Three Amigos on the Willimantic - January 29, 2023

The three amigos - Erik, Paul and Jeff

It has been an unusual January in southern New England. To the north and west it has been cold and snowy, but here in southern New England it has been warm and rainy. Great if you can get out and paddle, but kind of depressing if you can’t. Family obligations have kept me close to home, so my recent trips have been short and local. That changed when I got out with Jeff and Paul for a run on the Willimantic - the return of the "three amigos".

I've been paddling with Jeff and Paul for years. I’m pretty sure my first trip with Paul was a 2008 Icebreaker trip on the Branch River. I’m not sure when I started paddling with Jeff, but he is mentioned regularly in my early posts on this blog, which I started in 2009. His video of our Crystal trip in July of 2009 is one of my favorites. Along with Andy, Jeff, Paul and I would become the four amigos of the RICKA Whitewater group. The first video I can find of the four of us (young and slim) plus Eric D. is at the Millville Rapid in 2009. One of our more memorable trips was the fall dam release on the West in 2010. A lot of water under the bridge, or over the dam between us – literally.

Paul running the broken dam

With another warm weekend in the forecast, I put out the word to see who would be interested in paddling on Saturday. I was glad when Paul and Jeff signed on – it would be like the old days. We had lots of choices, but decided to do a run on the Willimantic. 

The Willimantic River arises in Stafford Springs and flows south for 25-miles to Willimantic where it joins the Natchaug River to form the Shetucket River. There has been talk of building a whitewater park in the class III/IV section below Bridge Street in Willimantic, but nothing has happened recently. I'd like to try the class I/II section from the Eagleville Dam to Bridge Street sometime. 

Jeff running the broken dam

We would be running the 6-mile section from the Municipal Parking Lot on River Road in Stafford Springs to Nye-Holman State Forest in Willington. We met at 9:00 at the Dunkin Donuts in Willington to run the shuttle. After leaving Jeff’s car at the take-out, we headed up to the put-in. The river was at a nice level – 5-feet, 800 cfs on the Coventry gage and 2.7-feet, 500 cfs on the Merrow Road Gage. To be honest, it would be even better with another foot of water, but 5 feet is my new minimum for this run.

The easy rapids start right at the put-in and continue for a mile down to an old broken dam that includes a small low-head dam at the top. We ran the dam to the left and made it through fine. From there, the river is mostly quickwater as it twists and turns along Route 32 and then I-84 to the Nye-Holman State Forest. We could have continued another 5-miles down to Merrow Road, or another 8-miles down to the Eagleville Dam, but for today 6-miles was enough.  

The shuttle back - matching Bell Yellowstone Solos (and Paul's kayak)

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Willimantic River Water Trail Paddling Guide

Manville Dam - January 22, 2023

Selfie at the Manville Dam

It has been raining here on-and-off for weeks. Up north they are getting snow, but here in southern New England we keep getting rain. All the rivers were up, so I tried to drum up a crew for a quickwater run yesterday. No one was interested. Today I had some family obligations to take care of in the morning, but I did get out in the afternoon for an up-and-back trip at the Manville Dam. 

Typically, this section of the river is flatwater with very little current. Today it was cranking along at 4.2 feet, 1,750 cfs. I decided to take my kayak since it would be easier paddling upstream. It was still a slog - especially up at the top near the Hamlet Avenue Bridge. 

Hamlet Avenue Bridge - 3-miles upstream

Going upstream the boat was all over the place, and I wasn’t sure why. I assumed it was the current and tried to manage it by edging the boat. Eventually I gave in and put down the skeg. It was a lot easier. When I turned around at the top of the run I realized that I had been paddling upstream with a pretty strong tail wind, so the boat had been weathercocking. Putting down the skeg was the right thing to do.

The run was 6-miles – 3-miles up and 3-miles back. It was a gray day, but it was still nice to get out.

River Island Park - January 16, 2023

Putting in at River Island Park

With the recent controversy about the city removing homeless camps along the Blackstone River, I decided to do a run at River Island Park. This would be my 40th trip here since I started keeping track in 2009, so I am pretty familiar with the area. The river was at a nice level - 3.6 feet, 1,300 cfs. There was a little snow on the ground when I put-in, and a few more flurries when I was out on the river. It was starting to feel like winter.

The Blackstone River has suffered many indignities over the years. It was dammed and used as a power source for industry in the nineteenth century, and it became a cesspool for the disposal of sewage and industrial waste in the twentieth century. With the establishment of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in 1986 and the ongoing construction of Blackstone River Bikepath, much has been done in recent years to improve conditions on the river. 

Campsite along the river in
January 2022

Unfortunately, one section of the river that has not benefited from this progress is downstream of River Island Park. This isolated area, hidden from view behind retaining walls from Woonsocket’s industrial past and the flood control levee that protects the city from potential flood waters, has become something of a no-man’s land. 

