BVO JOURNAL

Blackstone River

Woonsocket, RI to Cumberland, RI

Today we kayaked with 24 members of BSA Troop 14 from Bellingham, Mass. Helping us on this adventure was our friend Ray from Bootlugs Outdoor Training. Our journey today starts at River Island Park in Woonsocket, RI. Even in the city, nature has a way of showing itself. As we start to launch the flotilla a mother mallard shepherds her large flock of eight ducklings by and a pair of turkey vultures circle overhead. Before the last kayak is sent into the river the lead boat hits the first of several whitewater areas on this section of the river. Due to the never-ending rain we’ve had in June, the rocky Class I to Class II whitewater was more like quickwater. Only a few of its many boulders had to be navigated around or over with quick drops. All the paddlers made it through the ruff water, even our lone canoe that got stuck on a submerged rock. The canoe teeters on its side before being righted again with excellent paddling moves by a pair of 16 year old scouts.

After passing under a footbridge, then Hamlet Avenue Bridge the river becomes wide and placid; even so we have our first flip. Remembering our water safety talk, the boys yell out "Paddler in water and raft up." Within minutes the group performed a classic "T" rescue and they have the scout back in his boat. Continuing on, a great blue heron takes flight and a red-tail hawk glides lazily overhead. One of the scout leaders comment on how peaceful the river is and how it’s hard to believe that we’re paddling in the city. Exploring a cove, large quantities of sunfish are seen scurrying just under the surface. After; with cyclists and walkers looking on, the scouts set up a relay line to pass their boats and gear down the steep embankment at the Manville Dam portage.

The next leg of our journey takes the group through the two mill villages of Manville and Ashton. The river in this area feature wooded banks and provides quick but smooth paddling. Our arrival to a half-submerged tree sends a cormorant skipping along the water surface before achieving flight, only a couple of feet above the river. From the woods a turkey calls out and the cackle of a kingfisher is heard. A pair of great blue heron is seen before they leave us and head upstream. At the small island we paddle between the right bank of the island and the river bank. Traveling under a low canopy of tree branches with dragonflies landing on the kayak decks we arrive at Albion Dam. The group portages once more and returns to the quick water just below the dam.

After the quickwater, the small fleet of kayaks passes under a pair of iron truss bridges built between 1885 and 1887. Woods surround the river with a glimpse of the bike path every so often. At a clearing for an underground gas line is a lone fisherman working a spinnerbait. Gazing ahead on a long straight section of river, the Route 295 overpass can be seen. From Route 295 the Ashton Viaduct crosses the skyline, built in 1934 its Rhode Islands longest concrete arch bridge. Reaching the Ashton Dam, Troop 14 and their guides portage on the left river bank. Here the scouts walk along the bike path to Kelly Island and their lunch. After lunch the troop takes a tour with Ranger Diane of the Kelly House Museum before reentering the river.

Leaving the Ashton Dam, the kayakers run diagonally across a rocky section to river right and deeper quickwater. Racing under the Blackstone Bike Path, a couple of residents from the Ashton Mill Complex take our pictures with their cell phones. Passing the mill housing a osprey sails in, scanning the river for a meal. Startled by the kayakers, a pair of great blue heron leaves their roost in a tall tree and head farther down stream. Just then a dark and forbidding cloud opens up to drops a deluge on us. The rain comes down so hard that at first many think it is hail. Relaying a message to the group to stay river right at Martin Street Bridge to catch the best water, we find it high, and fast but no waves or drop. The fast water carries us along with little need to paddle. Passing the old Cumberland Landfill site a doe with her fawn are seen walking along the river. After taking a hard left, the river turns in a long arch to the right before opening up with an eddy on the right bank. Taking out at a set of corrugated metal drainage pipes we portage Pratt’s Dam. During our portage the sun again shows itself and at our arrival to the store we find that the rain never fell at its location.

Live the Experience!