NECKRA Training Locations and Tips

If you have a regular training outing in your area, send me the details in the format listed below and I will include them on the map! - tallenhome@yahoo.com


Regular Training Sessions - Find out where & when other paddlers in your area train!
Location	Days	Comments & Contact
Littleville Reservoir Huntington, MA - back to top -	Tuesdays & Thursdays	Once the ice is gone there are frequently anywhere from 1 to 10 solo or doubles canoes out training between 5:00 pm and dusk. There are also kayaks out paddling occasionally. Great place for group training or just to cruise and enjoy nature. Lake is about 3 miles round trip - many people do multiple laps. Conditions can get very choppy in high wind, but usually calm in the evenings. Directions: - Rte. 112 in Huntington - turn at sign for Littleville Reservoir - pass Gateway Regional High School - Turn right over one-lane bridge - Boat ramp entrance on left after very steep hill MAP For additional questions contact: Tim Allen 413-584-3506 tallenhome@yahoo.com
Contoocook River Contoocook, NH - back to top -	Tuesday Evenings starting 4/5/2005	Join 6 to 12 boats on a small protected flatwater river. Course is upstream and then return, no power boats. Canoers and kayakers meet at 5:00 for a group paddle. There are always paddlers of mixed abilities. Faster paddlers double back for slower paddlers. Better paddlers are willing to offer constructive advice if asked. If you need a partner, call ahead of time so that we know you are coming. Group moves out promptly, so let us know if you will be late. If you can't make the paddle, join us anyway at Dimitri's, right by the covered bridge in town, for pizza and beer after the 9 mile paddle. Directions: Begin and end about 1/4 mile above the dam in the center on town. Take Interstate 89 to exit 6. Turn towards Contoocook (this is route 127), and follow into town. Road ends at a T intersection. Turn left, cross the river, take 1st left, Pine Street, at the fire station. Take next left, Riverside Drive. Follow to the end. MAP For additional questions contact: Priscilla 603-746-6491
Charles River Boston, MA - back to top -	Wednesday Evening Races	The Quinobequin Canoe Club of Boston invites you and your canoe/kayak to a series of informal races on the Charles River -- no entry fee required. Races are 30 to 60 minutes in length. Start and finish is at the Duck feeding area across from Charles River Canoe and Kayak in Newton. Races start promptly at 6:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month - For the summer they will be held every week. The kick-off race is May 14th. Arrive 20 minutes before race start. Life jackets required. Why? For the pleasure of paddling and training together. Spread the word! Results from past Wednesday nights Directions: From 95 South take exit 24, route 30. Straight through the stop light at end of exit onto River Road. Second right onto Norumbega Road. After passing under the bridge, bear right to the Duck Feeding Area. From 95 North take exit 24, route 30. At stop light at end of exit, left onto route 30. After passing over the bridge, take a right onto River Road. Second right onto Norumbega Road. Pass under the bridge, bear right to the Duck Feeding Area. For additional questions contact: Donald Kelley at dp_kelley@verizon.net
Quinebaug River Canterbury, CT to Jewitt City, CT - back to top -	Saturday or Sunday Usually mornings - flexible start times.	This section of the river is vastly underused. From the put in at Canterbury to the dam at Ashland Lake in Jewitt City there are few houses and rarely any powerboats. We paddle a down and back loop that is 17 miles total. More miles can be had by continuing upstream past the put in or by making another loop. The return trip is where you get a real workout because although the current isn't terribly strong, it is steady and allows no rest for the weary. This section of the river is very clean, it includes both shallow and deep water and contains no obstacles. There's plenty of room for paddling in packs. The current is steady for the first 5 miles, but not technically challenging. There is always an abundance of wildlife on the river and rarely any people. Its a great place to train for the Clinton in the spring. In dry years, you can still use it throughout the summer, but you may need to get out of the boat in a couple of spots to avoid scraping bottom. Directions: The put in is in southeastern CT in the town of Canterbury on the western shore of the river immediately upstream of the route 14 bridge. From Route 395, take the route 14A exit (exit 88) in Plainfield and go west. In about 1/2 mile you'll come to the intersection with route 12. Go left. Route 12 and 14A will run together here for about another 1/2 mile then route 14A will go right at a stoplight. Stay on route 14A for about 3 miles until you cross over the Quinebaug River. The entrance to the recreation fields where we put in is immediately after the bridge on the right. For additional questions contact: Ray Thiel at prma@ctol.net or 860-889-9893
Glasgo Pond Griswold, CT - back to top -	Usually Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 PM	This is the location where the Spring Fling At Glasgo Pond race is held each June. The put in is at the state boat launch on the northwest corner of the pond. The course is an approximately 3.5 mile loop. You can do as many laps as you want to. Typically there is only light boat traffic and it's mostly from fishermen. Waterskiers and jetskis aren't usually a problem in the evenings. The water is all deep and because of the shape of the pond, unless it is very windy, it can be paddled easily. Directions: This pond is in southeastern CT in the town of Griswold CT. From route 395 take exit 85 to route 138 east. Continue east on route 138 for about 5 miles and go right on route 201. Follow route 201 for 2 miles and the boat launch entrance will be on your left. If you get to an intersection with route 165, you went 1/2 mile too far. Additional information is in the NECKRA Race Packet. For additional questions contact: Ray Thiel at prma@ctol.net or 860-889-9893
Mystic Lake Medford, MA - back to top -	Monday evenings from 6:30 pm to sunset	Paddlers in canoes & kayaks (sea/touring & racing) meet at Upper Mystic Lake to get in a few laps as a workout, and practice strokes and group paddling (boat control, wake riding, et al). No boat, paddle, or paddler is too slow or too fast. Anyone can paddle as many or few laps/legs as they wish. Slower paddlers/boats (each of us, at times) can cut corners to keep up with the faster and keep social. Depending on what people want, laps can be as short as 0.5mi or as long as 3mi. Some of us may be doing skills stuff too after a couple laps, depending on water quality: http://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/group/EMPACT/Site6/ENGLISH/Mystic4.htm This event is informal. And, just as with formal events, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. Every paddler should know basic rescues, have boat flotation, wear his/her PFD, and not wear sandals in decked kayaks (entrapment issue). Directions: http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/Pab/pabpdfs/PAB-169.PDF Accessible from 93 and route 2. On Mystic Valley Parkway, near the Medford/Winchester line, go down the driveway/road with a very small sign (12"x18") reading "Medford Boat Club". MDC parking, boat ramp, and Tufts boathouse are there.
Messalonskee Stream Waterville, ME	Tuesday evenings at 5:00 PM April - Oct.	9 mile loop on winding flatwater without powerboats. usually 3 to 6 boats , typically C1 Put in across from hospital. Call John A for details 207-634-2800
Lower Bolton Lake Bolton, CT	Usually Monday thru Friday 5:00/5:15 to 6:15/6:30	Distance and Intervals, Kayaks or canoes, Singles or doubles, Adult and Youth - Recreational and racing coaching available. Contact: UMZRacing@aol.com or BoltonAthleticClub@yahoogroups.com `Directions: 91 N/S to 84E to 384E. Follow 384E to it's end in Bolton Notch. Here, 384E splits into Rte 6E and Rte 44E. Bear left onto Rte 44E. Pass through one stop light. The lake is on the left. The state boat launch is on the left just before the second stop light. Across the street is a white church. The cross street is South Road. Parking and a rest facility are available during the paddling season.` `From Rte44W: Follow 44W to South Road intersection in Bolton. Go through the light and take an immediate right into the state boat launch (at White Church).`

