Seekonk River - August 19, 2023

Our leader Danny

I had some errands to run in Rehoboth, so when I saw that RICKA was running a Flatwater trip on the Seekonk River, I decided to join. 

The Seekonk River is the tidal extension of the Blackstone River that begins just below the Pawtucket Falls. The two rivers could not be more different. The Blackstone is freshwater with lots of twists and turns, while the Seekonk is a tidal estuary that forms the border between Providence and East Providence.

Up the river

We put in at 10:00 at Blackstone Park in Providence (100 Gulf Avenue, Providence) just upstream of the Narragansett Boat Club. The tide was high at noon, so we hit it just about right. We paddled upstream on the Providence side past Swan Point and the Swan Point Cemetery.

The river narrowed as we entered Pawtucket and paddled past Festival Pier (School Street) and the Taft Street boat ramps. The current picked up as we paddled under the Division Street Bridge and the Route 95 Bridge and approached the Pawtucket Falls under the Main Street Bridge.

That's me below the Pawtucket Falls

The Pawtucket Falls is the largest waterfall on the Blackstone River. As we looked upstream over the falls we could see the old Slater Mill. Built in 1793 by Samuel Slater, the Slater Mill was the first successful water powered textile mill in the United States. It began the American Industrial Revolution, and established Pawtucket as a major manufacturing center.

With nowhere left to go, we turned around and headed back downstream. We took a break for lunch at Festival Pier, and then headed down the East Providence side of the river to the Omega Dam on the Ten Mile River.

Omega Dam on the Ten Mile River

In 1636, after escaping religious persecution in Boston, Roger Williams rowed down the Ten Mille River and across the Seekonk River to what is now Blackstone Park. He continued around India Point and up the Providence and Moshassuck Rivers to establish the Providence colony in what is now downtown Providence.

From there, it was a quick trip across the Seekonk River and back to Blackstone Park. Nice trip - glad a brought the Capella.

Gary below the Pawtucket Falls with Slater Mill in the background

This picture inspired a nice poem from Tom - this time Facebook:

Milling about,

don't go out on a limb,

that points to the turmoil,

that's roiling within,

causing one there to yak,

"Dam! Impressive tsunami!"

and approach their Eskimo role,

gulp/gasping, "I want my mommie!"

Links:

My Pictures
Roger Williams Trail from RI Blueways