BVO JOURNAL |
Lonsdale Marsh & Central Falls Wetland Cumberland, Central Falls & Lincoln, Rhode Island
Memorial Weekend officially kicks off our paddling season and this year was no different. Although we had the threat of rain this weekend, all our boats were booked for adventure. On Saturday we headed out, paddling down the Blackstone and just after passing the Lonsdale Bridge a paddler calls out “There’s a porcupine in a tree”. Never seeing a porcupine in Rhode Island, I paddled quickly to the tree she was looking at. Well, I still haven’t seen a porcupine in Rhode Island but there about 15’ above the water was a woodchuck. Standing on its hind legs the rodent was eating young green leaves in the upper branches of a maple tree. After a few minutes I guess the woodchuck got bored or full, slowly head first it climbed down the trunk of the tree and disappeared into the brush. Continuing down river we visited the Lonsdale Wetland to find mute swans, red-winged black birds and painted turtles slipping into the water. In the first cover passed the John Street Bridge a great blue heron strut along the shoreline, stopping every so often to snatch at a fish or frog. Cruising into Valley Falls Marsh four pair of mute swans glide by and a small flock of Canada geese come in for a landing. Clouds start to roll in and a light breeze sends the phragmites swaying. Paddling into Hidden Pond, mallards take flight and a snapping turtle descends into the depths before we head back to the store just beating the rain. Sunday morning started out with showers till 11:00 am and by the time my guests arrive, the rain had stopped. Bringing the kayaks down to the water a rainsquall moved in but didn’t dampen the spirits of my fellow paddlers. As quickly as the rain came in, it moves on. What a difference a day makes, today we’re unable to enter the Lonsdale Wetland. The water level is down six inches and our boats bottom out. Passing by the sandy river banks bug-catchers, and purple martins fly out of their nesting holes looking for a meal. A muskrat swims by with reeds in tow, soon it disappears into its den a waters edge. The reeds follow suit as we watch them jerked into the muskrat hole and vanish from sight. In the second cove after John Street, a pair of mute swans takes flight while cyclists are seen through the woods. Passing unaware, that just through the vegetation there are several kayakers watching them. At Central Fall Landing the Blackstone Explorer staff works on getting their boat ready and a lone fisherman casts a line out in hopes for one of the large bass or pike that are caught in the Blackstone. Returning up river the group paddling into the Valley Falls Marsh. Here a large fish leaps out of the water a couple of feet. A boom of thunder echo’s through the valley and we watch the sky as another storm front starts to move in from the south. Heading back we’re overtaken and take shelter just in time under the John Street Bridge. The storm passes and we continue on. From the shelter of the store the group watch another front come, lightning flashing across the horizon and rain clouds once again moving in. Live the Experience!
|