Our not-for-profit club offers paddle trips on rivers, lakes and ponds as well as estuaries, marshes and coves. Trips are open to canoes and kayaks.

CALENDAR-  2010 Season at a glance!

JOIN RICKA

JOIN BLACKSTONE VALLEY PADDLE CLUB and RICKA

Photos  

 

In the event of a last minute cancellation or modification to a paddle trip, please check the message board as well as your e-mail and the website for updates. There may be  times that the webmasters are not available to update the trip information. Click for Message Board.

 

Items of interest          Thank you !   Please click for  the 2010 list of Flatwater and BVPC leaders and instructors. Many thanks to our outstanding group of volunteer organizers and instructors!  The trips and events they offer to the RICKA Flatwater and Blackstone Valley Paddler community are greatly appreciated.  We would like to thank them for sharing their time and knowledge with us. Our success is directly due to their efforts.  Click here for list ! Sept 14th- Warren Richey, author of Without A Paddle, will be speaking on his book and the Ultimate Endurance Race of 2006. Time is 6:30 to 8 at the Essex Public Library in Ct.  CONNYAK organized this event.   Charlestown Kayak & Gear Sale Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4-6 It's that time again! Every Labor Day weekend we sell off our gently used rental fleet of kayaks from our Charlestown location...most have only been used one season. Join us for our 2010 annual Used Boat & Gear Sale at our Charlestown location for 30-40% off used single, tandem and sit on top kayaks, Sept. 4-6, 10am-4pm. Used paddles, lifejackets and other gear will be for sale as well, so if you don't need a boat but are looking for an extra paddle or lifejacket, come on down, we've got them! All new in-stock accessories will be 20% off with a boat purchase in Charlestown and in Wickford for the weekend and 15% off if purchased separately. (Car racks, clothing, paddles, carts etc.) Wickford will also have discounts on all new kayaks for the weekend as well. Click here for the used boat list! Where & When The Kayak Centre-Charlestown 562 Charlestown Beach Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813 Sept. 4-6, Labor Day Weekend 10am-4pm A brief overview of how the sale works: -About 50 of our used rental kayaks will be lined up in front of the store behind yellow caution tape (stay behind the caution tape-this is for your safety as we're moving boats around and to keep things fair). -Each boat has a baggie on it which has a sheet with the price of the boat and a space to fill out your name, address etc. to speed things up at the register as well as a pen. -At 10am we cut the tape, at this time all boats are for sale. To claim your boat(s), grab the bag off it. ONLY grab a bag off of a boat(s) you're buying, please. -You can then relax and pick out any other used gear you might need, a staff member will help you add it to your sheet and you can also purchase new gear in the store which will be 20% off for the weekend with a boat purchase. -Lastly, we'll check your receipt and then help you get the boat to your car for some afternoon paddling!   A few things to remember: Be early and be happy! The sale starts at 10am on the dot, please plan to be lined up then for the best selection-no early sales. Sorry, no pre-sales! We will not pre-sell any boats prior to the sale (no exceptions!), this is to make it fair and fun for everyone Can't make it to the sale? If you're interested in purchasing a boat but can't make it to the sale, you can call the shop after 1pm to see if it's still available (401.364.8000). Our other Used Sale is Columbus Day Weekend in Wickford (this sale includes used recreational, sit on top and mid and full-size kayaks as well as gear). Want to try it before you buy it? You're welcome to demo the boat you're interested in purchasing but it must be done during the week prior to the sale (things are quite busy!). We will not be demoing boats at the sale or the morning of the sale. You can apply your demo fee towards the purchase of your boat and demo the boat in Wickford or Charlestown! Looking for a mid or full-size kayak? The Charlestown sale features mostly recreational kayaks (shorter, stable ones as well as tandems and a few sit on tops). Check out the Used Sale in Wickford on Columbus Day weekend, for mid and full-size yaks (recreational boats and tandems will be available too) Save the tax! No sales tax on kayaks or accessories purchased with a kayak in RI. Sale on new accessories and boats in Charlestown and Wickford all weekend. 20% off all in-stock accessories with a boat purchase and 15% off on accessories without a boat purchase. "Everything flows, nothing stands still"   Awareness is a good thing!  Note:  since the article on Inflatable PFDs  was information was published on the flatwater website and then in RICKA's newsletter, it has been republished several times. "Messing about in Boats" and the "Atlantic Sea Kayker's Magazine" have found it of interest and reprinted it in their publications.  The Public Education Officer for Division 9 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary located in Western Massachusetts said " I found the article on Inflatable PFDs.  I feel this is a significant issue, and would like to have permission to distribute this article to our Public Education classes, and to other affected members of the Auxiliary."   Jay Koleszar SO-PE 01N-09 413-586-0431

Pawcatuck River Update The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA) is warning paddlers that there will be construction work on the Pawcatuck River at Lower Shannock Falls from July 5 until September 30, 2010. As part of a dam removal project, a coffer dam will be situated about 100 feet upstream of the actual dam.  The coffer dam will allow construction equipment to remove water, sediment, and debris safely and effectively. This will temporarily close the usual portage site for paddlers on river right, at the site of the old Knowles Mill in Richmond.  To avoid problems with portaging, WPWA is recommending that paddlers not use the one-half mile section of the Pawcatuck River that runs from below the Horseshoe Dam in Shannock to the Lower Shannock Falls during this time.  Paddlers will still be able to access the river below the construction area near Shannock Road. For updates see the River Conditions section on WPWA’s website: www.wpwa.org/river.php

Keep it Safe…Keep it Fun By Chuck Horbert

Blackstone Valley 101 What is Blackstone Valley 101? Blackstone Valley 101 is an interactive on-line learning program that gives an overview of the history and heritage of the valley, while explaining why this area is nationally significant.

RICKA Flatwater Schedule Scroll down:

 

The people who coordinate RICKA trips are responsible for setting a meeting time and how to get to the put-in and take-out. The trip coordinators are unpaid volunteers who are not  professionals.  They are not and cannot be responsible for determining the adequacy of your skill level, your personal safety, well-being, or happiness. Trips are group events.  You, and you alone, are responsible for yourself

PFDs (life vests) are required on all RICKA and Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips.  Please stay out of channels and be aware of boating traffic. Canoes and kayaks do not have the right of way. Note: Inflatable PFDs (life vests) are not acceptable for paddling on RICKA Flatwater trips or Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips for safety reasons.

Paddling Basics	Choosing a PFD
Cold Water Paddling	Real time water levels in the Blackstone River
Tides	Weather
USGS Real Time Water Data	Narragansett Surf Cam

2010 Tide Calendar

Adirondack Trip 2010

Henry Dziadosz   henry@twincitysupply.com  will be leading a week long camping &
paddling trip in Adirondack State Park, NY. It will be from July 31 - August 7 2010
We will try to key in on sites 80 - 100 at Lake Eaton campground. You
can make reservations now  at www.ReserveAmerica.com
 

Jim Cole has written a book " Paddling Connecticut and Rhode Island

Pro Jo article on Jim's Book