A Pettaquamscutt State of Mind

With sun and warmer temperatures predicted for today I had to at least try to find a better climate...preferably one without humongous snow banks.  My plan was to find that better climate some 90 miles to the south in the Rhode Island towns of Narragansett and South Kingstown.  Just as a precaution, a snow shovel was brought along, in the event I needed to shovel-out a parking space for my car at the boat ramp.  Thankfully, the shovel wasn't necessary as snow amounts had been greatly reduced in this part of the Ocean State.

Shortly before reaching the Pollock Ave boat ramp, I saw the marker for Pettaquamscutt Rock alongside Middlebridge Road...

I walked up the path to where the rock could be seen through the brush...

...and a few minutes later was enjoying the view from the top while thinking of the significant role this spot played in dealings between the Narragansett tribe and the first European settlers of Rhode Island.

My hunch would be that it was the Narragansett people who chose such a cool spot for conducting business.

Once launched into the Pettaquamscutt River I headed south, passing under Middle Bridge Road where the only other paddler was encountered.  She was on a stand-up-paddleboard and heading in the other direction.  I continued into Pettaquamscutt Cove until reaching Gooseberry Island (opening photo) where a little lunch provided enough energy for the short climb to the island's highpoint...

A retreating ice sheet could be seen at the cove's south end.
 
The strong breeze out of the southwest soon helped me reach the Sprague Bridge where the river narrows before emerging into a lively Narragansett Bay...

Many folks were enjoying a walk to the north tip of Narragansett Beach and it was close to high tide.

Before reaching the breaking surf I turned about and headed back to Middle Bridge where I landed at the bridge's west end...

A short walk to the west along Middlebridge Road brings one to the stone marker for Jireh Bull's trading post/garrison house...

During the conflict known as "King Philip's War" this site was to be used as a staging ground by an 1100-man military force from Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut whose purpose was to destroy the Narragansett tribe in December 1675.
The Narragansett burned the garrison before it could be used by the invading force, but were unable to prevent the Puritan army from locating and destroying their main village 7 or 8 miles to the west.

Once back on the river, I continued north until reaching another ice sheet a short distance above Bridgetown Road...

The ice terminated my upriver journey and, after turning about, I began paddling against the wind to my takeout at Pollock Avenue.

There my very modest trash haul enjoyed a little beach time...

Not much trash in these waters...only 7 recyclables and 8 pieces of misc. rubbish. 
YTD = 246

So, all in all, it was mission accomplished and the Ocean State has, once again, provided salvation to this winter hating paddler.

Helpful maps and information by the Narrow River Preservation Association and Rhode Island Blueways can be found at these links:
Upper Pettaquamscutt River
Lower Pettaquamscutt River and Cove

Ending Up in a Rut

Rant of a self-acknowledged "Winter Hater":  Too much snow; Too much cold; Too many commercials; It's all getting old; Looks like we always end up in a rut.

To get through I've been listening and watching Les McCann, Eddie Harris, and Benny Bailey from back in 1969 as they "...tried to make it real - compared to what."    (Sorry about the short commercial)

A Visit to Massasoit's Sowams

Ever since first reading Edward Winslow's account of his 1621 visit to Massasoit's residence at "Sowams", I've wondered just where this place was located.  Recently, I came across (online) a historical sketch written in 1904 by Virginia Baker: Massasoit's Town - Sowams in Pakanoket, Its History, Legends, and Traditions.  In opening she explains: ..."The ancient chroniclers often allude to Massasoit's place of residence, and the questions that naturally present themselves are: Where was this place? Why did Massasoit select it for his abode?  What is its history?" 
Reading her sketch provided me with a location and, even better, one which I could paddle to on this fairly mild "Groundhog Day".  After spending a good part of Saturday studying maps, etc., I emerged from my burrow early this morning and under the cover of darkness traveled to Barrington, Rhode Island arriving there just a little after daybreak. I launched into the Barrington River between the East Bay Bike Path and the Rt. 114/Rt. 103 bridge (opening photo).  Fog was making a valiant effort to prevent any and all from seeing their shadows.  I paddled against the incoming tide to below Tyler Point and then crossed over to the Town of Warren's shore until reaching the location given by Baker (appropriately named Baker Street).  At a shallow spot my boat's painter was tied to a post and I went ashore for the short walk to a small park alongside Baker Street...

The pictured ring of stones had me wondering if it was meant to represent a possible location of Massasoit's lodge or perhaps the spring bearing his name.  Unfortunately, there were no signs or plaques that I could find.  A little disappointed, I started heading back to the water, and almost walked into a moss covered stone bearing this tablet, on the sidewalk across the street...

