RICKA Family Picnic and Sea Kayak Paddle – September 25, 2022

Heading out

I did my first sea kayak trip with RICKA Sea Kayak group at the RICKA Family Picnic. We went from the North Kingstown Town Beach to the Plum Beach Light and back – about 8 miles. The trip started with a safety talk and a review of the gear to be carried in the boat – pump and paddle float behind the seat, first aid kit, change of clothes and snack in the day hatch, and radio in the PFD.

We put in at the beach and headed south past Fox Island and down to Plum Beach Light. The wind was light, but we were mid-way through the tide change with the tide going out. The current was more noticeable at the lighthouse where the channel narrows between Jamestown and Narraganset near the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge.

Plum Beach Light

After snapping a few pictures at the light, we headed west to Plum Beach and then north to Rome Point. We stopped for a snack at the Narrows, and talked about group dynamics and leadership – CLAP – Communication, Line of Sight, Attention, Position of Maximum Effectiveness.

We arrived back at the beach in time for lunch and the RICKA award Ceremony. In recognition of the RICKA 45th Anniversary, I did a short club history and gave the Founder’s Award to founding members Barbara and Henry.

2022 RICKA History and Awards from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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RICKA History and Awards Video

RICKA Picnic - Wickford - September 25, 2021

Heading out form Wilson Park

Once a year, the entire club gets together for the RICKA Family Picnic. This year's picnic was held at the North Kingstown Town Beach – a new location with great views of Narragansett Bay.

In the morning, Sea Kayakers made the crossing to Hope Island while Flatwater paddlers met at Wilson Park to explore the backwaters of Wickford Harbor. After the paddles, we all gathered under the oak trees at North Kingstown Town Beach for the picnic and awards ceremony.

Picnic and awards at North Kingstown Town Beach

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RICKA Picnic at Colt State Park – August 21, 2016

Golden Keyboard Award

I headed down to Bristol for the RICKA Picnic at Colt State Park. 

Colt State Park is the former cattle farm of Rhode Island banker Samuel Colt. It is located on Poppasquash Neck, and the entire western shore looks out over Narragansett Bay. I paddled with Jim in my Spirit II. We put in at the boat ramp and paddled south along Poppasquash Neck. We didn’t make it around the point into Bristol Harbor, but we did get great views north to Warren and Providence, west to Warwick Neck, and south to Prudence Island.

After the paddle we had a cookout at one of the shelters, and did the annual RICKA Awards. I received the Golden Keyboard Award from Chuck for my work on the Paddler Newsletter.  Nice day as always.

Paddling with Jim

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Ninigret Pond - September 19, 2015

Paddling with Bill in the Spirit II

Although I have done a lot of paddling in South County, I had never paddled Ninigret Pond in Charlestown.  That changed when the RICKA Picnic was held there last Saturday.

Ninigret Pond is the largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds, which include Point Judith Pond (a tidal estuary), and Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug Ponds (coastal lagoons).  Like all coastal lagoons, the Ninigret Pond itself is separated from the ocean by a barrier island.  It is also connected to Green Hill Pond by a small channel

Taking a break at the beach

We put in at the boat launch at Ninigret Park and paddled west along the barrier island.  Other than a few houses on the north shore along Route 1, it is quiet and undeveloped.  We hiked across the barrier island to take a quick swim at the beach before heading back for the picnic. 

It was a nice trip, and nice to paddle tandem with Bill in my Spirit II.

View across Ninigret Pond

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Paddle Guide from Rhode Island Blueways

RICKA Picnic - Goddard Memorial State Park - September 14, 2014

I went to the RICKA Picnic at the Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick.  This year, we put in at the boat ramp to avoid the wind and waves at the beach.  I paddled tandem with Jim in his newly restored Mad River TW Special.  Nice boat, but very tight up front for the bow paddler.

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RICKA Picnic - Goddard Memorial State Park - August 24, 2013

I went to the RICKA Picnic yesterday at the Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick.  We put in near the beach on Greenwich Bay, and paddled around the point into Greenwich Cove.  There was a good wind blowing off the bay kicking up some easy 1-foot rollers. This could have been avoided if we put in at the boat ramp on the cove, but I liked it.  Once we turned the corner into the cove I was surprised to see how many boats there were in the marina.  We paddled to the end of the cove and a short ways up the Green River before turning back around.  It was a nice trip, followed by a great BBQ.

The flatwater crew on greenwich Cove 

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Goddard Memorial State Park