Plummers Landing to Route 122 – April 8, 2026

Heading downstream

I have some vacation time left, so I decided to take a day to practice being retired before I actually retire on May 1st. I met up with Bob, Dan and Rick to run the section of the Blackstone River from Plummers Landing, through River Bend Farm, and down to Route 122.

We met at 9:00 at Plummers Landing to run the shuttle. The river was at a nice level – 3.6 on the Northbridge gage. This section of the river is in a considerable state of flux with the river constantly eroding its banks and creating new channels. The river twists and turns, and it can be a challenge to maneuver around the s-turns and through the strainers. 

Goat Hill Lock

About a mile downstream from the put in, the river breached the old Blackstone Canal on the right, and much of the water now flows down the old canal trench. The canal is blocked with trees, so you need to stay left to remain in the river. 

Eventually, we entered the calm water of Rice City Pond and paddled over to check out the Goat Hill Lock from the old Blackstone Canal. The Blackstone Canal opened in 1828 and utilized a series of 49 locks to move the canal boats up and down the 450-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester. This is one of only two remaining locks – the other is the Millville Lock just downstream of the Millville Rapid.

Broken Dam at Route 16

We stayed right on Rice City Pond and paddled down the flooded-out section of the old Blackstone Canal to the stone-arch bridge at Hartford Avenue. From there, we portaged over to the river to continue our run down to the Stanley Woolen Mill and Route 16.

Like the section below Plummers Landing, the section through River Bend Farm twists and turns around s-turns and through low-hanging trees. You need to be careful to avoid the fast moving water that pushes you into the strainers on the outside of turns.

First swim of the year

We continued downstream to run the broken dam at Route 16. In spite of a large strainer in the middle, there was an easy line to the left. As I was trying to shift from sitting to kneeling in the eddy on the left, I had my first swim of the year – over I went in the squirrelly water of the eddy.

Below Route 16 the river continues to twist and turn. There were a couple of river-wide strainers that Rick was able to paddle through, but I decided to portage. We pulled into the take out at the Skull Rock Lock Trail Head on Route 122 at around 2:00.

The crew - Bob, Erik, Rick and Dan

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My Pictures
Northbridge Gage

Branch River Icebreaker - March 21, 2026

Heading downstream

As a nod to all the years that RICKA ran the Branch River Race, we always try to run the Branch River on the traditional third weekend in March. We call it the "Branch River Icebreaker", but there hasn’t been any ice to break for the past few years.

The Branch River Race, later the Rhode Island Whitewater Championship, was established by RICKA in 1980. It was the first race of the year on calendar of the NECKRA Downriver Series. The race continued for 25 years, but was eventually discontinued due to the high cost of insurance and problems with river access.

Mike running Whipple Drop

RICKA has continued the tradition of running a spring trip on the Branch River race course. This year we had three boats with four paddlers - me, Chuck, Mike and Aaron. The river was at a nice level - 4-feet, 400 cfs. The day was mostly sunny and relatively warm - it felt like spring.

We met at the put-in below the Stillwater Mill at 10:00 to run the shuttle. Since the usual take out along Nasonville Road is now posted “No Trespassing”, we decided to take out at the state boat ramp on the Slatersville Reservoir.

Erik running Glendale

We put in and paddled up to the Harrisville Dam before heading downstream. The first half of this trip is actually on the Clear River. There were a couple of blow downs in this upper section, but nothing that we had to portage around.

We ran Whipple Drop down the center and continued to Oakland, where the Branch River is formed at the confluence of the Clear and Chepachet Rivers.

Weaving through the strainers

After a break for lunch at the Oakland Dam we headed down to Glendale. The Glendale Rapid was flowing well. We all took the line generally left of center. I went a little too far left and had to back paddle off the rocks near the shore.

From there it is a nice quickwater run down to the Atlas Pallet Rapid. There were a lot of strainers in this section including one that we had to portage, and one that we ran but probably should have portaged. Aaron lost his camera into the river twice, but was able to recover it both times.