It was erected by the State of Rhode Island in 1907.  With this found, my goal for the day had been successfully accomplished and from now on I'll have a physical place to envision whenever thinking of the Massasoit/Winslow encounters.  I should mention that there are other theories as to the geographical location of Sowams.  Some claim it was in Barrington and others say Bristol.

After re-launching I returned to the Barrington River and rode the incoming tide a few miles upriver to Hundred Acre Cove where small floating icebergs emerging out of the fog brought to mind the Titanic...

Solid ice was encountered a short ways above Osamequin (Massasoit's real name) Nature Trail and Bird Sanctuary.  This stately osprey nest was located nearby...

While ashore having a snack and waiting for the tide to turn, the fog began clearing and allowed me to view more of the cove...

It was chock-full of buffleheads, mergansers, Canada geese, mute swans, and seagulls.  This merganser sort of stuck around...

Upon returning to the takeout, the sun was gaining ground so I continued back around Tyler Pt. and headed a short way up the Warren River to where I could see it stretching northward...

...towards the Palmer River and Massachusetts.

Now that I've seen the possible location of Sowams, I'd have to say that Massasoit sure selected an ideal location.  This photo, taken from the confluence of the Barrington and Warren Rivers (after the fog lifted), shows the Warren waterfront and Sowams would be behind the building at the far right ....

From this location he would have had access to the Warren and Barrington Rivers as well as Narragansett Bay's upper and lower sections.  Also, the Kickemuit River was only one mile to the east and provided access to Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River.  Bounties of fish, waterfowl, oysters, quahaugs, and lobsters were there for the taking.
 
I'm really starting to appreciate this region at the 41st latitude, especially in winter. 

My trash haul for the day...

There were 30 recyclable containers and 27 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags and Styrofoam.  More than half of the trash was found at the boat ramp from which I launched. 
YTD = 231

Winter's Intermission

Sensing that winter's intermission may be nearing an end prompted me to get out on the Assabet River and enjoy what felt and looked like an early March day.  I launched from the Calf Pasture across from Egg Rock (opening photo) in Concord, MA.  The thaw of late has melted all the snow and most of the ice.  It's hard to believe this area was completely iced-over just 10 days ago.   The combination of melting and recent rain events has resulted in higher river levels than we've seen in awhile.  Real estate on Willow Island is at a premium...

 

 

Further upriver a bottle of Whale's Tale pale ale was seemingly quenching this tree's thirst...

 

 

Seeing where it was brewed brought to mind those old jokes..."There once was an ale from Nantucket..."

 

I went upriver to just above the Nashoba Brook confluence and noted that a good percentage of the Assabet's flow was coming from that source.  The trip back to Egg Rock was a swift one.

 

Wildlife seen today consisted of a mink, mallards, a merganser, Muscovy ducks, and Canada geese.

 

I made it back before they started flashing the houselights, and my trash haul spilled forth...

There were 46 recyclable containers (12 redeemable) and 48 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as Styrofoam, nip bottles, and 2 old life jackets.  YTD = 174

 





Escape to Southern Waters

Today I finally escaped the lingering effects of last week's Polar Vortex and found providence in the Providence River section of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.  The springlike weather provided ideal conditions for getting my 2014 paddling season underway.  From a list of possible launch sites found on the Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association's web site I chose the Passeonkquis Cove Fishing Access in Warwick.  Upon my arrival a pair of duck hunters were launching a small skiff and heading out.  Shortly, I also headed out and after finding things a bit breezy out of the south, crossed the river from Gaspee Point to Bullock Point where more tranquil waters were eventually found in Bullock Cove...

The above photo was taken upon emerging from the culverts under Crescent View Ave.

After my return trip under the roadway I stopped for some leg stretching and found a fair amount of trash in the grass adjacent to the culverts and the road...

As I returned to where the cove meets the bay, the tanker Okhta Bridge was seen making its way towards Providence...

Little Conimicut Light can be seen in the distance to the right of the ship's bow.

Once the tanker passed I re-crossed the river and watched as it prepared to rendezvous with a waiting tugboat...

Perhaps it's carrying some heating oil to replenish dwindling supplies.

Back at Passeonkquis Cove my first aquatic trash haul of the new year gathered hullside...

There were 32 recyclable containers and 30 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags and Styrofoam cups.

I don't recall ever seeing as many mute swans as were seen today.  There were also Brant geese, bufflehead ducks, and sea gulls.

