Two Weeks on Salt Water - End of Another Great Vacation

One last trip around Great Island

Our annual summer vacation in South County ends today, so we are packing up and heading home. With work, windy weather and a sore knee, I spent a lot of time paddling on Point Judith Pond - nothing wrong with that. I did get out to a few old favorites - Potter Pond, Narrow River, Wickford and Potter Cove.  I did have time for one last trip around Great Island this morning - nice way to end another great vacation.

South County Vacation from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Potter Cove - July 29, 2022

Newport Bridge from Taylor Point

With calm water on Narragansett Bay yesterday, I decided to over to Jamestown today to get some pictures of the Newport Bridge. I put in at Potter Cove since I thought I would get better pictures from the north.

Potter Cove is a long sandy beach facing the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. The beach and Taylor Point, which is just south of the beach, are both part of a town park that is popular for fishing and boating. On most days a southwest wind blows in the afternoon producing strong waves. This morning the breeze was slack and the bay was relatively flat. The sky was cloudy and the sun was low resulting in some interesting pictures of the Newport Bridge.

Newport Bridge looking south

The Newport Bridge was completed in 1969 and is the longest suspension bridge in New England. It spans the East Passage of the Narragansett Bay from Jamestown to Newport. The main span is over 1,600 feet long, and the road deck is more 200 feet above the water. The towers themselves are over 400 feet tall.

I paddled into Jamestown Harbor, but didn’t go very far before heading back.

Fisherman on Taylor Point

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Wickford - July 28, 2022

The Castle (c. 1678)

We had a mixed forecast this morning, so I wanted to go someplace sheltered from the waves. I decided to head to Wilson Park to paddle the protected waters of Wickford Harbor.

Wickford was established in the early 17th century when Roger Williams purchased land from the Narragansett Indians and established a trading post. In 1637, Williams sold the land to Richard Smith who constructed a large fortified house on the site, giving the house its nickname the “Castle”. That house was burned during King Philip's War, and the structure that can be seen from the put-in today was built in 1678.

Sailboats in Wickford Harbor

Wickford grew to become a major port and shipbuilding center, and today contains a large collection of 17th and 18th century homes. It is a picturesque village whose streets are lined with shops and restaurants, and whose harbor is filled with sailboats and yachts.

While the backwaters around Rabbit Island and Cornelius Island looked interesting, I headed out into Wickford Harbor. I paddled out past the breakwater into the calm waters of Narragansett Bay – go figure. The cloudy skies resulted in some interesting pictures.

Flatwater in Narragansett Bay

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The Narrows and Pettaquamscutt Cove - July 27, 2022

Rocks at Cormorant Point

It was a beautiful day, so I decided to head back to the Narrow River. I put in at the Sprague Bridge on Boston Neck Road, and paddled down to the Narrows to take some pictures of the rocks and waves at Cormorant Point before heading back and paddling up into Pettaquamscutt Cove.

Pettaquamscutt Cove is part of the John H Chafee National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1973, the refuge includes over 300-acres of saltmarsh that provides habitat for shore birds like egrets, herons, cormorants and osprey. For many years, it was also home to the little red shack on Sedge Island. 

Sedge Island today

The little red shack was a landmark for paddlers and boaters for years. It was originally built as a summer cottage, later served as the headquarters for a small lobstering company, and after that was an overnight destination for girl scouts paddling down from Camp Nokewa on the Upper Pond.

In 2004, the US Fish and Wildlife Service purchased Pettaquamscutt Cove. While they tried to maintain the little red shack, time and exposure took its toll and it began to deteriorate. The first picture that I have of the shack is from 2011. By 2014 a hole had appeared in the roof, and by 2016 most of the south facing wall had collapsed. The shack was demolished later that year.

Little red shack over the years

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Little Red Shack on Sedge Island

Narrow River Preservation Association
Paddle Map - Upper Narrow River
Paddle Map -  Lower Narrow River

Potter Pond - July 26, 2022

Above the Breachway in Galilee

It was a bright sunny morning - no fog or wind – so I decided to stay local and paddle over to Potter Pond.

Potter Pond is connected to Point Judith Pond by a tidal inlet that flows through Snug Harbor and the 182-acre Succotash Marsh. The barrier beach that forms East Matunuck State Beach creates the southern shore of the pond. The northern end is a wooded kettle pond. With the exception of the villages of Snug Harbor to the east and Matunuck to the west, most of the land around Potter Pond is undeveloped.

Matunuck on the west shore

I paddled down the west side of Great Island into Galilee, and sat at the top of the Breachway to watch the boats come and go before crossing over to Snug Harbor. I then paddled along the inlet into Succotash Marsh. The tide was up and there were birds foraging in the shallows. After paddling under the bridge at Succotash Road, I played in the current in the channel where the inlet enters the pond. 

