Muskrats on the Blackstone - River Island Park - February 23, 2013

The Muskrats (aka Frank, Jim, and whoever else happens to be with them) reunited to paddle the section of the Blackstone River from River Island Park down to River’s Edge Park.  This time, Susan and I joined the group.

We met at bike path parking lot outside of River’s Edge Park at 10:45 and ran the shuttle up to River Island Park.  The river was at an easy level – 2.5 feet, 800 cfs on the Woonsocket gage. Temperatures were in the mid 30’s, and snow was expected for the afternoon. 

The first half-mile below the River Island Park starts off as quickwater with a couple of easy rapids - everyone made it through fine.  We paddled the flatwater section down as far as the water treatment plant before turning back to Rivers Edge Park.

The take out at the Bike Path is kind of a pain, but we used a throw bag rope to pull everyone’s boats up the flood control levee and we were on our way home before the storm started.  

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Blackstone Gorge Snowshoeing - February 17, 2013

It was windy and cold, but I did do the loop from the Rolling Dam down to the open field where the Branch River joins the Blackstone. Unfortunately, the wind blew all the snow off the trees, so it wasn’t particularly scenic. Still a good workout though.

Rolling Dam at the Blackstone Gorge

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Ashton Snowshoeing - February 10, 2013

Seven brave souls (Jim K, Don and Jan, Peter S. and Angela, Susan and me) broke a new trail in 24” of nice light powder on the Bike Path today in Lincoln.  We did about 2 miles from the rest area on I 295 to the Kelly House and back.  It was a great day to be outside. 

The crew - Jim, Jan, Peter, Angela, Don Susan and me

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Pawcatuck – Shannock to Richmond - February 2, 2013

Running the Lower Shannock Falls -
photo by Tommy Taylor

It was much colder than I expected (not sure why I was expecting it to be warm) but we had a good time just the same running the Pawcatuck River from Shannock to Richmond.  We had six boats – four canoes (Tommy, Jeff, Jim and me) and two kayaks (Duke and Andy).  The river was at a nice level – 300 CFS, 3 feet on the Wood River Junction Gage.

We met at the Richmond Dam at 10:30 and ran the shuttle up to Shannock .  There is a new put-in on Railroad Street below the Lower Shannock Falls that allows you to skip the reconstructed rapids, but we went up to the old put-in in Shannock Village.  Duke gracefully slid into the water, headed over to a wave below the Horseshoe Falls, and promptly flipped into the icy water.  He rolled up a few seconds later, but I remember thinking that the water must be cold.  It would be my turn to find out soon enough.

Yup - I took on a little water -
photo by Tommy Taylor

We headed downstream to run the Lower Shannock Falls.  Jim didn’t have his drysuit, so he decided to line his boat on the right side.  The boat ended up swamping at the bottom of the rapid, but Jim was happy because he stayed dry. 

The rest of us ran the falls pretty much down the middle.  The big rock that use to be at the bottom of the rapid to provide a rest eddy for fish travelling up stream has been removed, so it’s actually a pretty easy run.  The solo boats definitely took in some water at the bottom, but the big tandem that Jeff was paddling ran it dry. 

Duke in the Carolina Raceway

While Jim was bailing out his boat, I decided to do some surfing in the wave at the bottom of the rapid.  It didn’t take me long to get swung sideways and flip as I tried to sidesurf.  Yup – that water is COLD!  Tommy did a nice boat-over-boat recovery to get me back in my boat, and we were soon on our way again. 

The river was flatwater until reached the Route 112 Bridge and entered the old Carolina Mill raceway.  At this level, the raceway was quickwater with a couple of small waves and a couple of rocks to dodge.

Downstream from the raceway is the Carolina Canoe Campsite where we stopped for lunch.  Jim got a nice fire going, and we had a good time trading war stories.  From there it’s only a mile or so down to the Richmond Dam.  We ran the dam and did a little surfing before packing up and enjoying some pizza nearby.  As always, a great day.

Surfing below the Richmond Dam - photo by Tommy Taylor

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Wood River Junction Gage

River Island Park – January 6, 2013

I was a beautiful day without a lot of wind, so I headed down to River Island Park to run the section from the Woonsocket Falls Dam down to the power lines.  The level was about 2.5 feet, 650 cfs. – an easy level.  I brought my camera, but didn’t take a single picture – I really am getting lazy about that.

New Year's at the Blackstone Gorge - January 1, 2013

I was debating where to paddle yesterday, and was leaning toward a long drive out to the Crystal section of the Farmington, but was happy when Earl posted an afternoon trip at the Blackstone Gorge.  I was there two weeks ago, but I just wasn’t up for a long drive anywhere else.  It was pretty with the snow on the ground, but cold and very windy.  We made it up to the gravel bar below the Millville Rapids and called it quits.  Easy paddle, and nice way to start off 2013.

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2012 Year End Review

No paddling for me today due to a bad cold, but 2012 was still a great year for paddling. I try to do at least one big trip each month, and here are some of the more significant ones: 

• January - Willimantic, Assabet - Maynard
• February - Poling up the Branch River
• March - Branch River Ice Breaker, Otter Brook
• April - Upper Millers
• May - Upper Wood River, Assabet – Acton to Concord
• June - Pawcatuck – Potter Hill to Westerly, Deerfield – Fife Brook
• July - Fife Brook again
• August - Lincoln Woods with Michelle
• September - RICKA Flatwater/Whtiewater Trip
• October - Halloween on the Piscataquoug
• November - Farmington Poling
• December - Assabet River – Stow to Maynard, Knightville section of the Westfield

I did have one scare this year when I wrapped my canoe around a rock while poling below the Manville Dam.  Fortunately some good friends helped me to get it out.

I didn’t do badly on my 2012 resolutions.  I did work on my roll at the RICKA Rolling Clinic, but I still have a lot of work to do. I also did a couple of canoe camping trips including an overnight on the Pawcatuck and a week-long trip in the Adirondack's.

For 2013, I definitely want to do some more camping.

Happy New Year everyone.