Ashuelot River - Surry Mountain Dam to Keene

Nice and easy one-way paddle from below the very impressive Surry Mountain Dam down to Keene on a warm (73F) and breezy late fall day. Bike shuttled back to start. Water levels were medium-low on the Below Surry Mtn Dam gauge 5.19 ft, 53.9 cfs.  The first part of the trip is quickwater through the Bretwood golf course.  It was nice being able to see hills and trees beyond the riverbanks but also not as natural as other parts of the river. Go under several faux covered bridges for golf carts. Scraped bottom several times, you have to watch the water depths carefully, this trip would be better at slightly higher levels 70+ cfs.  One ledge drop (1-foot) near the end of the golf course, followed by the only portage of the trip due to a river-wide tree blowdown.  The second half of the trip, the current slows a lot due to the dam in Keene.  Had to paddle hard into the headwind to finish the last mile or so.  Saw 1 fish (trout?); 1 cardinal, 1 blue heron, and several small blue birds with white stomachs, not blue jays more like sparrows. A beautiful day - the massive Surry Mountain Dam definitely the highlight.  

 

Start: 577 East Surry Road, Surry, NH

End:  Ashuelot River Park, Keene, NH

Trip distance:  6.75 miles

Trip Time:  2 hours 20 minutes. 

Before the paddle, took a walk up to the top of the enormous Surry Mountain Dam

Surry Mountain Lake, behind the dam

The put-in is about 1/4 mile below the dam

 

Several faux covered bridges cross the golf course

 

Small drop

 

Followed by the one portage of the trip

 

Route 9 (Franklin Pierce Highway) bridge followed by the Appel Way Trail bridge

 

Takeout left before this bridge, and dam below, onto the bike/footpath

Spy Pond

Nice short after-work paddle on a warm summer's evening.  Put-in at the paved boat ramp between the Elks Club and public playground.  Went counterclockwise around the pond, checking out houses and the small island in the center of the pond.  One power boat and a couple of SUPs also out on the water.  Found the fenced-in outlet that goes under Route 2 over to Little Pond (aka "Little Spy Pond") in Belmont.  The gauge near the outlet read a height of 32", low.  Interesting pond to check out but definitely more of an urban trip with the sound of Route 2 a constant. 

 

Start/End: 46 Pond Lane, Arlington, MA

Trip distance:  1.5 mile (est).  

Trip time: 45 minute 

 

Outlet to Little Spy Pond, under Route 2 above

 

Stately Kelwyn Manor

 

Heading back, Arlington Boys and Girls club is that blue building in the distance

Modern family...

Penobscot River, West Branch

Annual Arlington/Waltham group whitewater rafting trip.  River was high 3100 cfs and made the class IV and V rapids even more intense than the previous year's trip.  Beautiful weather, great time.

 

Start: McKay Station, Millinocket, ME

End: Nevers Corner Rd, Millinocket, ME

Trip distance: 16 miles

Trip time: 6-7 hours

North Nashua River

Beautiful one-way paddle down the North Nashua River in Lancaster, MA on a warm sunny June morning.  Due the loop nature of the river, the bike shuttle was only 2 miles.  Water levels were medium-low, 100 cfs and  2.24 ft on the Leominster gauge.  I would not attempt this at a lower level.  Scratched bottom several times in the first 1/2 mile through several riffles and maybe one Class 1 rapid, but did not have to get out here.  Around mile 1-2 there were two portages around downed trees:  the first was a drag around a very brushy downed tree, the second was a drag over a thick river-wide tree trunk.  The rest was very smooth paddling over sandy river bottom and high river banks.  Many car tires were visible through the clear water on the bottom of the river and some refuse (soccer ball and an old cassette tape) on the banks,  otherwise this stretch reminded me of the Saco in NH, minus the mountains.  Just before the Center Bridge Road, the South Nashua River enters from the right.  I made it up about 20 yards in before numerous blowdowns discouraged further exploration.  Several fish were seen as well as a great blue heron which always seemed to be 100 yards ahead of me on this trip.   

 

Start: Pellecchia Conservation Land & Canoe Launch, Lunenburg Rd (Rt 70), Lancaster, MA

End: Canoe Launch/Rte 117, 7 Bridge Road, Lancaster, MA 

Trip distance:  5 miles

Trip time:  1 hour 50 minutes.    

Easy parking at the put-in

Old phone near the old racemill from the old dam a fifty yards upriver

 

Some things are too darn hard to move... old oil drum?

First Rt 117 crossing

 

First portage was an easy drag around to the left

Second portage was a dismount, drag over, remount exercise:

Main St bridge followed by train bridge

 

Beautiful sandy river

Entrance to the South Nashua branch, made it beyond this blockage but not much further up

 

The takeout on river left, looking back upstream to Rt 117 bridge

West River - Radway Hill Bridge to Dummerston Covered Bridge

2nd river trip and 2nd swim of 2022!  West River, VT.  The river was fast, big, and pushy.  Townshend Lake gauge readings 7.14ft and 3290 cfs (!!).  Would not attempt again at this level without closed cockpit/spray skirt.  No cell phone reception so no ubers, I did the bike shuttle back to launch.  It was hilly but also a very pretty ride following Rt 30 to Brook Street and River Road back to Radway Hill Bridge.  Launched into the river beneath the bridge into fast quickwater.  Soon hit several wavy rapids, more like ocean boating.  About 1/2 mile above Rock River, I entered an extremely wavy rapid that swamped my kayak (needed that skirt!).  Once was swamped, I had very little control and balance and the next set of waves sent me in.  I initially held onto the kayak but with the weight of a swamped boat and the speed of the river and cold water temperature, decided to release it and swim for shore.  Luckily, Railroad Lane was right next to the river and I began the long walk (3 mile) back to my car.  About 1 mile above Dummerston, I spied my kayak about 400 ft down a very steep wooded bank, but not knowing how to get down or back up that hill, I continued back to my car.  When I got back to Dummerston Covered Bridge lot, a local Technical Rescue team was performing some river training exercises. I mentioned my plight and about losing the kayak upriver and they kindly offered to retrieve it.  An hour later, two inflatables with 6-8 people on each one came down the river with my kayak aboard.  I thanked them profusely!  

 

Start: Radway Hill Road Bridge, Newfane, VT

End: Dummerston Covered Bridge, Dummerston, VT

Trip length:  6 miles  

Trip duration:  2 hours (1 boating, 1 walking).

 

Beautiful valley in Newfane

 

Radway Hill Road Bridge

 

The put in below the bridge

 

Took a swim a few minutes passing under the power lines

 

Thank you volunteer river rescue team for retrieving my kayak!

 

The beautiful West Dummerston Covered Bridge