Pier 5 - July 24, 2016

Shingle style cottages on the shore

It was high tide and the wind was still, so I decided to do some open water paddling over at Pier 5.  

Also known as South Pier, Pier 5 was part of a thriving resort community that grew up in Narragansett in the late 19th century.  At one time, ten hotels and many Victorian and Shingle style cottages lined the streets around the Narragansett Pier. The Towers is all that remains of the old hotels, but many summer cottages - old and new - can still be seen along the shore.

Fishermen offshore

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Pier 5 - July 25, 2015

I headed over to Pier 5 or South Pier yesterday, and paddled down to the Narragansett Town Beach. In the late 19th century, this section of Narragansett became a thriving resort community with 10 hotels and many Victorian and Shingle style cottages. The Towers is all that remains of the old hotels, but many summer cottages - old and new - can still be seen along the shore.

The Towers

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Sunrise at Pier 5 - July 26, 2014

I decided to go down to Narragansett this morning to catch the sunrise at Pier 5.  The colors seem to change by the minute.  

Sunrise at Pier 5 in Narragansett

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Pier 5 - August 2, 2013

Putting in at Pier 5

It was poring rain when I woke up, but there was one more place that I wanted to paddle - Pier 5 or South Pier in Narragansett.

In the late 19th century, this section of Narragansett became a thriving resort community with 10 hotels and many Victorian and Shingle style cottages.  The Towers is all that remains of the old hotels, but many summer cottages - old and new - can still be seen along the shore.

By the time I got down to the pier the rain had stopped, but there was still a strong wind blowing.  I paddled out into the 1 to 2 foot rollers.  It was easy paddling, but I knew that the trip back against the waves and into the wind would be a slog, so I stopped at the Towers and bobbed in the waves for a while to enjoy the view before heading back.

The Towers

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Back to Pier 5 – July 28, 2011

Since a thunderstorm interrupted my attempt last Sunday, I headed back to Pier 5 (South Pier) this morning.  I launched at around 6:00 from the State Boat Ramp and paddled south toward Indian Rock.


Summer cotages

It was high tide with 1 to 2 foot swells. I stayed outside the break zone and enjoyed the view of Ocean Road’s turn-of-the-century summer cottages sitting high above Narragansett’s rocky shore. 

I had hoped to do some surfing, but the waves were breaking too close to shore, so I snapped a few pictures and headed back to the boat ramp.

My canoe at the boat ramp

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Sunrise at Pier 5 – July 24, 2011

Fishermen on the South Pier

I was anxious to try my canoe in the ocean, so I got up early and headed over to Pier 5 (South Pier) in Narragansett. There were lots of fishermen there, and I was lucky to get the last parking spot at State Boat Ramp.

It was just after sunrise, and the sky was streaked with pink and purple. Out on the water, I was paddling through 1 to 2 foot rollers. It was a little disconcerting at first, but my canoe rode the waves nicely.  I was no more that a quarter mile out when I saw lightning strike to the north. I knew I didn’t want to be out in a thunderstorm, so I snapped a couple of pictures of the sunrise, and headed back to shore.

Sunrise over Narragansett Bay

The downpour started just as I reached my van. I hung out under the open tailgate as the fishermen scrambled for cover. The rain stopped quickly, but the rumblers continued, so I know that my paddling was over for the morning. I decided to walk up to the Narragansett Pier to get some pictures of the Towers.

The Towers date to 1885 and Narragansett’s glory days as an exclusive summer resort. It was originally attached to the Narragansett Casino – the center of social life in late 19th century Narragansett. The Casino was destroyed by fire in 1900, and only the Towers remain.

The Towers at Narragansett Pier

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