RICKA Family Picnic and Sea Kayak Paddle – September 25, 2022

Heading out

I did my first sea kayak trip with RICKA Sea Kayak group at the RICKA Family Picnic. We went from the North Kingstown Town Beach to the Plum Beach Light and back – about 8 miles. The trip started with a safety talk and a review of the gear to be carried in the boat – pump and paddle float behind the seat, first aid kit, change of clothes and snack in the day hatch, and radio in the PFD.

We put in at the beach and headed south past Fox Island and down to Plum Beach Light. The wind was light, but we were mid-way through the tide change with the tide going out. The current was more noticeable at the lighthouse where the channel narrows between Jamestown and Narraganset near the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge.

Plum Beach Light

After snapping a few pictures at the light, we headed west to Plum Beach and then north to Rome Point. We stopped for a snack at the Narrows, and talked about group dynamics and leadership – CLAP – Communication, Line of Sight, Attention, Position of Maximum Effectiveness.

We arrived back at the beach in time for lunch and the RICKA award Ceremony. In recognition of the RICKA 45th Anniversary, I did a short club history and gave the Founder’s Award to founding members Barbara and Henry.

2022 RICKA History and Awards from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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RICKA History and Awards Video

RICKA Picnic - Wickford - September 25, 2021

Heading out form Wilson Park

Once a year, the entire club gets together for the RICKA Family Picnic. This year's picnic was held at the North Kingstown Town Beach – a new location with great views of Narragansett Bay.

In the morning, Sea Kayakers made the crossing to Hope Island while Flatwater paddlers met at Wilson Park to explore the backwaters of Wickford Harbor. After the paddles, we all gathered under the oak trees at North Kingstown Town Beach for the picnic and awards ceremony.

Picnic and awards at North Kingstown Town Beach

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North Kingstown Town Beach - July 20, 2021

Launching at the town beach

It was forecast to be the first day of sunny weather, so I took a ride over to Wickford to check out the site of this year's RICKA Picnic - the Cold Spring Community Center at the North Kingstown Town Beach.

Once a year, the entire club gets together for the RICKA Family Picnic. It’s a great time for everyone to get together for some fun. It’s also an important opportunity to recognize the dedicated volunteers that make our club possible.

Poplar Point 

An important consideration in planning the picnic has always been to find a fun location where everyone can participate in a paddle. This year flatwater paddlers will launch at Wilson Park and paddle the protected waters of Wickford Harbor. Sea kayakers will launch at the beach and paddle in Narragansett Bay.

The water was dead flat so I launched at the beach and padded around Poplar Point into Wickford Harbor. A layer of “smokey fog” from massive forest fires in the west gave the sky a gray-brown tinge that resulting in some interesting pictures.

Smoky Fog on Narragansett Bay

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