Cumberland, Lincoln & Central Falls, Rhode Island
The group on this trip was from Pack 12 Berkeley Ashton, a local Cub Scout Weblos Den of nine scouts and adults. Our trip this day would take us down stream into the Valley Falls Pond and Wetland Area. As we put in a small group of Yakers paddled up stream from the Central Falls landing to check out our store. They told the scouts to keep their eyes open for they saw a lot of wildlife on the way up stream. With their encouragement we headed down stream. Right away we heard the passing of Canada geese fly over head and land with a noisy splash in the hidden Lonsdale Marsh. Rounding the first bend near the entrance to the Lonsdale Marsh, we spotted a great blue heron hiding along the brush river bank. During our trip this day several rafts of waterfowl were seen, the chatter of squirrels running though the woods and a very large hawk like or maybe a large owl was seen flying out of the first cove passed John Street. In the split cove we saw a large raft of Canada geese and as I saw telling the story of a paddling trip with a school teacher friend of mine and geese, one of the scouts paddled a little to close to the raft of geese. I thought I would get to watch a repeat of my story as the raft flew off and dropped their bomb load of goose pew all around the young kayaker. The highlight of the trip was in the first small cove. I paddled my boat into the brush near shore and looked up to be face to face with a deer sticking its head through the brush. Both startled, the deer ran back into the woods only to be greeted with a couple of fisherman that had just beached their boat. Changing direction once more the deer came out of the brush hurdled over one of the occupied kayaks and crossed the cove to the other side. After a long silence, a scout yelled out DID YOU SEE THAT! To see the fleeing deer check out our Oct. Gallery. Live the Experience!
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I've been asked often if I ever get
tired of paddling the Blackstone River. I usually tell
them that with each trip the river the group differs and
there is always something new on the river to see. The
October 13, 2007 trip was no different. Last week we had
three days of on and off rain that increased the water
level in the Blackstone by several inches. The increase
of water made it a nicer paddle into the coves and
wetlands. After the stormy weather of the week we were
greeted with clear skies, cooler temperatures and the
start of New England’s Autumn colors.