Blackstone Gorge on New Year's Day |
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.
Step-up paddle on the Pemi in Woodstock |
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 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.
Surfing Typewriter at Tville |
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
I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including a RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond.
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.
The Papa Joe crew at Noon Hill |
- 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
Camping on the Allagash |
- 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.
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