Chuck and Aaron running Atlas Pallet

I ran the Atlas Pallet Rapid left of center and made it through fine. I sat in the big shore eddy and got some pictures of Chuck, Aaron and Mike running the right of center line. The surf wave at the bottom wasn’t very retentive, so we continued downstream.

We portaged the Nasonville Dam and bounced out way down the rest of the easy rapids to Victory Highway. From there it is mostly flatwater as we paddled into to the Slaterville Reservoir to the take out.

The crew at the Oakland Dam - Chuck, Mike, Erik (kneeling) and Aaron

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My Pictures

Aaron's Video

Branch River Gage

River Description form American Whitewater

Bigelow Brook – March 15, 2026

Heading out from the put in

With the recent rain and snow melt, Mike put a trip on the whitewater message board for Bigelow Brook. It would be rare chance to do a natural flow run on this very pretty Connecticut river. The last time Mike ran it was about 10-year’s ago.

Bigelow Brook arises at the Mashapaug Lake in Union and flows generally south/southeast through Bigelow Hollow State Park, Bigelow Pond and Myers Pond. It then forms the border between Ashford and Eastford before joining the Still River to form the Nachaug River. We would be running the section from Westford Road to the Natchaug State Forest.

Below the Route 44 Bridge

I met Mike and Aaron at the commuter lot at the intersection of Routes 44 and 198 in Eastford to run the shuttle. We put in at Westford Road and headed downstream. The river twists and turns through pretty woodlands lined with Hemlock trees and Mountain Laurel. It is mostly quickwater with some easy class I/II rapids – the largest being under the Route 44 Bridge. Dodging rocks and staying in the deepwater channel was the order of the day.

We continued downstream past the confluence with the Still River and on to the Natchaug River. We took out at the Natchaug State Forest – about a 6-mile trip. The gage on the Natchaug River above Diana’s Pool spiked at about 1,000-cfs last week, and was about 300-cfs today. There is no gage on Bigelow Brook itself.

Taking a break at the confluence

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My Pictures

Aaron's Video
Natchaug River - Marcy Road (Diana’s Pool) Gage

Assabet - Maynard - March 12, 2026

Surfing below the ben Smith Dam

Rain and warm weather brought all the rivers up this week. When Dan told me about a trip on the class II section of the Assabet through Maynard, I decided to take the day-off and join in.

The Assabet River arises in Westborough and flows approximately 34 miles west to converge with the Sudbury River at Egg Rock in Concord to form the Concord River. There’s lots of great flatwater paddling on the Assabet including the section from Gleasondale to the Ben Smith Dam, and from the PowdermIll Dam down to Egg Rock. The section through Maynard is an easy class II with a couple of rapids at the bridges, and some nice surf waves by the Ben Smith Dam and along Walnut Street near the mills.

Center arch of the Mill Street Bridge

In 1847, textile manufacturer Amory Maynard purchased land in what is now Maynard from a farmer named Ben Smith and built a dam to power his textile mills. Originally known as Assabet Village, this became the town of Maynard in 1871. Maynard’s downtown textile mills, now Clock Tower Place, were the home of Digital Equipment Corporation from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. Digital was a major computer company with 140,000 employees in 1987.

I met Dan, Ozy, Rick and Bob on Taft Avenue to run the shuttle. The river was at a nice level – 4-feet, 650 cfs on the Maynard gage. We played in the waves below the Ben Smith Dam before heading downstream. There are six bridges over the Assabet River as it flows through Maynard. The first is the double arch Great Road Bridge. Either side is runnable, but we went to the left. A pipe runs along the downstream end producing a surfwave that can be caught from the left side.

Above the Walnut Street Bridge

The next bridge is the triple arch Mill Street Bridge. We ran the center arch, cutting to the left after the bridge to avoid the rocks in the middle. After some easy riffles comes the Florida Road Bridge. The river then turns right along Walnut Street and the mills. If you can catch the small shore eddies, there are a couple of nice surfwaves before you reach the Main Street Bridge.

Downstream from the Main Street Bridge, the river turns left as it goes under the Walnut Street Bridge. There are a few more riffles and one more substantial rapid as you approach the Waltham Street, which we ran to the left. With my sore knee, I only did one run. The cortisone shot helped, but it still hurt to kneel.