Shut Out: Favorite Haunts on Ice

It wasn't like I was really going to launch my boat in today's bitter cold conditions, but I was curious as to how some of my favorite launch sites are weathering the artic conditions.  So I emerged from my snug cave and ventured out with my camera and a trash bag.  The photo at left is looking down the Assabet River from Sudbury Rd. in Stow near Magazu's Landing.  I followed some deer tracks in the snow down the old railroad right of way...

...to its end where the bridge is long gone ...

At the foot of the old abutments was the first piece of trash for 2014...

I next checked the Assabet at Cox St. in Hudson...

...and the Sudbury at River Rd. in Wayland...

...the Sudbury at Sherman's Bridge in Wayland...

...the Concord at Lowell Rd. in Concord...

...the confluence of the three rivers at Egg Rock in Concord...

Not a very encouraging situation.

Finally, I visited the launch closest to my cave, the Acton Canoe Launch...

 ...and found open water for at least a half mile below the waterfall at Powder Mill Dam...

In conclusion I can only tip my hat to Old Man Winter and begin plotting a breakout to waters with a lower freezing point and saline nature.

On this occasion of starting my 7th year of Trashpaddler.com I'd like to share the post that has been viewed more than any other post on this blog.  It's a post about a very routine after-work paddle on one of the first real hot days of 2013.   Interestingly enough, the majority of viewers were located in the far-off land of China.

Lastly, my first trash haul of this year...

   There were 12 recyclable containers (8 redeemable) and 6 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.

Skipper's Annual Report 2013

Back on the very first day of this year I looked beyond the tip of my boat's bow to a choppy Lake George in New York (above) and wondered what kind of waters I'd encounter in 2013.  Now I can safely say it was a year of very pleasant paddles on numerous streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and coastal ocean waters.

New waters visited for the first time included the Ashuelot River in NH, the Swift River in MA, the Otter River in MA, and Somerset Reservoir in VT.  Also, new sections of the Charles, Connecticut, Contoocook, Merrimack, Quaboag, Squannacook and Taunton rivers were paddled in addition to my usual haunts.

New confluences experienced were where the Asheulot meets the Connecticut and where the Otter joins the Millers.

Along the way I applied my brakes for 6294 (combined aquatic and terrestrial) pieces of trash and the composition of that trash was fairly similar to previous years:

Recyclable (but not redeemable) containers = 35%  (34 in 2012, 35 in 2011, 34 in 2010, 32 in 2009)

Recyclable and redeemable containers = 13%   (16 in 2012, 13 in 2011, 18 in 2010, 23 in 2009)

Miscellaneous rubbish = 52%    (50 in 2012, 52 in 2011, 48 in 2010, 45 in 2009)

In comparing the ratio of pieces of trash (aquatic only) recovered per mile paddled over the past 5 years I found the following:

2009 = 7.7 per mile (725 miles) (5584 pieces)
2010 = 12.4 per mile (511 miles) (6357 pieces)
2011 = 9.4 per mile (681 miles) (6410 pieces)
2012 = 9.9 per mile (643 miles) (6358 pieces) 
2013 = 8.6 per mile (686 miles) (5921 pieces)

The above is only my empirical data and there could be many explanations for changes such as more folks picking up trash and/or less folks littering.  Either way it's encouraging to see the trash per mile ratio decline.

My biggest haul (due to a plethora of Hooksett Disks) was from Ram Island in the lower Merrimack River...

...and the weirdest haul (mannequin's leg?) was from the Assabet River in Stow...

Four pieces of trash kept for sentimental reasons...

Left to right is a John Paul Jones whiskey bottle from the Assabet River, an ironstone pitcher from the Concord River, a "Squeeze" soda bottle and perhaps an old ink bottle, both from the outlet of Lake Wickaboag.

An additional highlight of 2013 was participating in the New Hampshire Appalachian Mountain Club Paddlers series of 6 trash patrols on the Merrimack, Nashua, Contoocook, and Squannacook Rivers.  The series was organized and led by Denise Hurt and on the finale we were joined by internationally recognized river advocate Marion Stoddart.

I also enjoyed participating in the OARS annual river cleanup closer to my home.               .

My most memorable day on the water was one in which 7 bald eagles were seen on a 9 mile stretch of the Connecticut River in my home state of Massachusetts.  This one stood out...

The closest I came to falling out of my boat was upon looking into this set of eyes while on the Annisquam River in Gloucester, MA...

Finally, as the waters 'round these parts slowly turn solid, I spend my days down at the depot watching train after train of wood pellets pass by en route to my voracious stove...

A Happy New Year to all my fellow aquatic and terrestrial travelers!