Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sudbury River - Kellogg St. to Fenwick St. Dam and Back

The unseen clock tower was just striking twelve noon when I launched into the Sudbury River at Kellogg Street in Framingham and began heading downstream towards the Fenwick Street Dam, pictured at left.  Trash was fairly typical until about a quarter of a mile downstream of the Central Street bridge, where I encountered the first of 3 milk jug pileups.  Each pileup consisted of about 20 flattened 1-gallon plastic milk jugs that had been contained in a large trash bag.  The first group didn't wander far from the bag and are pictured below....

Shortly after rounding up this group, I pulled into the far right extra slow lane of the Mass Pike for about a half mile of eastbound paddling.  Most cars and trucks on the pike never see this lane as it sits considerably lower than the paved lanes and allowed my passage without being charged a toll.
The second and third milk jug pileups were where the river widens a bit, upstream of the Fenwick Street Dam.  The last bag was still intact and lying just at the river's edge, all of its contents still dry.
Back at the Kellogg Street launch area the jugs formed into a pile...


Today's little heap contained 128 pieces of trash and brokedown as follows: 91 recyclable containers of which 61 were 1-gallon plastic milk jugs, 27 were non-redeemable plastic or glass containers, and 3 were redeemable cans.  The were also 37 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam cups, etc.  YTD total stands at 5001.
Can't help but wonder how those 61 milk jugs ended up in the river.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Sudbury River - Egg Rock to Fairhaven Bay & Back

Early this summer like morning I launched my boat at Lowell Road in Concord and began trash patrolling the Sudbury River, enroute to Fairhaven Bay.  Trash was fairly steady and consisted of a mixture of old glass bottles and fairly recently added plastic/styrofoam stuff.  A large piece of black plastic sheeting (construction type) was pulled from the shallow water below Nashawtuc Bridge.
Just upstream of the same bridge, while listening to The Lark Ascending, I almost paddled right by a little Green Heron.  As you can see by the photo, he is very focused on the task at hand and would shortly have a tiny fish wriggling within his bill...
Other wildlife seen today were blue herons, a great egret, Canada geese, ducks, turtles (painted and snappers), a red-tailed hawk, a small hawk, and a cardinal. 

Between the South Bridge and Heath's Bridge, 2 tires were recovered and the Heath's Bridge area itself chipped in with about 2 dozen pieces of trash.  All of it was on the upstream south side.

Most of the fishermen encountered reported less than impressive results.  However, at Heath's Bridge, one very little fellow was proudly reeling in one sunfish after another!

Earlier, while approaching the Route 2 bridge, I noticed that the crumbling masonry work has been repaired and looks much better...

This is how it looked back on March 5 th of this year...


Upon reaching Fairhaven Bay, I went briefly ashore at Brooke Island and was surprised to find a bottle and 2 cans laying on the ground.   Usually, this spot is trash free.
The trip downstream was pleasant and I soon found myself back at Lowell Road, where the unloading process occurred....

The total for the day was 85 pieces of trash.  Of these, 38 were recyclable containers (15 redeemable) and there were 47 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as 16 styrofoam bait tubs, plastic bags and sheeting, clumps of fishing line, cardboard packaging, and the 2 automotive tires.   YTD total stands at 4873.  The Concord DPW will be contacted regarding disposal of the 2 tires.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Concord River - Egg Rock to Great Meadows & Back

This  autumn afternoon I found myself back on the familiar waters of my local SuAsCo watershed.  I launched at Lowell Road and trash patrolled the Concord River down to Great Meadows Landing.
Right at the start of today's patrol, I encountered a couple in a canoe that were also recovering trash as they paddled along.  
Water levels are still very low resulting in many bottles being recovered from the exposed muddy shore.  Just upstream of the Old North Bridge a partial bottle embossed with "Phenix Nerve Beverage Co." was found.   It may date from the late 1800's.  The name reminds me of a "Three Stooges" episode where the boys were selling some strange concoction guaranteed to cure all kinds of ailments.
By the time I reached Flint's Bridge (Monument St.), I had recovered 30 pieces of trash.  The bridge is pictured at upper left.

Just a little ways below the bridge, this immature hawk allowed me to approach within 10 to 15 feet...
He ultimately flew a short distance to this tree limb where the reddish color in his tail may indicate his being a red-tailed hawk.  The young hawk did act strangely.  He kept opening his beak in what looked like a yawning motion, but made no sound.


With the water level in the river so low, the outfall from Concord's Wastewater Treatment Plant can be seen...
I can't help but to think that outfalls could be more attractively built.  Perhaps made to more resemble a stream entering the river through a rocky passageway and some kind of identifying signage would be nice.
At Great Meadows Landing, I and the entire ship's company went briefly ashore.  While today's refugees assembled along my boat's hull, I recovered two more plastic containers from the receptacle intended for monofilament fishing line.  The container is clearly marked "No Garbage".  I guess those empty plastic water bottles are just too heavy for some folks to carry out...


Once everyone settled down, a photo was taken of the assemblage.  

