2025 Year End Review

Wood/Pawcatuck

Family obligations resulted in my paddling year getting off to a slow start in 2025. I did a solo trip in January on the Blackstone - Manville to Albion, and a group trip with Bill, Chuck and Jeff in February on the Wood/Pawcatuck - Alton to Bradford.  

Things started picking up again in March - especially for whitewater. Over the year, I got out on a lot of whitewater favorites including the Branch, Upper Millers, Scantic, Sugar, Knightville, Otter Brook, Crystal, Tville (1, 2), Fife Brook (1, 2, 3), the Dead and the Piscat. I also joined the Millbrook club with the purchase of a new (to me) Milbrook Outrage. 

Scantic Spring Splash

While it was great to spend so much time in my whitewater boats, it didn’t leave a lot of time for flatwater or sea kayak trips. I did lead joint flatwater/sea kayak trips on Point Judith Pond and the Narrow River. I also led a Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip in Providence, a flatwater trip on the Charles, and helped with the RICKA Flatwater Training.

I did 45 trips including 16 flatwater, 14 whitewater, 12 sea kayak and 3 camping. My 11-year average is 53 trips/year, but with the slow start in January and February and a slow finish in December due to bursitis in my knee, I was well below that average this year. I was out 10 nights camping compared to 2 last year. I had one swim in Lower Poplar on the Dead compared to 4 swims last year. 

Narrow River

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Blackstone – Manville to Albion
• February - Wood/Pawcatuck – Alton to Bradford
• March - Branch, Upper Millers, Scantic – Spring Splash
• April - Sugar, Westfield – Knightville, Blackstone – Plummer Landing
• May - Otter Brook, Upper Pawtuxet, Baskehegan
• June - Quinebaug – Danielson to Canterbury, Farmington – Crystal, Farmington – Tville, Deerfield – Fife Brook
• July - Charles – Medfield to Natick, Stump Pond Flatwater Training, Pawcatuck River Overnight, Blackstone – Cold Spring Park, Point Judith Pond
• August - Providence, Dead, Slatersville with BVPC, Deerfield – Fife Brook, Slatersville with AMC
• September - Allagash, Blackstone – River Bend Farm, Deerfield – Fife Brook
• October - Narrow River, Blackstone Gorge, Piscataquog
• November - Tville
• December - Santa Paddle at Wickford, Providence River - Sabin Point

Here is the video of some of my favorite trips of 2025.

I did get my sea kayak out almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including the RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond.

I didn’t do much hiking – just Noon Hill and Borderland State Park with Papa Joe. 

I did get out on three camping trips – the Baskehegan, Bastille Day on the Pawcatuck, and the Allagash.

I was also a presenter at the Introduction to Canoe Camping training held by the NHAMC, and the Introduction to Canoe/Kayak Camping training held by RICKA.

Allagash Wilderness Waterway

In terms of resolutions for 2025, I did OK. I did get out in my sea kayak, but always in protected waters. I didn’t get out into any open-water or exposed conditions. I did do more camping including the spring trip on the on the Baskahegan and the fall trip on the Allagash. I also did a lot of whitewater paddling, purchased my new Millbrook, and got back to the Dead for the first time since COVID. It was a blast.

In terms of resolutions for 2026, they are just like 2025.

• Keep practicing with my sea kayak – I need to get out on more level 3 trips.
• Do more camping – I’d like to do the St. John, the St. Croix and the Maine Island Trail in my kayak this year.
• Keep paddling whitewater - as long as my knees hold up.
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip, but maybe only 1800 this time.
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it – maybe in the sea kayak.

There are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping in 2026 - looking forward to it. Happy New Year everyone.

2024 Year End Review

Stokers on the Scantic

The year started with a strokes practice at the Manville Dam, and ended with a year-end camping trip at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites. In between, it was another great year for paddling.

My whitewater season started in January, and I got out on some old favorites and some new runs including the Salmon River (1) (2), Sugar/Croyden Brook, Scantic, White, Pemi – Woodstock, Deerfield - Fife Brook, Farmington – Tville (1) (2) (3), the West and the Pcat. Unfortunately, I missed a lot of trips in April dues to family obligations.

