Rivers Edge to Bernon – August 21st

I was back at Rivers Edge Park yesterday to do some poling on the Blackstone. I was there last Tuesday with the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club paddling downstream to the Manville Dam. Yesterday, I brought my poling boat and poled up to the Bernon Bridge. The water was as low as I have ever seen it - 1/2 ft, 78 cfs - almost too low for pushing up the drops, but nice on the flats. I played tag with a Cormorant most of the way back downstream. He would dive under as I approached, and reappear 30-40 feet downstream. This went on for at least a half mile before he finally flew away – its amazing how those birds can swim. Opening clip is a little blurry, but here is the video.


Rivers Edge Park to Bernon - Aug. 21st from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Links:
May 30, 2010 Poling Trip on the same Section
Detailed Description of this Run at Spring Levels

Too low even for poling – August 7th

After a hot and humid couple of weeks, wasn't yesterday a great day – it actually felt like Fall. I had some errands to do in the morning, but spent a couple hours in the afternoon poling on the Blackstone River around River Island Park in Woonsocket.

When I got down to the river, I found that it was pretty low, even for poling (.64 feet, 75 cfs). The boat would hit rocks and get hung up in drops - I walked as much as I poled. I checked out the remnants of the old Globe Mill, poled underneath the Globe Bridge up to the Woonsocket Falls, and then I called it a day. 


River Island Park - the old Bernon Pond and the Woonsocket Falls from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

We had better get some rain soon, or I am going to have to take up sea kayaking.

Poling up to the Woonsocket Falls - May 30th

With the water levels low just about everywhere, I decided to do some poling today.  I put in at the Rivers Edge Recreational Complex and poled up to the Woonsocket Falls - about a mile.  The river was at a perfect level - 2 ft., 400 cfs.  - and I was able to push all the way up to the dam.  The only difficult spot was the shallow water just below the dam.


Poling on the Blackstone from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Going to meet Bob today for an early morning run - I'm thinking Route 122 to the Blackstone Gorge.

Links:
River Guide from the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor

Bernon to the Railroad Bridge – February 7th

I’ve been anxious to get out to do some paddling, so I went out down to River Island Park yesterday.  It was brutally cold and windy. On my drive down to the river I noticed that the thermometer at the bank read 15°.   That's a new record for me. I only lasted around 45 minutes - had to quit when ice started building up on the shaft of the paddle.

I went out again today for a couple of hours and it was much warmer. I put in at the Bernon Bridge and paddled down to the Providence & Worcester Railroad Bridge. The level was OK (784 cfs, 2.75 ft). The sun was out and the wind had died down. I brought my camera long to get a few pictures.

I am looking forward to the first of March when the early spring whitewater trips begin.

Links:
My Pictures

Bernon Mills - November 21st

It was other busy weekend without much time to paddle. I did get out for a couple of hours down at River Island Park. Level was good – 3.5 ft., 1,400 cfs.

I was surprised to see how much progress the developer of the Bernon Mill Estates condominium project has made. The number 1 mill still needs a lot of work, but the number 2 mill is ready for sale. I’m not a big fan of condominium developments, but condos often seem to be the only viable way to save these old mills. This developer has done a nice job maintaining the integrity of these historic mills which are two of the oldest in Woonsocket.

Links:
My pictures
Pictures of the Bernon Mill Estates from tblades810
History of the Bernon Mill Village from woonsocket.org