells, current, rocks, and other dynamic conditions. We met at the Bay Campus for a 10:00 launch. We had 11 paddlers with 4 step-up paddlers, including me. Conditions were SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Waves 2  ft. Tide going out with low tide at 1:00.

We headed south from the Bay Campus toward Bonnet Shores. The swells increased as we left the more protected waters of the West Passage and ventured out into Rhode Island Sound. Some played in the rocks on the way out. I stayed a little further out to get used to the rolling swells.

Bonnet Rock

When we reached Bonnet Rock we gathered up for the crossing of the cove at Bonnet Shores. We were now paddling across the waves and the wind. The water on the other side of the cove along Anawan Cliffs was considerably calmer, and we played in the rocks as we continued south.

With an outgoing tide and a wind from the south, the swells were 2-feet as we left Bonnet Shores and entered into Rhode Island Sound. It was a bit of work paddling into the wind, but fun to ride up and down on the swells. We could see waves breaking over Whale Rock in the distance when the decision was made to turn around and head back to Bonnet Shores.

The crew at the lunch break

On the return trip we were in a following sea, and riding down the face of a wave for the first time was a blast. The main concern in a following sea is broaching when the wind turns the kayak sideways in the waves. A stern rudder can help keep you going straight.

We stopped for lunch inside the cove on a small rocky beach with a great view of Jamestown and the Beavertail Light. We played in the rocks as we worked out way back down the cove for the crossing.

Rock gardening on the way back

The wind had picked up in the afternoon, and I found myself repeatedly having to correct my course while crossing the cove. With smaller swells and stronger winds, I also felt the boat’s tendency to broach in the following sea on the way back to the Bay Campus, but it was nothing that I felt uncomfortable with - I’m making progress.

Once back at the Bay Campus we did assisted rescue practice - I was a rescuer and rescuee, and did fine with both. We also did some towing demonstrations. Rick said this was a solid Level 3 trip, so I felt good about that.


Bay Campus Step-up Paddle from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.
Links:
My Pictures
Cam's Video
Tony's Video

Video of 2024 RICKA Sea Kayak Training Sessions