Point Judith Pond

I did a lot more paddling in my sea kayak this year including Providence, Fort Wetherill, Point Judith Pond, Slocum’s River, Bristol Ferry and Wallum Lake. I also got out for three great training sessions with the RICKA Sea Kayak group including Rocks and Rescues at Fort Wetherill, Level 3 Step-up at the URI Bay Campus and Incident Management at Fort Wetherill.

I went to Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips at Pawtuxet - Hope and the Blackstone - Manville Dam. I led flatwater trips at Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill, Providence and Point Judith Pond. 

RICKA Picnic in Wickford

I did 54 trips including 19 flatwater, 15 whitewater, 18 sea kayak and 2 camping, which equals my 10-year average of 54 trips. I had four swims - Salmon, Scantic, Pawcatuck and the West. Bill and I received the Rubber Ducky Award for our swim at the Bradford Fish Weirs (see 0:20) on the Pawcatuck.

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Blackstone Manville Dam, Salmon River (1) (2)
• February - Hunt River, Blackstone - Plummers Landing, Blackstone - Martin Street Bridge
• March - Quinebaug – Danielson to Plainville, Sugar/Croyden Brook, Really Upper Millers, Scantic
• April - White
• May - Blackstone - River Bend Farm, Pemi – Woodstock, Pawtuxet - Hope, Quinebaug – Danielson to Plainville
• June - Blackstone - River Island Park, Blackstone - Manville Dam (1) (2), Deerfield - Fife Brook, 
• Farmington – Tville, Blackstone – Central Falls Landing, Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill
• July - Providence, Meeting on the Water - Fort Wetherill, Point Judith Pond Rocks and Rescues – Fort Wetherill
• August - Level 3 Step-up - URI Bay Campus, Slocum’s River, Bristol Ferry, Rocks and Rescues – Fort Wetherill
• September - Pawcatuck - Potter Hill to Westerly, Lincoln Woods, Nashua – Peperrell to Nashua, Incident Management – Fort Wetherill, West River, Wickford Harbor
• October - Blackstone Gorge
• November - Pcat Drawdown, Wallum Lake, River Bend Farm, Tville
• December - Nashua - Leominster to Lancaster, Year-End Camping at Burlingame

Here is the video of some of my favorite trips of 2024.

 

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including the RICKA Meeting on the Water and Point Judith Pond.

 

Hiking at Gardner Hill

I didn’t do much hiking this year – just one trip at Gardner Hill with Papa Joe. I also wasn't able to get out for any big camping trips this year. I did get out for a Bastille Day overnight and a Year-End overnight on the Pawcatuck. 

In terms of resolutions for 2024, I did OK on some, but not on others. I did get out in my sea kayak in rough water conditions, and I did quite a bit of whitewater paddling. Unfortunately, I didn’t do much camping, I didn’t get back to the Dead, and I didn’t practice rolling.

Bastille Day Camping

In terms of resolutions for 2025, they are just like 2024.

• Keep practicing with my new sea kayak – I need to get out on more level 3 trips.
• Do more camping – I’d like to get back to the Allagash, or maybe the St. Croix or the Bonaventure, or the Maine Island Trail in my kayak.
• Keep paddling whitewater - as long as 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.

There are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping in 2025 - looking forward to it. Happy New Year everyone.

2023 Year End Review

Stokers on the Scantic

The year started with a New Year’s Day trip on the Providence River, and ended with a New Year's Eve camping trip at Burlingame. In between, it was another great year for paddling.

My whitewater season started in February, and I got out on a lot of old favorites including Tville (1, 2), the Upper Millers (1, 2), Otter Brook, Knightville, Housatonic, Lower Deerfield, Pemi-Bristol, the Piscat, the Took and Crystal. I ran the Scantic Spring Splash whitewater race and was able to get into the swiftwater rescue class with the Boston AMC at Zoar Outdoors.

Swiftwater training with Boston AMC

I paddled my sea kayak almost every day of my summer vacation, but only got it out for a couple of other trips. I did the Providence River (1, 2), Point Judith Pond and the Seekonk River with the Flatwater group, and Potter Cove with the Sea Kayak group. I also took the advanced stokes class at the Kayak Centre.

I led one Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip - Rice City Pond, and three RICKA Flatwater trips – Providence, Point Judith Pond and the Lower Deerfield. I also coordinated the RICKA Flatwater Training. 