Once in Potter Pond I headed west past the Matunuck Oyster Farm to the Ocean Avenue Waterfront Access in Matunuck to check out the beach before heading back. It was about an hour-and-a-half after high tide at Point Judith when I returned to the inlet, and I was able to paddle up with no difficulty – the current was gone. The wind was blowing from the north, so I paddled up the east side of Great Island through Bluff Hill Cove and Welcome Cove on the way back to the cottage.

On the rocks at Matunuck Point

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The Narrow River - July 25, 2022

I woke up to clouds and gusting winds, so I needed to find someplace to paddle that would be sheltered from the wind. I decided to head over to the Narrow River.

The Narrow River, also known as the Pettaquamscutt River, forms the boundary between the towns of Narragansett, South Kingstown and North Kingstown. Not truly a river, it is actually a 7-mile long tidal estuary connected to Narragansett Bay by a narrow channel above the Narragansett Town Beach and the Dunes Club.

There are five distinct sections of the Narrow River – the Upper Pond, the Lower Pond, the “Narrows” from Bridgetown Road and Middlebridge Road, the Pettaquamscutt Cove, and the “Narrows” at the mouth of the river where it enters into Narragansett Bay.

I put in at the Narrow River Fishing Area off Pollock Avenue and paddled up into the the “Narrows” between Bridgetown Road and Middlebridge Road. This section of the river is lined with boat docks and summer houses. Above Bridgetown Road are the Upper and Lower Ponds. Below Middlebridge Road is the Pettaquamscutt Cove. Unfortunatley, it was too windy to try to paddle these.

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Narrow River Preservation Association
Paddle Map - Upper Narrow River
Paddle Map -  Lower Narrow River

Point Judith Pond with RICKA – July 23, 2022

Launching at Marina Park

It was a scorching hot day, but we still had 13 boats (12 kayaks and one canoe) for my annual RICKA Flatwater trip on Point Judith Pond.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Above the breachway

The weather was hot with a slight breeze from the south as we met at the town boat ramp at Marina Park. We headed out into the Upper Pond, paddled through the Narrows and out into Point Judith Pond. We explored the coves on the west side of the pond on the way to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel. We stopped at Beach Island for a break and a swim.

With everyone feeling refreshed we paddled down the west side of Great Island into Galilee. We crossed back over the busy boat channel near Snug Harbor – always a challenge with a large group – and had lunch at the beach between Snug Harbor and Jerusalem. Since the wind was blowing from the south we went back the way we came up the west side of Great Island. We stopped at the cottage for a picture before heading up the east side of Ram Island and back up to the put in.

The crew at Horseshoe Point

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Upper Point Judith Pond – July 21, 2022

Sea gulls at Ram Island

I didn’t paddle yesterday due to work, so today I decided to paddle up to Marina Park in upper Point Judith Pond. I will be leading a RICKA trip launching from there on Saturday.

I headed out into pea soup fog past Ram Island and Harbor Island, through the Narrows, and into Upper Point Judith Pond. The Narrows is the channel that connects the Upper Pond to Point Judith Pond. Everyone has to squeeze through this narrow channel, so you need to be careful for boat traffic.

Osprey nest at Marina Park

I paddled down through the mooring yard to the osprey nest near Silver Spring Cove where the Saugatucket River flows into the Upper Pond. Unlike Rhode Island’s other large salt ponds (Ninigret, Green Hill, Quonochontaug and Winnapaug) that are coastal lagoons, Point Judith Pond is an estuary where the Saugatucket River empties to the sea.

After clicking a few pictures at the osprey nest, I paddled over to the town boat ramp at Marina Park to check out parking and boat ramp. From there I paddled back to the cottage.

Town Dock at Marina Park

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In the Wind around the Cottage – July 19, 2022

Playing in the wind near the cottage

I woke up to pea soup fog that lasted throughout the morning, so I ended up working instead of paddling.  When the fog finally lifted later in the day the wind picked up.  I decided to take my boat out to play in the wind and waves near the cottage. I did some ferries back and forth across the channel between Great Island and Ram Island.

Heading out from the beach at the cottage

Middle Islands – July 18, 2022

Egrets foraging at Ram Island

It was foggy morning, so I decided to stay close to home and paddle around the islands in the middle of Point Judith Pond.

Point Judith Pond has three large islands – Great Island, Harbor Island and Ram Island. According to the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Hazard family of Peace Dale once owned Harbor Island and Ram Island. Great Island and Harbor Island (Foddering Place) have now been developed and are full of summer cottages. Ram Island is apparently owned by the Audubon Society, which is why it remains undeveloped - hopefully it will stay that way.

Sea gulls and herons were out too

Ram Island is the largest of a series of islands across the middle of Point Judith Pond including Jonathan Island, Beach Island, Gardner Island and Plato Island. Ram Island is posted no trespassing. Jonathan Island and Plato Island have houses on them. Beach Island is the best place to stop for lunch.

There was pea soup fog as I headed over to Jonathan Island. With the tide going out, egrets were foraging in the shore of Jonathan Island and Ram Island. The wind was blowing small rollers as I paddled past Beach Island and Gardener Island. I paddled up the west side of the Point Judith Pond past the oyster farms before crossing over to Pine Tree Point and heading back to the cottage.

