2020 Year End Review

New Years on the West River

Well, this was a year like no other. My paddling year started on New Year's Day with a flatwater trip on the West River, and ended the Sunday after Christmas with a whitewater trip on the Branch River. In between it was a year of challenges and loss, but we kept moving forward in spite of COVD-19.  

My paddling and hiking was unaffected by COVID in January and February, but then it hit. The first COVID-19 cases in MA were reported in February when a Biogen Leadership Conference became a super spreader event. I was at the gym in early March when I heard about the first COVID-19 cases in RI from a Saint Raphael Academy trip to Italy. Shortly after that a stay-at-home order was issued, I was working from home, and things would never be the same.  

 

With Paul on the Branch

For the rest of March and April I followed the stay-at-home order and paddled alone and close to home – River Island Park, Manville and Lonsdale. I did do a Branch River trip with Paul in April with Michelle providing the shuttle. Once the stay-at-home order was lifted in May, I kept my circle small and paddled mostly no-shuttle, flatwater trips with Bill, Conrad, Al and Jonathan - Nashua, Charles, and Concord.

It wasn’t until July that I started paddling group trips again, but I was still careful about car shuttles. I only did one car shuttle all year – the Magalloway, and only after both Conrad and I were tested.  On the positive side, I did do a few bike shuttles (Blackstone - Lonsdale to Manville, Lower Deerfield, Charles – Medfield to Dover, Tville, Narrow River, Pawcatuck - Burlingame to Potter Hill, Quabaug, Assabet – Acton to Concord, Nashua – Ayer to Groton), and that works great. 

 

Lifetime Membership Award

I led my first RICKA trip on Point Judith/Potter Pond in July. After that I led Bradford to Potter Hill in August, Wickford in September and Tully Lake in October. I was honored with RICKA’s Lifetime Membership Award, which was hand delivered by Bill at the bike path at Rivers Edge Park.

The year ended with my father’s passing after a long illness. I did my first canoe trip with my father in 1989 on the Albion to Manville section of Blackstone, and my first whitewater trip with him in 1990 on the Androscoggin River. I went back to paddle the Blackstone on the day of his passing as a tribute to him. It was cold and gray, and somehow it didn’t fill the hole in my heart the way that I expected. I’m sure in the days and years ahead I will miss him in many ways that I never expected.  

1990 on the Androscoggin River

I did 56 trips, which is slightly less than my 11-year average of 58 trips.  Without being able to shuttle, I did a lot less whitewater and had only one swim - the Lower Deerfield. Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - West, Hunt, Pawcatuck – Shannock to Richmond
• February - Providence, Quinebaug – Fabian to West Thompson
• March - River Island Park, Blackstone – Lonsdale Canal/River Loop
• April - Manville Dam, Branch
• May - Big River, Nashua – Oxbow Wildlife Refuge, Nashua - Lancaster
• June - Concord, Charles – Bays Region, Lower Deerfield
• July - Charles – Medfield to Dover, Bowdish, Tville, Narrow River, Potter Pond
• August - Ninigret, Pawcatuck - Bradford to Potter Hill
• September - Providence, Wickford
• October - Blackstone Gorge, Tully Lake
• November - Turkey-less Turkey Paddle at Hopeville Pond, Assabet – Acton to Concord, Nashua - Ayer to Groton
• December - Blackstone River – Albion to Manville, Branch River

Here are some of my favorite trips for the year.

Float Down the River with Me from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation in South County, including the trip on the Narrow River and the RICKA trip on Point Judith and Potter Pond.

Two Weeks on Salt Water from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Our spring camping trip to the Allagash got cancelled, but I did get out for a fall camping trip with Conrad and Julie. We paddled the Magalloway River down to Lake Umbagog, across Lake Umbagog to the Rapid River, and then back across Lake Umbagog and down the Androscoggin to Errol. The weather was perfect and the foliage was peak.

Fall Camping in NH and ME from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

The crew at Noon Hill

I got out for a few hikes with the Papa Joe hiking group before the hikes got cancelled in March, and again when they started up again in the fall.

• Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
• Quinaboxet
• Borderland State Park
• Groton Town Forest
• Noon Hill/Shattuck Reservations

In terms of my resolutions from last year, I didn’t do so well. I didn’t take a paddling class and I didn’t get back to the Dead. At least I got in one camping trip. In terms of resolutions for next year, they are a lot like last year with one BIG difference.

• Get the vaccine as soon as it is available
• Take a class III paddling class – especially with my new boat
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip
• Keep camping – I’d really like to do the St. Croix
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it

Fortunately, there are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping. Happy New Year everyone.