Piscat surfing

I did 51 trips which is 3 less than my 12 year average of 54 trips. I had three swims on three consecutive trips – Scantic, Branch, and the Upper Millers. I did one poling trip on the Ware River. 

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Providence, Willimantic
• February - Tville
• March - Scantic Spring Splash, Branch River Icebreaker
• April - Upper Millers, Otter Brook, Knightville
• May - Lackey Dam, Housatonic, West River, Potter Cover
• June - Pawcatuck River Overnight, Tville, Rice City Pond, Assabet
• July - Providence, Upper Millers, Point Judith Pond
• August - Lower Deerfield, Seekonk, Pemi – Bristol
• September - Charles, Allagash Wilderness Waterway
• October - Piscat
• November - Contoocook, Ware, Crystal
• December - Santa Paddle in Wickford, Winter Camping at Burlingame

Here is the video of some of my favorite trips.


Favorite Trips of 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including a RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond.


South County Vacation 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

I did get out for a spring camping trip at Burlingame, and a fall Allagash trip with Jonathan, Conrad and Bob. 


Allagash Camping 2023 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

The year ended with a winter camping trip at Burlingame on New Year's Eve.

Moose Hill hikers

Not sure why, but I didn’t do quite as much hiking this year:

• Harold Parker State Forest
• Mercy Woods
• Moose Hill
• Moore State Park
• Noanet Woods

In terms of resolutions from last year, I did pretty well. I did take a training class in my sea kayak, I did a camping trip on the Allagash, and paddled quite a bit of whitewater. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my sea kayak out in rough water conditions, and I didn't make it back to the Dead.

Tandem paddling on the Took

In terms of resolutions for 2024, they are just like 2023.

• 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, or the Maine Island Trail in my kayak.
• Keep paddling whitewater as long as 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.

I won't be paddling on New Year's Day, but there are plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping in 2024 - looking forward to it. Happy New Year everyone.

2022 Year End Review

Blackstone Gorge on New Year's Day

I won't be out this Saturday, so my paddling is done for 2022. The year started with a New Year’s Day trip at the Blackstone Gorge, and ended with a day-after-Christmas trip on the Quinebaug. In between, it was another great year for paddling - especially for whitewater. 

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

I did five of the eight class III step-up trips including first runs on the Ammonoosuc, the Contocook and the Lower Winni. I also had two successful Zoar Gap runs (1, 2) in the summer, and a first run on the class III Wonalancet in the fall. In total, I did 14 whitewater trips this year compared to 5 in 2021 and 1 in 2020 – my whitewater paddling really dropped off during the pandemic.

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 took the Essential Kayak Skills class at the Kayak Centre to learn how to paddle this new boat. So far I have only done one sea kayak trip - North Kingstown Town Beach at the RICKA Picnic, but more are in my future.

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

I did 52 trips, which is 3 less than my 12-year average of 55 trips. I had four swims – the Playhole on the Pcat, Double Drop and Typwriter at Tville (a two swim night) and poling up the drop below the Route 101 Bridge on the Souhegan.

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

Here is a video of some of my favorite trips.

 

Favorite Trips of 2022 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including a RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond. 

South County Vacation from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

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.

I finally made it to the Allagash from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

The Papa Joe crew at Noon Hill

With a cold start to the year, I did a few local hikes, and a few hikes with the Papa Joe group.

• 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

In terms of resolutions from last year, I did pretty well.  I did paddle in southern Maine, I did paddle more whitewater, and I did make it up to the Allagash. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it back to the Dead.

Camping on the Allagash

In terms of resolutions for 2023, they are a lot like 2022.

• 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.

Lots to do in the coming year, and there are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping. Happy New Year everyone.

2021 Year End Review

Upper Winni - New Year's Day

With the COVID-19 pandemic at its peak, the year started off with a walking shuttle on the Upper Winni on New Year’s Day, and a couple of bike shuttles along the bike path at Crystal (January, Frebruary, March). Otherwise I stayed close to home – River Island Park (February, March), Martin Street Bridge and the Branch.

That started to change after I got fully vaccinated. I did my first car shuttle  on the Pemi in April, and paddling returned to a more normal schedule. I didn’t do a lot of whitewater, but I did get back to some old favorites - Otter Brook, Tville, Knightville and the Upper Millers.

