Year-end overnight camping trip on the Pawcatuck River in RI

[eckilson]

Not exactly sure where to put this, but it was winter and we were camping, so I’ll put it here.

Last year I got together with some other members of our local club (RICKA) to do a year-end, overnight camping trip the last weekend in December. We had five campers on that trip and had a great time, so we decided to do it again this year.

This year we had nine campers, all decked out for winter camping, including a group of three with a stove in a hot tent. Instead of the snow and ice that you would expect in winter, we had rain and mud - steady drizzle with temperatures in the 40’s during the day and 30’s at night.

It was still a good time. It is a short 3-mile paddle up to the campsite. We set up camp in the rain and settled in around the fire. Food was good and abundant. Tall tales around the campfire were fun and entertaining. Rain kept us soggy, but it didn’t dampen any spirits. My tent was dry and my sleeping bag was warm – all was good.

I forgot what a pain it is to pack up camp in the rain. I just threw everything in the bag and figured I’d deal with it when I got home – what a mess. I really would have been in trouble if I had to set it back up again on another site in the rain.

Few pictures here:

Year-end Camping at Burlingame - December 28-29, 2024

Explore this photo album by Erik Eckilson on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Video here:

We'll try again next year - maybe we will actually get some winter weather.

 

[memaquay]

Looks like a lot of fun! You are very lucky to still have liquid water this time of year.

 

[lowangle al]

Looks like a lot of fun! You are very lucky to still have liquid water this time of year.

What he said, plus you are very fortunate to be able to round up so many fellow paddlers this time of year. I don't even know that many paddlers near me.

 

[eckilson]

Rivers around here are usually open year-round - except the still water above the dams. We can usually get out all winter.

Very lucky to have so many like minded paddlers around here - and the group is growing. We had a couple of young guys on this trip that are very good paddlers and campers.

Need to keep the tradition going...

 

[snapper]

So great to see your trip. Thanks for sharing. Not a member of your organization but my daughter lives in Bristol so I'm becoming familiar with RI. Do you mind sharing where you put in? It might be worth bringing a boat for future explorations. Thanks!

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[eckilson]

So great to see your trip. Thanks for sharing. Not a member of your organization but my daughter lives in Bristol so I'm becoming familiar with RI. Do you mind sharing where you put in? It might be worth bringing a boat for future explorations. Thanks!

There is a great website for finding put-ins in RI - Rhode Island Blueways. You can see the interactive map here. Click on what you want to see - water trails, hand carry launches and boat ramps, and it will give show you boat launches all over the state.

Boat Launch Mapper: Rhode Island Blueways

Use this map to find places to canoe, kayak, and fish across the state of Rhode Island and the Narragansett Bay watershed

exploreri.org

I wish every state had a site like this.

We put in at Bradford Landing in Hopkinton.

Bradford Landing: Rhode Island Blueways

exploreri.org

And camped at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites in Charlestown

Burlingame Canoe Campsites: Rhode Island Blueways

exploreri.org

Bristol is a beautiful town - lots of great sea kayaking there on Narragansett Bay, but all of RI's rivers are on the other side of the state. There is the Blackstone to the north, the Pawtuxet to the west and the Wood/Pawcatuck watershed in the southwest. We were on the Pawcatuck River for this trip - prettiest in the state. Rivers around here are small, and tend to have a lot of dams on them, but we make due.

Check out the RICKA calendar when you are around - you don't need to be a member to paddle with us. Let me know when you will be around - maybe we can work something out.

 

[snapper]

@eckilson - Thanks so much for all that valuable information. I have a friend who lives in Rumford who is coming off open heart surgery. I know his wife isn't interested in having him go out alone yet (if ever...) so I may be bringing my tandem up so he and I can go exploring together. That will get us both out and keep his wife happy (I hope).

That's all for now. Enjoy the new year and until next time...be well.

snapper

PS - Nice to know you don't need to be a member of RICKA. I'll check out the calendar.