Blackstone River Bike Path

Dolores and I had a nice ride on the Blackstone River Bike Path on Memorial Day. The weather was glorious and the path was well used.

geese et al were on the bike path

In addition to the many bikers, there were runners, roller bladers, walkers and a family of geese found enjoying the path.

Lesson learned: bike shops don't open early

Saturday was a great day for a bike ride.

We got a later start than we wanted. We knew the tires needed to be filled before riding and I do have a bike pump, so it should have have been quick and easy to fill and go. What surprised me was D's new bike has some funky new tube connections. These connections would not fit my pump nor work with the gas station air pump. We would need to get to the bike shop before riding. As it was 8:30 AM when we discovered this, I anticipated that one of the shops would open at 9:00. No such luck, one opens at 10:00 and the other at 11:00.

We were at Crossing Cycle when the doors opened at 10:00. Bought the adapter for the connection, a new pump with the capability to do both connections (standard and new one), filled the tire and were off, finally!

We biked about a dozen miles along the Blackstone River Bike Path. And we'll be ready to get an early start even if the tires need some air next time!

Note: this was originally posted to Franklin Matters.

Then and now

The old towpath along the Blackstone River canal has luxurious growth along both sides. It was NOT like this when the canal was in use. Along the right side as you look in this photo, the canal boats moved. The space between the path and the water was clear of all obstacles so the tow ropes could be used.

It is a nice place now. Quiet. Green.



In the working days of the canal, the calls of the muleskinner would be heard amongst the crack of the whip and creaking of the ropes.

Mother's Day hike

It was almost a 10 day to walk along the Blackstone River Bike Path on Mother's Day:



I ran out and back to catch up with the ladies doing their walk and we all finished together.

"I love my new bike"

Allison joined Dolores and I for a ride along the Blackstone River Bike Path on Saturday.

You may recall that Dolores got her new bike last weekend. This was the first good ride with it. She definitely likes it. When Allison and I caught up with her at the turnaround point, she was singing "I love my new bike, I love my new bike" to the tune of Pete the Cat's song "I love my new shoes"

Riding between the old canal way and the river is a treat. Each season brings its own color and look to the area.

Fall in New England is such a glorious time of colors!

The sound of the leaves as the bike rolled through them. The sounds of the geese in the river.

The river itself is quiet this time of year. A far cry from the roaring spring.

There are multiple access points to the Blackstone River Bike Path. We tend to use the rest area off i295 northbound, about a mile or so above RI Route 146. The facility has a Dunkin Donuts and rest rooms which makes for convenient services to begin and end our ride.

From the building it is less than a mile to the trail itself. On the trail you can go north to Woonsocket (about 6 miles, 12 round trip) or south into Cumberland (about 3 miles, 6 round trip).

Blackstone Valley Bike Path Moves Forward

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Blackstone Valley Bike Path Moves Forward

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 10/1/10

Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray today announced $15 million in Accelerated Bridge Program funds for design and construction of the first segment of the Blackstone Valley Bike Path.  Once completed, the proposed 48-mile trail will connect Worcester to Providence.  Improvements to this path will also support the the East Coast Greenway, a project to create a 2,900-mile trail system linking cities along the coast from Maine to Florida.

Lieutenant Governor Murray joined state and local officials to celebrate the first phase of the project, a 2.5-mile pathway including 11 bridges between the Triad Bridge in Millville located in the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park and along the Rhode Island border.
The Blackstone Valley Bike Path will connect historic and cultural sites, natural resources, recreation facilities, and commercial and residential areas. The project is a joint effort between MassDOT and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.  Design is underway with construction expected to begin in spring 2012.

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Do you have electronics to recycle?

Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful, a program of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and in partnership with REI Cranston and Indie Cycle, LCC will hold an electronics recycling drive on Saturday, September 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at REI, located at 22 Chapel View Boulevard in Cranston.

“This electronics recycling drive is being held in conjunction with REI’s annual Labor Day sale,” said Mathhew DeMello, Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful program coordinator and AmeriCorps*VISTA member. .

