Celebrating the July 4th Weekend Paddling along The Blackstone River, Rhode Island
Since the April flood the river bottom has changed. With the low water we have to zigzag around rocky shallows even before passing under the bike path bridge. A pair of great blue heron flies up river and the group spot a couple more roosting in the trees. The channel along the right side of the river is clear as the paddlers hit the quick water around the Martin Street Bridge. A pair of fly fishermen bring in their line before the first kayaker passes a small drop. Ahead of us a large family of Canada geese run and floats just out of reach. The left channel at the island is dry but the boats do a bump and grind making it by the right side of the island. A sand bar occupies most of the river where a week ago one could paddle. Staying left I lead the kayakers with the intent to pass under a low hanging tree. The current forces me just short of opening and as I work my way to the clearing a fellow yaker paddles into me and flips. By the time the third kayak hits me my boat is filled with water and I step out of the submerged kayak. Mark and Evan start recovering the four swamped boats. All are fine and a couple in the group stating this was the best part of the trip. Checking the tubes at Pratt’s Dam during our take out I find them all filled with debris and almost no water. Although we rented most of our boats on the fourth we took the day off from guiding and headed out with a group on the fifth of July. Traveling down river into the Valley Falls area with a group consisting of mostly ladies, I was told the average age of their group was about 60, with the youngest at 32 and the oldest at 74. The day was hot and clear and the wildlife was smarter than us as they stayed hidden in the shade. Even the fish stayed out of sight as we found out after talking to the few fishermen braving the heat. In Second cove we did find Sampson the lone mute swan and a pair of muskrat playing along the banks. At the ancient black willow a kingfisher dives into the water and a great blue heron takes flight. Resting in a cove filled with blooming water lilies, we watch dragonflies land on our boats before our return. Live the Experience!
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To start the July 4th weekend off
right we first enjoy a trip up the historic Blackstone
Canal with a return trip down the Blackstone River.
Arriving at the Blackstone Canal we watch a family
fishing in the canal at our portage. They caught several
good size bluegill during the time it took us to unload
the kayaks from the trailer. With perfect timing, the
family was calling it the day so we launched our small
flotilla and headed up stream. A painted turtle holds its
own, refusing to drop into the water from its perch as we
pass. A school of fish passes under the kayaks and rush
over to their nest to protect the fry. The quiet of the
day is broken with the sound of talk and laughter from
the bike path. The canal is low but passable, stone
retaining walls set during the canals construction show
themselves. At the portage site under Route 116 we find
the family that was fishing earlier. They had been
waiting for us to paddle by.