Links
My Pictures
River Description from American Whitewater
Maynard Gage

Noon Hill - March 8, 2026

Foggy as we headed out

Temp’s are warming and the rivers are starting to ice out, but with my sore knee I decided to join Papa Joe for his hike at Noon Hill in Medfield, MA.

Noon Hill is a Trustees of Reservations property with a prominent summit and scenic vista surrounded by 204-acres of open space. It offers 4.5 miles of hiking trails and is part of a larger network of open space that includes the Shattuck Reservation along the Charles River. A system of trails spans the two properties, some of which are part of the Bay Circuit Trail.

Selfie with the crew

It was a foggy morning as we headed out from the parking lot at 158 Noon Hill Road in Medfield. We followed the yellow trial to the red trail to the top of Noon Hill. At 370-feet, Noon Hill rises gently above the surrounding landscape giving great views to the southeast of neighboring Walpole and Norfolk.

From there the followed the red trail back to the yellow trail as we looped back to the parking lot. Distance was only 3-miles, but with the partially frozen snow, the footing wasn't the best.

The crew at the summit of Noon Hill

Links:
My Pictures
Noon Hill Reservation
Shattuck Reservation

Planning for Spring Camping - West Branch of the Penobscot/Lobster Lake

I got an email from Jonathan looking to start planning a spring camping trip. We are thinking about the West Branch of the Penobscot in May. 

The classic trip is to put in below Roll Dam and paddle about 7-miles to Lobster Lake. Spend a night on Lobster Lake. From Lobster Lake, paddle 15-miles to Chesuncook Lake. Check out Chesuncook Village and then paddle 19-miles down the lake enjoying the great views of Mount Katahdin. 

We are not planning anything that ambitious - 5 days, 4 nights, very leisurely pace. For the shuttle, we will use North Woods Outfitters (NWO) in Greenville. Here is the plan:

• Tuesday, May 19th - assemble in Wiscasset for dinner.
• Wednesday, May 20th - travel to NWO early (8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) to drop cars and load boats and gear. NWO drives us to Lobster Lake Landing. Paddle to Lobster Lake - Ogden Cove camp site (2.7-miles).
• Thursday, May 21st - stay on Lobster Lake and explore.
• Friday, May 22nd - paddle back to the river and then on down to a camp site, maybe Thoreau Island (13-miles).
• Saturday, May 23rd - paddle down river to Pine Stream camp site - very nice, easy day (6-miles). 
• Sunday, May 24th - paddle up the river and across the top of Chesuncook Lake to Umbazookus Lake Landing (10-miles). NWO picks us up at approximately 11:00 a.m. and drives up back to Greenville to pick up our cars. Load vehicles and drive to Wiscasset for showers and dinner.  
• Monday, May 25th - Memorial Day – head home early to beat the traffic.

According to NWO, the road into Chesuncook Village is likely to be dodgy at the end of May, and the Poulin Road to Lobster Lake Landing may be not much better. It will be nice to get shuttled both ways so we don’t have to drive our own vehicles on partially thawed dirt logging roads. 

Links:
River Description from Katahdin Outfitters

River Description from Canoe the Wild
Old Map of the Penobscot River Corridor

New Map of the Penobscot River Corridor

Northwoods Outfitters

River Island Park - February 27, 2026

Through the snow drifts

It has been a tough couple of months for paddling. I've had a bad case of bursitis in my knee since December, and haven’t been able to kneel in my canoe. Add to that the brutal cold in January that iced up the rivers and cancelled our winter camping trip, and the 5' of snow in February that buried all the access points, and there hasn’t been much opportunity to paddle. Last month I got out on the Providence River in my sea kayak. Today, I ventured down to River Island Park with my canoe.

The river was at a low but fluid level – around 2’, which is probably around 500 cfs, but the gage was iced up. I dragged my boat through the snow drifts down to the boat ramp near the parking lot. I paddled upstream and played around in the current behind the bandstand. I could kneel for a while, but then my knee got too sore and I had to sit. I have an appointment for a cortisone shot - hopefully that will take care of my knee before the whitewater season starts. It was still nice to get out.

Finally back on the water