Adventure along the Blackstone River Sutton, Grafton, Northbridge & Uxbridge, Massachusetts
The river opens up and is low with several sightings of great blue heron, green heron and an osprey. Our next obstacle, a breached granite block dam is surrounded by woods and a long granite cap disappears into the forest. Deciding we didn’t had the right kayaks for the breach, the group portage’ over the dam by climbing down its stepped face. Leaving the obstacle the river gives us a ride through a boulder field and Class I & II rapids. Passing under Pleasant Street we enter a long stretch of Class I whitewater. Here a tree crosses the river and we portage’ around it on river left with only one kayak taking on water. Losing myself to the river I run the long stretch of whitewater to its end before turning around to find myself alone. For some time I wait in an eddy wondering if someone had flipped. Five minutes has passed before one then the other kayakers comes into view. Asking if anyone had a problem, the four stated they had stop to smell the flowers or maybe check out a woodland garden of five cannabis plants. Soon the tree canopy opens up and we follow the river into a beautiful wetland known as Fisherville Pond. As the sky darkens with an appending thunderstorm, we portage once more around our next dam. The Blackstone takes us under Route 122A and wanders with shallow quick-water and tall reeds on both sides. Arriving at the Depot Street Dam we find the breached wooden structure impassable due to river debris from the spring flood. Following a deer trail, the group returns to the river along a concrete spillway from a long forgotten mill pond. Leaving the town of Sutton behind and entering the town of Grafton, the Blackstone River becomes lazy for the next 3.5 miles. Passing under the Depot Street Bridge a family wave and a fisherman states the fish weren’t hitting as he throws out another cast. The quiet is broken by an occasional off road bike running along the RxR tracks to the west. The water flows a little faster than normal here because of the low water elevations, several times one of the kayakers runs a ground and has to get out to find a channel deep enough to float the boat. Somewhere between passing under Sutton Street and Route 122 the group enters Northbridge, Massachusetts. Paddling into a large wetland area we head towards a brushy island and watch large fish skimming the surface all around the land mass. Arriving at Riverdale Street we portage’ around our last dam. On the east side of an old and thriving brick mill building a worker comes over to talk and asks if we think we’re going to beat the storm. He is answered by nature as a low groan of thunder is heard and rain starts to fall lightly. Mark is the first into the river and Evan calls out to him if he had seen the big snake under his kayak. There in a crevasse was about a five foot long Black Racer. Curled up and head rose to strike, Mark most have put his kayak right on top of it before launching. The serpent slowly tired of us and finally disappeared under a rock ledge. The storm grows stronger as the trees swayed and the rain fell harder. It comes down so hard and heavy that it’s hard to see. At Plummer’s Landing we take out and run, drag our boats to the vehicles. Peter waits in his car to stay with the boats as the rest of us go back to get Dave’s truck. The storm stops 20 minutes later and we get to load the boats without the downpour. Peter asked to let him know when the next staff trip is. He’s one of us now a sick BVO convert. Our one day adventure was similar to the movie, all but the bear and the naked hippie girls living in the tree. Oh well there’s always the next adventure. Live the Experience!
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Maybe the people that canceled on this trip
had insight, but the advance paddle along the Blackstone
River in Massachusetts became Blackstone Valley
Outfitters own version of the movie, “Without a
Paddle”. The adventure starts off with five friends
finding a grown in portage’ with a downed tree at
Singing Dam in Sutton, Mass. Launching just short of a
rocky Class I rapid into a nice stretch of quick-water.
The river is dark from overhanging trees and mist rises
just above the water near the trickling Spring Brook. The
group passes under a dilapidated railroad bridge, its
tracks held up by timber supports on ether side of a
broken stone abutment. The river becomes slow and easy
for about a half mile till we paddle near some old
factory buildings. The river picks up speed and a drop
comes into view. Inspecting a low two tier dam with a
short Class II rapid, each kayaker makes the decision to
run it. After a short section of bump and grind, the
upper tier is run with a two foot drop. A mere kayak
length away and we take the three foot drop off the next
tier and into the whitewater. The five yakers make it
through the rocky area and paddle under a bridge.