Good Training Locations (No regular sessions, but good water and put-in)
Location	Information & Directions
CT River Northampton, MA	There are two very good put-ins in the Northampton area: (1) The Oxbow Great place to train once the ice has thawed. If the current and/or wind on the CT River looks too dangerous, you can stay in the oxbow inlet. If you do go out on the CT, just upstream from the put-in there are two ponds you can explore on the left. Directions: Route 91 to Exit 18 - Turn right off of exit ramp onto Route 5 South - You will shortly come to a temporary one-lane bridge - cross bridge and turn right into the boat ramp parking area. (2) Elwel Island (Bike Path) Don't like getting your feet wet? Stop on by this area and use the UMASS rowing docks! The parking can get crowded due to bike path usage, but you can wind around the boathouse and down to the lower level to unload your boat. Up or down stream is good - there can be some rather frequent motor boat traffic in the good weather. Directions: From South: Route 91 North to Exit 19 (UMASS) - Go straight off of exit ramp and turn into the bike path parking. From North: Route 91 South to Exit 20 - merge onto King street - turn left at first traffic light - bike path will be on your left after a bend in the road.
Farmington River Simsbury, CT	Great early season training area (or anytime!) - either never ices over, or thaws very early in the year. This is a fairly narrow and winding river protected from the wind with a low to moderate flatwater current. Directions: -- Good directions coming soon --