Just for Fun!

Can't go far? Well, strap the canoe to the roof of the car, go a few blocks and enjoy the local river. We will admit that there is litter - we've seen carriages from Arlans (remember Arlans?), and trash from the highway, but our poor abused mill river is trying very hard to make a come back, the evidence being the lush flora and fauna. And, who knows? If more people get out on the Quequechan, maybe the city fathers will notice and give it a hand to be the showplace it should be!

First, it is important to understand that the Quequechan was originally a huge river with many a marsh and cove throughout. Over the years the mill owners reined in the river for power - marshes were filled, streams were rerouted into pipes, even the Falls were put into a pipe! and then it was sliced and diced by roads, railroads and superhighways. But there are still sections of the river where access is relatively easy. We explored one section - the area wedged between I-195, Quequechan Street, Pleasant Street and Plymouth Avenue.

Easy access with parking is found off Pleasant St. at pretty Britland Park, between Quarry St. and Plymouth Ave. Heading west on Pleasant, take a left down Eighteenth Street. This is right behind the new Police Station at 685 Pleasant St. There you can park with a short walk to the ledgy access point.

Once you're in the river, either direction is interesting. We saw egrets and swans that day, and as you can see by the photos, they were surprised to see us! The turtles and fish were too quick for the camera; the songbirds flitted and sang in competition with the highway noise. We did notice however, that along the abandoned railroad line, where the trees have grown large, they successfully buffer a great deal of the traffic sounds. Perhaps one day, if the Quequechan River Bike Trail is built and landscaped, it will serve not only to be a great source of exercise and fun but also to beautify and quiet down this scenic area.

Although it is possible to canoe under I-195 when the water is very low, we do not suggest this - it is not for the faint-of-heart, as a team of Green Futures members discovered in the past, fighting off a plethora of spiders while lying flat on their backs in the canoe to get through the culverts! However, it is possible to canoe back and forth under the old railroad tracks, occasionally flushing out a few mallards in the rushes.

Interesting items at either end of this section of river are partially fenced in, walled conduits that historically, routed the river water directly underneath the mills, powering giant water wheels to run some of these mills, before electricity was prevalent. As you will notice, the mills are never really out of view.

Apparently, if you don't mind tossing the fish back in after the catch, the fishing is pretty good in this area. On our way out of the river, we ran into people who were going out for the day. They said they come to the Quequechan often and enjoy the sport not far from home.

We hope we've convinced you to give the Quequechan a try: it's close; lt's free and it's fun. Don't forget the camera!