Cumberland, Lincoln and Central Falls, Rhode Island
Floating down stream, we watch a small blackbird give chase to a red-tailed hawk as they perform a twisting dance through the sky. After John Street Bridge a whole section of the river bank to the right has collapsed, sending several white birches into the water. The Blackstone is always changing. Just before entering Firestone Cove a pair of Canada geese comes out to greet us. At the far end of the cove a lone goose calls out and we take the warming. Leaving the cove we figure she is guarding her unseen small hatchlings. At Second Cove several great blue heron, a black capped night heron, a kingfisher and more waterfowl are found. Fighting the strong wind, waves break over our bows as the group enters Valley Falls Pond. Here a lone fisherman in his bass boat casts along the shoreline. At the ancient black willow a kingfisher flies out and a mute swan glides by. One of our new paddlers makes a comment stating "she has traveled and hiked the White Mountains for years and she has seen more wildlife in her first two hours paddling the Blackstone then all the time spent in the Whites combined." That says a lot about the river. As we paddle along the shore fighting the strong wind, several goose heads pop up checking out our intentions before disappearing below the tall grass. At Hidden Pond more great blue heron are found and an osprey circles overhead. Our return across Valley Falls Pond is aided by the wind but that is all. Once on the river the wind and current of the river turn against us. Staying close to the banks and paddling eddy to eddy our adventurers make their way upstream. Taking a break at the beach area just passed Firestone Cove the wind picks up. A call goes out to Mark and to let him know the group will be taking out at the Lonsdale Wetland parking lot this day. Mark arrives with the trailer just as the last member gets off the water. Sometimes Mother Nature wins. Live the Experience!
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Following Saturday’s heavy rainfall,
our annual Mother’s Day paddle was met with a clear
sky, fast water and strong winds. Ten of our friends
braved the day to take mom out on her special day.
Paddling under Lonsdale Bridge I tell them about the
second tree now suspended from the girders of the bridge
as it was left there from the 2010 flood. I also tell
them about watching last Wednesday’s lightning
strike from the store that sent the next tree we paddle
by into the water. In no time the group enters the lagoon
at the Lonsdale Wetland. Paddling with stealth into the
lagoon, a great blue heron is spotted on the far bank
fishing. A few painted turtles are seen briefly before
dropping back into the depths to hide. Several red-winged
blackbirds call out as they sway back and forth from the
branches they’re holding onto. Rounding the north/west
corner of the island we find the power of nature was at
work again. During the 2005 flood the north entrance into
the lagoon was silted in, now after the 2010 flood the
island is no more. The swollen Blackstone River has left
a land bridge out to the island rendering it impassable
to paddle around.