Riverton section of the Farmington

I did a couple of trips that I hadn’t done in years with Bob Rankin and the Hackensack River Canoe & Kayak Club – Housatonic – Cornwall to Kent and Farmington - Riverton. It was also nice to get out on some new trips – Dedham Loop on the Charles, the Quinebaug - Danielson to Canterbury (low water, high water), the Housatonic – Sheffield to Falls Village and the Lakes Region on the Charles.

I only did two Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips – Riverview Landing on the Quinsigamound, and the 20th Anniversary at Sycamore Landing. I did a virtual Flatwater Leader Training for RICKA in April, and I led RICKA trips at Bold Point in Providence, Point Judith Pond, Alton to Bradford on the Wood/Pawcatuck , Natick to Framingham on the Charles and Sheffield to Falls Village on the Housatonic. I also helped Bill with his Sudbury/Concord trip.

Brown's Ledge at Tville

I did 55 trips, which is two less than my 12-year average of 57 trips. I had two swims – one on the Pemi and other at Tville. If we count Umbagog Lake as ME, I also paddled in all six New England states. Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Winnipesauke - Tilton, Farmington - Crystal
• February - Farmington -Crystal
• March - Farmington - Crystal, Branch River Icebreaker
• April - River Bend Farm, Pemi – Thornton to Campton
• May - Otter Brook, White – Hancock to Stockbridge, Housatontic – Cornwall to Kent, Farmington - Tville, Quinsigamound – Riverview Landing
• June - Umbagog Lake, Charles - Dedham Loop, Farmington - Riverton
• July - Providence, Westfield – Knightville, Point Judith Pond
• August - Blackstone – Manville to Albion, Charles – Medfield to Natick, Wood/Pawcatuck – Alton to Bradford, Sudbury/Concord – Lincoln to Bedford, Quinebaug – Danielson to Canterbury (low water)
• September - Quinebaug – Danielson to Canterbury (high water), Millers – Athol to Royalston, Quinebaug – East Brimfield Lake to Holland Pond, Wickford Harbor
• October - Housatonic – Sheffield to Falls Village, Blackstone Gorge
• November - Wallum Lake – RICKA Turkey Paddle, Charles River Lakes Region
• December - River Island Park, Blackstone - Albion to Manville, Martin Street Bridge

Here is my favorite trips video from RICKA Movie Night.


Favorite Trips 2021 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island, including a RICKA trip during the Blessing of the Fleet in Galilee.


South County Vacation from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

I did get out for a spring camping trip with Bill and Earl on Umbagog Lake.


Camping on Umbagog Lake from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

In the fall we used Taconic State Park as the base camp for day trips on the Housatonic from Sheffield to Falls Village.

Housatonic Foliage Weekend from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo. 

Hiking at Noanet Woods

I did a few hikes, but COVID put a bit of a damper on that as well. The year ended with a nice hike at the Hodges Village Dam.

• Noanet Woods
• Diamond Hill
• Wachusett Meadows
• Rocky Narrows
• Hodges Village Dam

With COVID, my resolutions for 2021 were more aspirational than realistic. I did get vaccinated as soon as possible, and I did do some camping. I didn’t take a whitewater class, get back to the Dead or practice rolling. 

Turkey Paddle at Wallum Lake

In terms of resolutions for 2022, they are a lot like 2021.

• Do some paddling in southern Maine - I got the perfect paddling guide from Justin for Christmas.
• Keep camping - hopefully the Allagash in the spring, and I would love to do a guided trip on the St. Croix.  Who knows, maybe Michelle and I could get out with the new sleeping pad that I got from Justin for Christmas.
• Paddle more whitewater – I’m still feeling rusty, especially with the new boat.
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it

Fortunately, there are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping. Happy New Year everyone

2020 Year End Review

New Years on the West River

Well, this was a year like no other. My paddling year started on New Year's Day with a flatwater trip on the West River, and ended the Sunday after Christmas with a whitewater trip on the Branch River. In between it was a year of challenges and loss, but we kept moving forward in spite of COVD-19.  

