Manville Landing - April 29, 2012

I paddled someplace yesterday that I haven’t paddled in ages – Manville Landing at the Manville Dam.

The Manville Landing is close to my house and was always my go-to spot for a quick paddle. Unfortunately, its been closed for at least a year during construction of a new park. I understand that the first contractor went bankrupt, and the second contractor had to do some unexpected clean-up work. Construction has been going on for so long that I rarely even drive by any more.

Yesterday I was on my way to check out the new Sycamore Landing downstream from the Manville Dam, and was surprised to see that work had also resumed at the Manville Landing. In fact, it’s almost complete. In addition to a new boat ramp, a beautiful new dock has been installed. There will also be lots of green space and plenty of parking. This will be a great place for trips once it is open.

Site work is almost complete at the new park at the Manville Landing

Blackstone Gorge to the Millville Rapids - April 21, 2012

I paddle from the Blackstone Gorge up to Millville, and checked out the Millville Lock along the way. 


Blackstone Gorge to the Millville Rapids from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Blackstone River - Albion to Manville - April 15, 2012

I took a couple of hours this afternoon to run the Blackstone from Albion to Manville - good time.

Upper Millers - April 14, 2012

Andy

Andy and I headed up to paddle with Tommy (and lots of other paddlers from around New England) at yesterday's dam release on the Upper Millers. It's a class II - III run from South Royalston to Athol, MA.

The Upper Millers is a pretty section of river that (depending on the water level) alternates between quickwater, rock gardens and long wave trains. With the exception of a couple of railroad bridges, there is nothing to break the wilderness feeling of the river. The day was sunny and warm. The water level was low (800 cfs), so dodging rocks would be the order of the day.

A crowded surf-spot

We put-in around 10:30 off Blossom Road just below an old broken dam. Fellow RICKA paddler Duke Wavewaker wanted to run the dam, so he put-in a little further upstream at the park on Birch Hill Dam Road. This adds about a half mile to the run. Duke says “there is some decent warm up and waves....and the biggest, hugest, most awesomest drop...the dam foundation!!!!!”

Well, Duke is a better paddler than me, so I skipped the broken dam. He told me that the line is to the left, into a SMALL eddy, and then down the BIG drop. Maybe I’ll try it next time. Then again – maybe not.

Tommy

For me, the fun began below the broken dam with a long class III rapid just below the put-in. At higher water levels, this rapid is a long wave train with 2 to 3 foot standing waves which are a blast to run. At this level, rocks just below the surface reveal themselves providing lots of opportunities to play. We worked our way downstream catching eddies, surfing, and generally having a good time. We had only one swim to report, but that person will remain nameless. OK – it was me!

We continued riding the waves and playing in the rock gardens for another couple of miles when we decided it was time for a break. We found a spot with a beach large enough to pull all the boats on shore and decided to have our lunch. As we were eating, we watched a parade of groups from MA, CT, and NH paddle by - it seems that everybody had the same idea.

A pretty section of the Millers River

After lunch, we loaded up the boats and continued our trip downstream. After a short section of quickwater called “Lake Superior” by Paul, the fun continued with more wave trains and rock gardens. By the time we reached the take out in Athol, I was pretty tired. Unfortunately, it's a long carry up a steep hill to get back to our cars, but everyone pitched in to help.

Hopefully we will get some rain soon, or even the water behind the dams will run out.

Links:
My Video
River description from American Whitewater
Millers River Gage at Birch Hill Dam, South Royalston

Otter Brook - March 24, 2012

Pat - the new guy

After a warm, snowless winter, it's turning out to be a warm, dry spring. Not much natural flow, so I think we will be chasing dam releases this spring - along with everyone else. This weekend was Otter Brook in Keene, NH.

When we arrived at the put-in, a large group had already gathered. NHAMC was running a trip, and there was also a group of open boaters from NE Riverrunners. The RICKA contingent included the usual suspects - me, Jeff, Paul and Andy - along with a new guy Pat. Pat had paddled with us last week on the Branch.

Running Otter Ledge

After running the shuttle, we put-in at around 11:00. The dam released at 300 cfs as advertised. At this level, the lower section is a nice class II with lots of rocks to dodge, plenty of eddies to catch and some easy surf waves. We worked out way downstream catching eddies and surfing waves.

After a short break for lunch, everyone ran the Otter Ledge without incident. Andy eddied out behind the rock on the right, and then ran the drop. Jeff, Paul and Pat bounced over the rocks going right. I bounced over the big wave going left.

Andy does some surfing

No swims to report, but Pat did have one close call near the bottom. He pulled off a nice save, but broke his paddle in the process. We arrived at the take out around 2:00. First group on, last group off - great day.


Links:
My Video - Jeff, Paul and Pat Run Otter Ledge
Otter Brook Gage

Branch River Icebreaker – March 17, 2012

Water levels are still low, so I was back poling on the Branch River yesterday with the RICKA crew at the annual “icebreaker” paddle.


Heading downstream

There was definitely no ice to break this year, and not much water either. We ran the section from Harrisville to Nasonville - about seven miles. It’s mostly flatwater with some quickwater and three short class II drops. For many years, this was the site of the RI Whitewater Championships. The race is now gone, but we still try to get a group together to run the Branch on the traditional third weekend in March.

We had a mixed group – 4 polers (Mike, Tommy, Jeff, and me), 1 solo canoe (Jim), 1 tandem canoe (Kevin and his son Nate), 1 kayak (Patrick) and 1 tandem kayak paddled solo (Rich). Temperatures were in the 60’s, and the water level was low - 95 cfs. on the Forestdale gage. We ran the shuttle and were on the river by 11:00.

Kevin and Nate below Glendale

The small rapid at the put-in was unrunnable due to the low water, so we all put in a little further downstream. That pretty much set the tone for the day. The flatwater sections were shallow. The quickwater sections were bony. The drops were unrunnable – except for Patrick who did mange to bounce his way down all three in his short kayak.

In spite of the low water, we all had a good time. We took a nice break for lunch at the Oakland Dam. Rich spent some time poling his tandem kayak – a new convert. We pulled into the take-out around 3:30 after another great day.

Links:
My Pictures
Forestdale Gage
River description from American Whitewater

Pool Time - February 19, 2012

I had a good time this morning at the RICKA Rolling Clinic.  Spent a little time trying to roll my C1 - I was doing better, but still need a lot of practice.



Links:
Pictures from Cheryl Thompson Cameron
http://vimeo.com/29642417
http://vimeo.com/29704063
http://vimeo.com/30215181
http://vimeo.com/35810817