Residents are encouraged to recycle the following items, all free of charge: computers, servers, printers, televisions, CRT monitors, LCD monitors, laptops, UPS battery back-ups, and stereo equipment. No other items will be accepted.

Donations benefit the environmental programs of Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful. For more information, call 724-2200 or visit www.KeepBlackstoneValleyBeautiful.com.

Indie Cycle, LLC, a Providence-based company, recycles the electronic items. Their zero-waste policy means that everything is reused, resold, reclaimed or recycled.


About the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
Established in 1985, the agency’s mission is to create positive change with regard to community values by developing and promoting coordinated, responsible and sustainable tourism in Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley communities. To plan and collaborate with intrastate, state, regional, national and international organizations to sustain and enhance the character of our destination, and to develop the public and private natural, historic, cultural, ethnic, industrial, recreational, educational, special events, artistic and commercial resources in Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, Woonsocket, Smithfield, North Smithfield, Burrillville and Glocester.

About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful is a national nonprofit public education organization dedicated since 1953 to engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their local community environments. For half a century, Keep America Beautiful has been the nation’s leading community improvement organization successfully implementing an effective, systematic strategy for reducing waste, preventing litter and beautifying communities nationwide.

About Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful
Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful serves as the environmental education and awareness program of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. We are focusing on preventing litter, reducing waste and beautifying our communities by working with government, business and civic groups in Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield and Woonsocket. We work with these cities and towns to understand their specific needs and to create programs that will enhance their landscapes. Emily Soergel, the program coordinator, is sponsored by AmeriCorps*VISTA.

Visit the event's Facebook page

Blackstone River Bike Path

If you get a chance to go for a good bike ride, consider the Blackstone River Bike Path. It runs from Woonsocket down into Central Falls. It can be accessed from the northbound rest area on i295 just north of RT 146 and several other points along the way.

This photo shows the low water approaching the Pittman dam at the 8.5 mile post.

I also wrote about my recent ride here
http://passionaterunner.blogspot.com/2010/06/tri-or-no-tri.html

Blackstone River: Then - now

With such nice weather on Friday, we took a walk along the Blackstone River Bike Path. Partly for the weather, partly to see how the river itself was handling the runoff from the rain we have been deluged with. The path had done very well, there was one spot near the beginning of the historic towpath where the overflow on the canal side washed out. Had the weir been in operation about 100 yards down the canal, this would have been avoided.

This photo shows the dramatic difference between then and now a little better:

The power of the water is quite impressive.

Impressionist view

The leaves floated on the surface of the canal. There was enough sun to peak through the clouds and create this impressionist view of the world.

BRBP_impressionist view, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Dolores and I took our bikes for a ride on the Blackstone River Bikeway. We started at the rest area on northbound i295 (just past RT 146 in Cumberland) and went south this time.

The trail crossed the river several times as it wound it way down a scenic route. The old canal on one side, the river on the other. With the trees half leafless, the view was expansive. Farms and houses appeared where previously we had no idea what was beyond the wall of trees.

The breeze was strong facing us as we rode south. Not so strong to hinder our ride. It was a benefit on the return. The best surprise was the what the trail did with the old Lonsdale DriveIn.



They kept the sign to advertise the bikeway.

What a great use for this slice of Americana!

Blackstone River State Park

Dolores and I explored a few miles of the Blackstone River State Park down along the Cumberland and Lincoln, RI town lines. We will return with our bikes to explore further but it was a very pleasant walk amongst the shaded trail. We stopped in to see the history Kelly House across from the Ashton Mills. Mr Kelly had built this house when he came to the area for his family. He built a mill next door (the foundation remains) and helped to build the canal along the Blackstone River in the 1820's.



The Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee is meeting this week to continue work on refurbishing the rail trail through Franklin that would connect us in Uxbridge to the Blackstone River Trail from RI up to the head waters of the Blackstone in Worcester.

Wouldn't it be something to ride your bike from Franklin to the Blackstone and then either south to Providence (and beyond) or up to Worcester?