First Field Trip of the Year!

Yesterday, we took a ride on the Blackstone Valley Explorer.  The Blackstone River is 45 miles long (we didn't see nearly that much of it!), and was once called the 'Hardest Working River in the US' due to all of the mills that operated along it.  Of course, due to those same mills, the river was terribly polluted by the mid-20th century.  That changed in the early '70's, when Congress passed the Clean Water Act.  The Blackstone River (named for Reverend Blackstone, who came to Massachusetts from England in the 1640's) is now a thriving river, with many different species of fish, birds and other critters calling it home.

This is the boat we rode.  We actually did a field trip like this years ago--it was probably the same boat!

Just past this bridge is the waterfall--Miss Diane, the tour guide, told us that the Blackstone River actually falls a greater distance than Niagra Falls!  It's just spread over 45 miles--so not quite as dramatic.

Okay, so the sun was in their eyes....

I have a picture of Eli from our field trip, years ago, on this boat--he's grown up so much!

We had a GORGEOUS day--80 degrees, sunny, nice breeze--perfect for a  day on the river.

See the holes in the bank? Probably muskrat dens.

Go ahead and watch this video.  You know you want to. 

Helping out

Patience & Britany

Checking the water and air temperature

It was a great cloud day

The waterfall--it was actually built up a bit to produce a higher fall--thus more energy!

No sun in the eyes now.

I love the look when he catches me taking a picture of him. LOL

There's my baby.  

Top of the Central Falls, RI, city hall. The city is roughly one square mile.  Most densely populated city in RI--my dad was born here! 

It was a really fun afternoon--so nice to get out of the house!  And it's supposed to rain for the next few days, so perfect timing.