Rambling along the towpath

One of the amazing transformations over the last decade along the Blackstone American Heritage River has been the changeover of the Blackstone Canal Towpath that spans alongside the old Blackstone Canal in portions of Lincoln and Cumberland, RI into the Blackstone River Bikeway.

Originally, between 1828-1848, the towpath was used to move boats and barges towed by horses or mules, along the man-made canal, which was used as the prime transportation route from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI.

Now, the towpath has a new life of its own as the centerpiece of a 48 mile bicycling and walking path connecting Central Massachusetts and Northern Rhode Island that is also a part of the East Coast Greenway Trail, expanding from Maine to Florida.