I am one of the few people who regularly paddles this section of the river. I launch my canoe at River Island Park, paddle downstream to enjoy the rapids below the Bernon Street, Court Street and P&W Railroad bridges, then walk back to my car along the flood control levee and Main Street Bypass. Along the way I get a view that few others see, and it is not always pretty.

The same site after the clean-up in
January 2023

With its location near Woonsocket’s downtown, this isolated section of the river has become a magnet for homeless camps. Before the recent clean-up, trash from these camps littered the banks. While paddling here I have had some interesting interactions with local residents - 'nuf said on that. The number of people I see hanging out in the area has definitely increased in recent years - maybe because a local social service agency encourages camping by giving out tents and sleeping bags. 

Of course, I realize that there is a serious problem with homelessness in the city. The fact that we have people living along the river in tents in the dead of winter is an indication of just how serious the problem is. I'm not sure what the answer is, but giving people the means to live “out of sight and out of mind” in decrepit camps along the river doesn't seem like the solution. 

On the bikepath heading back
to River Island Park

The city's recent clean-up included 13 workers who spent an entire day removing eight dump trucks loads of debris from the area. As I paddled down the river on this trip I was amazed at how much better the area looked after the clean-up. And of course, all that trash won't end up in the river next time that it floods. 

With plans to extend the bikepath into Market Square and build a greenway along the Main Street Bypass, this area has the potential to be transformed from a no-man's land into an attractive recreational space - further linking the river to the city's historic downtown. I would love to see that happen. We'll see. Already, a couple of new tents have appeared along the river. Definitely a cold, snowy day to be living outside along the river. 

New tent along the river - January 2023

Harold Parker State Forest/Skug River Reservation - January 14, 2023

Paddlers on dry land -
Bob, Erik, Bill and Jonathan

Its been a while since I've been out with Papa Joe and the crew, so I decided to join this week's hike at Harold Parker State Forest/Skug River Reservation. The drive was a little longer than I would usually do for a hike, but I really needed to get out and get some exercise.

The Harold Parker State Forest in Andover includes over 3,000 acres of forest with over 35 miles of logging roads and trails. The area was inhabited by Pentacook Indians until it was settled by English farmers around 1650. By the middle of the nineteenth century the farms were abandoned and the fields have slowly been replaced by woodlands.

King of the rock -
now how do I get down?

We met at the trailhead at the Skugg River Reservation (315 Salem Street, Andover, MA) and headed out on boardwalks and bridges through the wetlands. The trail eventually climbed into a pretty pine forest as we wove our way around the Delano, Brakett, Field, Collins and Bear Ponds. 

The trail was littered with huge glacial erratics. I used my climbing skills to get up on one, and then had a hard time getting back down. We were on the Bay Circuit Trail for a short time on the way back to the cars. My knee was fine, and it was nice to see Bill, Jonathan and Bob.

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Harold Parker State Forest
Skug River Reservation
Bay Circuit Trail

Providence - January 1, 2023

I-way Bridge and the Hurricane Barrier

On New Year’s Day there are always a lot of options for trips. Although I should have been more ambitious (something like the Lower Winni), I was leaning toward a trip on the Upper Winni with Conrad. A trip with the CTAMC led by Paul D. on the Crystal section of the Farmington was also in the running. In the end, the decision was easy since I had to stay local due to family obligations. I decided to take my kayak out for a trip on the Providence River.

The Providence River is formed at the convergence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. It flows south through downtown Providence for a mile to its convergence with the Seekonk River at Bold Point/India Point. It then opens up into Providence Harbor.

Approaching the convergence of the
Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers

I put-in at 11:30 at Bold Point in East Providence and headed out across Providence Harbor towards the I-way Bridge and the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. The wind was from the west producing small wind-blown waves, and the tide was going out so the current was strong at the mouth of the Seekonk River and at the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. I passed through the hurricane barrier and into downtown Providence.

In the heart of Providence the river passes along the Riverwalk. I paddled up past the convergence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers and into the Cove at Waterplace Park before heading back down through the city and back to Bold Point. It was a mellow paddle, but at least I was out on the water on New Year's Day.

Downtown Providence

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2022 Year End Review

Blackstone Gorge on New Year's Day

I won't be out this Saturday, so my paddling is done for 2022. The year started with a New Year’s Day trip at the Blackstone Gorge, and ended with a day-after-Christmas trip on the Quinebaug. In between, it was another great year for paddling - especially for whitewater. 

I did more hiking than paddling in January and February, but that changed in March when I saw that the NHAMC was doing a series of class III step-up trips aimed at class II paddlers. It seemed like a great way to kill two birds with one stone – ease back into some more challenging whitewater and paddle some rivers up in NH that I don’t get on very often. 

The Ledges on the Pemi in Woodstock

I did five of the eight class III step-up trips including first runs on the Ammonoosuc, the Contocook and the Lower Winni. I also had two successful Zoar Gap runs (1, 2) in the summer, and a first run on the class III Wonalancet in the fall. In total, I did 14 whitewater trips this year compared to 5 in 2021 and 1 in 2020 – my whitewater paddling really dropped off during the pandemic.

