AMC Paddle - Wickford to Rome Point 2018

This is my third time doing this paddle adventure on Narragansett Bay, but honestly, it never gets old (compare 2017 and 2016 - each a little different).

It was a perfect day to be out on the water.   I missed my turn and took a little detour through Wickford village and found a paddling store that I didn't have time to visit.

As for the actual paddling, we put in just after 10:00,  our target departure time.  Today we had 3 Bills, 2 Mikes, an Ann and a Steve.

We have to paddle quite a ways through all the marinas.  This stately residence site just at the harbor entrance.

The channel marker is also an elaborate osprey nest.  Compared to last year's picture we had beautiful blue skies as you can see.

Our next objective is Fox island.  It is supposedly under private ownership but seemingly not the "dentist"
(see  https://www.reddit.com/r/RBI/comments/42e24l/who_owns_fox_island/).

As we approach Plum Beach Lighthouse, you can see how choppy the water is getting.  Our leader was trying to line us all up for a photo, but we kept getting swept into the rocks on the island.  Next time.

From the lighthouse we head to shore paralleling the Jamestown Bridge.  Unfortunately, between the wind and the tide, we were actually being swept southward almost into the bridge.  It took some concerted effort to break away toward the shoreline.

Heading back north, we pass these pontoons which are part of the Rome Point Oyster Farm.

Time for a lunch stop along the north facing beach on Rome Point.

We watched some young ladies trying their skills on stand-up paddle boards.

There is wildlife on this trip.  I was able to get close enough to get a good shot of this snowy egret.

I never seen this before.  This sail boat apparently didn't fare well in a recent storm.  It looked like most of the electronics were removed, but it left us wondering on what will be done with this half submerged vessel.

We made it back to the put-in before 2:30, my drop dead time to get home to help at Betsy's performance of Don Giovanni with Greater Worcester Opera.  We covered 10.5 miles in a total time of 4:18 including lunch.