Middle Islands in the background

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Around Great Island – July 17, 2022

Our cottage on Horseshoe Point

This year my summer vacation on Point Judith in Narragansett started out like all the others - with a trip around Great Island in Point Judith Pond.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is the second largest of Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. Separated in the south behind sand dunes and barrier beaches, Point Judith Pond is connected to the ocean through the Breachway at Galilee.

Fishing Boats in Galilee

Great Island is one of three large islands on the pond - the other two are Harbor Island and Ram Island. Great Island is about 2-miles long and 1/2-mile wide, and full of summer cottages. The day was hazy and warm as I headed out. I paddled down around Frank’s Neck before heading into Bluff Hill Cove and paddling under the bridge into Galilee.

The fishing village of Galilee was developed in 1935 when the State of Rhode Island dredged out a harbor suitable for commercial fishing vessels. I paddled down into the harbor to snap a few pictures of boats going through the Beachway before heading back up the west side of the island to the cottage.

Harbor buoy in Galilee - Jerusalem in the background

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RICKA Flatwater Training - July 9, 2022

Assisted rescue with Bill

I was back on the Woonasquatucket River on Saturday – this time at the Stillwater Reservoir or Stump Pond in Smithfield. 

With COVID, it has been a couple of years since RICKA has done much in the way of training, but we were doing a Flatwater session for new and experienced paddlers. New paddlers learned basic strokes, and everybody got to practice deep water rescues. We had nine “students” with four “facilitators” and a mix of boats – sea kayaks, rec. kayaks, a solo canoe and a tandem canoe.

Getting the big boat up on the gunwales

It wasn’t always pretty, but everybody did a wet exit and was able to get in the boat. No surprise that sea kayaks with bulkheads were the easiest to get empty. For me, the shorter the rec. kayak the tougher it was to get up on the gunwales to empty (might be easier for someone in a kayak). 

I was able to get my solo canoe empty with a flip, but couldn’t get back in the boat unassisted without swamping it again - assisted I was fine. Chuck and Cindy in the tandem boat got back in unassisted a couple of different ways (one-on-each-side and stirrup) but couldn’t get the boat empty unassisted. That’s a big boat to try to flip, or even lug over the gunwales.

Chuck and Cindy back in the boat

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Stump Pond from Rhode Island Blueways

Providence River – July 4, 2022

Heading out from Bold Point

I decided to lead a RICKA trip on the Providence River on July 4th. It seemed appropriate since one of the first insurrections of the Revolutionary War – the Gaspee Affair – was carried out by Providence patriots on the Providence River in 1772. Providence was also the first colony to declare independence on May 4, 1776, and Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution in 1790 after protections were added by the Bill of Rights.

The Providence River is formed at the convergence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers in downtown Providence. It flows south through Providence for a mile to its convergence with the Seekonk River at Bold Point/India Point. It then opens up into Providence Harbor and the Green Jacket Shoal before continuing south for 8-miles to the narrows between Conimicut Point in Warwick and Nayatt Point in Barrington where it becomes Narraganset Bay.

Past the tug boats

We put-in a little after 9:00 a.m. at Bold Point in East Providence and headed out across Providence Harbor towards the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier. The water was calm with just a slight hint of wind-blown waves. Rounding Fox Point we passed the tugboats before paddling under the I-way Bridge, through the hurricane barrier, and into downtown Providence.

Providence was established in 1636 by Puritan theologian Roger Williams who was fleeing religious persecution in Boston. It became a major trading center in the 18th century, a manufacturing center in the 19th century, and a financial center in the 20th century. This history can be seen today in the warehouses, mills and office buildings that line the river. We paddled under the new pedestrian walking bridge built on the piers of the old I-195 bridge and into downtown Providence.

Providence skyline

In the heart of Providence the river passes through Waterplace Park. Completed in 1994, Waterplace Park includes pedestrian bridges over the river that connect over a mile of cobblestone-paved walkways known as the Riverwalk. The park is home to the popular summertime Waterfire events.

We followed the path of Roger Willams up the Providence River to its headwaters at the confluence of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. Roger Williams continued up the Moshassuck River and settled on its east bank on land that is now the Roger Williams National Memorial. The Moshassuck River arises near Lime Rock in Lincoln and flows generally south for 9-miles to Providence. The river became very important during the Industrial Revolution, powering numerous mills (including the Moffett Mill on Great Road) and becoming the lower section of the Blackstone Canal.

Up the Woonasquatucket River

We paddled up the Woonasquatucket River into the Cove at Waterplace Park. The Woonasquatucket River arises near Primrose Pond and Stump Pond in Smithfield and flows generally southeast for 16-miles to Providence. The tide was up, so we were able to paddle up about a mile to the US Rubber Lofts before turning around.

We paddled back down through the city and arrived back at Bold Point at around noon - plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day.

In the Cove at Waterplace Park

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Bold Point from Rhode Island Blueways