My paddling and hiking was unaffected by COVID in January and February, but then it hit. The first COVID-19 cases in MA were reported in February when a Biogen Leadership Conference became a super spreader event. I was at the gym in early March when I heard about the first COVID-19 cases in RI from a Saint Raphael Academy trip to Italy. Shortly after that a stay-at-home order was issued, I was working from home, and things would never be the same.  

 

With Paul on the Branch

For the rest of March and April I followed the stay-at-home order and paddled alone and close to home – River Island Park, Manville and Lonsdale. I did do a Branch River trip with Paul in April with Michelle providing the shuttle. Once the stay-at-home order was lifted in May, I kept my circle small and paddled mostly no-shuttle, flatwater trips with Bill, Conrad, Al and Jonathan - Nashua, Charles, and Concord.

It wasn’t until July that I started paddling group trips again, but I was still careful about car shuttles. I only did one car shuttle all year – the Magalloway, and only after both Conrad and I were tested.  On the positive side, I did do a few bike shuttles (Blackstone - Lonsdale to Manville, Lower Deerfield, Charles – Medfield to Dover, Tville, Narrow River, Pawcatuck - Burlingame to Potter Hill, Quabaug, Assabet – Acton to Concord, Nashua – Ayer to Groton), and that works great. 

 

Lifetime Membership Award

I led my first RICKA trip on Point Judith/Potter Pond in July. After that I led Bradford to Potter Hill in August, Wickford in September and Tully Lake in October. I was honored with RICKA’s Lifetime Membership Award, which was hand delivered by Bill at the bike path at Rivers Edge Park.

The year ended with my father’s passing after a long illness. I did my first canoe trip with my father in 1989 on the Albion to Manville section of Blackstone, and my first whitewater trip with him in 1990 on the Androscoggin River. I went back to paddle the Blackstone on the day of his passing as a tribute to him. It was cold and gray, and somehow it didn’t fill the hole in my heart the way that I expected. I’m sure in the days and years ahead I will miss him in many ways that I never expected.  

1990 on the Androscoggin River

I did 56 trips, which is slightly less than my 11-year average of 58 trips.  Without being able to shuttle, I did a lot less whitewater and had only one swim - the Lower Deerfield. Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - West, Hunt, Pawcatuck – Shannock to Richmond
• February - Providence, Quinebaug – Fabian to West Thompson
• March - River Island Park, Blackstone – Lonsdale Canal/River Loop
• April - Manville Dam, Branch
• May - Big River, Nashua – Oxbow Wildlife Refuge, Nashua - Lancaster
• June - Concord, Charles – Bays Region, Lower Deerfield
• July - Charles – Medfield to Dover, Bowdish, Tville, Narrow River, Potter Pond
• August - Ninigret, Pawcatuck - Bradford to Potter Hill
• September - Providence, Wickford
• October - Blackstone Gorge, Tully Lake
• November - Turkey-less Turkey Paddle at Hopeville Pond, Assabet – Acton to Concord, Nashua - Ayer to Groton
• December - Blackstone River – Albion to Manville, Branch River

Here are some of my favorite trips for the year.

Float Down the River with Me from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation in South County, including the trip on the Narrow River and the RICKA trip on Point Judith and Potter Pond.

Two Weeks on Salt Water from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Our spring camping trip to the Allagash got cancelled, but I did get out for a fall camping trip with Conrad and Julie. We paddled the Magalloway River down to Lake Umbagog, across Lake Umbagog to the Rapid River, and then back across Lake Umbagog and down the Androscoggin to Errol. The weather was perfect and the foliage was peak.

Fall Camping in NH and ME from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

The crew at Noon Hill

I got out for a few hikes with the Papa Joe hiking group before the hikes got cancelled in March, and again when they started up again in the fall.

• Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
• Quinaboxet
• Borderland State Park
• Groton Town Forest
• Noon Hill/Shattuck Reservations

In terms of my resolutions from last year, I didn’t do so well. I didn’t take a paddling class and I didn’t get back to the Dead. At least I got in one camping trip. In terms of resolutions for next year, they are a lot like last year with one BIG difference.

• Get the vaccine as soon as it is available
• Take a class III paddling class – especially with my new boat
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip
• Keep camping – I’d really like to do the St. Croix
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it

Fortunately, there are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping. Happy New Year everyone.