After paddling so much whitewater my arthritic knee started to flare-up and kneeing became a problem. Since it looked like I would be sitting more than kneeling, I decided to pull the trigger and buy a sea kayak. I ended up buying a 2004 P&H Capella 166 RM. 

The new Capella at Bethel Point

I took the Essential Kayak Skills class at the Kayak Centre to learn how to paddle this new boat. So far I have only done one sea kayak trip - North Kingstown Town Beach at the RICKA Picnic, but more are in my future.

I led two Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips – Rice City Pond and the Blackstone Gorge - and four RICKA Flatwater trips - Providence, Point Judith Pond, Sudbury (co-led with Bill) and the Charles. I also coordinated the Flatwater Training at Stump Pond with Bill, and gave the Founders Awards to Barbara and Henry at the RICKA Picnic.

Typewriter at Tville

I did 52 trips, which is 3 less than my 12-year average of 55 trips. I had four swims – the Playhole on the Pcat, Double Drop and Typwriter at Tville (a two swim night) and poling up the drop below the Route 101 Bridge on the Souhegan.

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Blackstone Gorge, River Island Park
• February - Quinebaug – Danielson to Canterbury
• March - Piscataquog - Goffstown, Scantic, Deerfield – Fife Brook
• April - Ammonoosuc - Twin Mountain to Pierce Bridge, Pemi – Woodstock, Contoocook - Freight Train, Lower Winni
• May - Pawcatuck – Bradford, Blackstone – River Bend Farm, Providence
• June - Hopedale Pond, Tville, Tville Again, Rice City Pond
  
• July - Providence, Stump Pond, Point Judith Pond
• August - Deerfield – Fife Brook, Blackstone Gorge, Sudbury, Bethel Point
• September - Charles - Needham to Wellesley, Deerfield – Fife Brook, North Kingstown Town Beach
• October - Allagash, Pemi – Woodstock, Souhegan Poling Cruise
• November - Turkey Paddle at Wallum Lake, Wonalancet, Tville
• December - Santa Paddle in Wickford, Quinebaug - Danielson to Plainville

Here is a video of some of my favorite trips.

 

Favorite Trips of 2022 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including a RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond. 

South County Vacation from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

I did get out for a spring camping trip with Bill and Danny at Burlingame, and a fall Allagash trip with Jonathan, Conrad and Jules.

I finally made it to the Allagash from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

The Papa Joe crew at Noon Hill

With a cold start to the year, I did a few local hikes, and a few hikes with the Papa Joe group.

• Mercy Woods
• White Cedar Swamp
• Noon Hill/Shattuck Reservation
• Blackall/Ballou Preserve
• George Washington Management Area
• Gilbert Hills State Forest
• Mighty Quin
• Broadmoor
• Stepping Stone Falls

In terms of resolutions from last year, I did pretty well.  I did paddle in southern Maine, I did paddle more whitewater, and I did make it up to the Allagash. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it back to the Dead.

Camping on the Allagash

In terms of resolutions for 2023, they are a lot like 2022.

• Keep practicing with my new sea kayak – especially in rough water conditions.
• Keep camping – maybe the St. John, or the Allagash again. I’d still like to do a summer trip on the St. Croix, and now I can try the Maine Island Trail in my kayak.
• Keep paddling whitewater – I don’t want to lose this year’s momentum, but I hope my knee holds up.
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip.
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it – maybe in the sea kayak.

Lots to do in the coming year, and there are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping. Happy New Year everyone.

Day-after-Christmas Paddle - Quinebaug - Danielson to Plainville - December 26, 2022

At the put-in

It was just me and Paul for my last trip of the year - a day-after-Christmas trip on the Quinebaug. We ran the 5-mile section from Danielson to Plainville. We usually go another 5-miles down to Canterbury, but with the cold temperatures we decided to cut the run short. 

I met Paul at noon at Wayne R. LaFreniere Memorial Field (39 Wauregan Road, Danielson) for the shuttle down to the Fish Hatchery (145 Trout Hatchery Road, Plainfield). The temperature was 30° when we launched and icicles lined the banks, but the river was at great level - 5.8 feet, 2,000 cfs.

Running the broken Dyer Dam

The river starts off with quickwater until you hit the first rapid - the broken Dyer Dam about 2-miles downstream. There is rebar on river right, so the best line is center, or to the left. More quickwater follows until 5-miles downstream when you hit the broken Wauregan Dam Rapid at the Wauregen Road Bridge. The waves at the top right were huge, but the line just left of center was easy.  

The trip took up about 1.5 hours. By the time we got to the fish hatchery I was cold and my knee was sore. I was glad that we didn’t have to paddle the rest of the way down to Canterbury. Thanks to Paul for a warm-up cup of coffee at Dunkin' on the shuttle back.

Running the Wauregen Dam Rapid

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