They numbered 56 pieces of trash and broke down as follows: 32 recyclable containers (13 redeemable) and 24 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as styrofoam, bubble wrap, plastic bags, and bait tubs.  My YTD total stands at 4788.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

NFCT - Stratton, ME to Grand Falls & Return

Last Wednesday, after leaving work, I drove up to Stratton, Maine and launched onto the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) with plans to paddle and portage my way 28 miles to Grand Falls on the Dead River.
However, I started my journey by detouring off of the NFCT and heading up the North Branch of the Dead River to Cathedral Pines Campground.  In doing so, I would be following the route taken by the Arnold Expedition which traveled from Cambridge, MA to Quebec City back in 1775.  I tried to imagine the site of approximately 1,000 men and their few surviving bateaux disappearing to the sounds of fife and drum as they headed north towards the Canadian border, some 25 miles distant.  They were said to have left Pittston, ME with 220 bateaux, and only 7 made it into Canada.  The rough and rocky conditions chewed up the rest.  Near the entrance to Cathedral Pines Campground is a stone marker commemorating their expedition...
The marker was moved to this spot from its original location in Flagstaff Village when the Dead River was dammed back in 1949, flooding the valley.  Flagstaff Village was named for a flagpole erected there by Arnold's men.  It left me to wonder which early version of our flag was flown upon it back in October 1775.  While they were in the area, Arnold dispatched an officer named Bigelow to climb the 4,000 foot high ridgeline to see if Quebec City was in sight.  Unfortunately, it wasn't.  Today, the ridgeline is named the Bigelow Range and forms an impressive backdrop along the south side of Flagstaff Lake.  The fate of Arnold's expedition wasn't good.  After months of enduring cold and wet conditions, their ultimate New Year's eve assault on Quebec City was repelled and many men were killed or wounded.  The expedition is, however, given credit for buying our fledgling nation some valuable time to better prepare for the long fight ahead.
On Thursday morning I left Cathedral Pines and paddled down to the west end of Flagstaff Lake rejoining the NFCT.  The weather forecast predicted rain arriving before day's end so I paddled east trying to get as far down the lake as possible.  Hurricane Island became my second night's campsite and I had it all to my self...

Made camp, cooked supper and just finished cleaning up when the rain arrived at 5pm, as promised.  It was quite a soaker and the morning found much of my gear on the damp side.  After breaking camp and launching, I paddled safely above what was once known as the Hurricane Rips.  This spot may have broken the back of a bateau or two.   A lone loon approached me and repeatedy called.  Each call was echoed back from the trees behind me perfectly.  It occurred to me that the loon might think I was answering him in his own tongue!
After rounding the point where the lake swings to the north I approached Long Falls Dam...

The mile long portage starts to the dam's left and I decided to first carry my pack and then return for my boat.  The portage trail was fairly rugged as this photo shows...

At the end of the portage I reached the Big Eddy campsite and had the good fortune to encounter other people there.  A woman name Tina offered to help with my boat but I graciously declined her help explaining that I needed to experience the portage on my own.  Returning for the boat, the nearby dirt road was used rather than the portage trail and it made for must easier going with my portage wheels.  Long Falls is pictured here...

Just as I prepared to launch into the Dead River, Tina informed me that the power company had a dam release of 3500 cfs scheduled for Saturday morning and explained what effects it would have on the river.  The local knowledge she shared with me would later prove to be invaluable. 
Heading down the river from Big Eddy required dodging a few rocks in the first quarter mile or so, and then became flatwater for the next 4 miles.  This skull, possibly of a moose, had me concerned I might be entering hostile territory...

Because of the impending release of water, I decided to make camp at Philbrick Landing 2 miles upriver from the falls. The campsite was in a little meadow atop a high riverbank.  This was my view looking downriver...

Waking before sunrise on Saturday morning, I went to pull the boat up from the small beach at the foot of the riverbank and noticed some whitish stuff on the boat's black hatch cover.  Upon closer inspection, I found it to be frozen water droplets, my first sight of ice this season!  With the boat safely atop the bank I returned to my tent for a little more shut-eye.  When I emerged a few hours later, the small beach was under water and the river's current was substantially stronger.  The level continued to rise even higher so the thought of paddling to Grand Falls didn't seem like such a good idea.  However the sun was up and a beautiful day was in the offing, so I decided to hike the 2 miles to the falls.  Walking to the falls via logging roads was very pleasant and once I got to within a half mile of the falls I began to hear the sound of its roar.  Standing atop the overlook this was the view down to the cascade...
Truly, this was a location the Indians would have attributed great manitou!  The trails here were well trodden from many centuries of human footsteps.  The mist rising from the falls proved ideal for the growth of 'Old Man's Beard' moss in the trees...
My destination had been reached but before leaving the area, I hiked the portage trail paddlers heading further downriver would use.  At one of its steeper points some folks had built this handsome stone stairway...

Near one of the possible put-in locations I espied this small nook that's unfortunately being used as an impromptu trash receptacle...
I removed what I could carry in my two hands.  Hopefully, some others will pitch-in to help erase this desecration over time. Back at Philbrick Landing I now had the whole afternoon with nothing to do but relax, read, and occasionally torture the wildlife with my harmonica playing.  Oddly, while at home in Massachusetts, I enjoy reading of the northern woods.  Now, here in those northern woods, I found myself reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's Old Manse  with its descriptions of the Concord and Assabet Rivers.
I should note at some point that sanitary facilities (aka outhouses) were not in the best shape along this section of the NFCT.  The one at Hurricane Island had a caved-in roof, at Flagstaff Village I never saw one at all.  Here at Philbrick Landing, however, this beauty was there for folks who like things right out in the open...

By sunset, the river level had dropped considerably and the moon was getting fat and bright in the eastern sky. At 2 am, I awoke to the sound of coyotes howling.
On Sunday, I broke camp once again at sunrise and began the trip back upriver towards Big Eddy.  On the way, Halfway Brook proved too tempting and I soon found myself paddling around 'just one more bend'.  Following a beaver up the brook I stopped to take a photo when I heard the sound of wood cracking and thought to myself, "someone must have a campsite nearby and is preparing wood for a fire".  A few more loud snaps followed by equally loud snorting and groundshaking footsteps had me retreating to the far side of the narrow brook.  When things quieted down, I turned my boat around and headed slowly back to the river.  Just as I reached the mouth of the brook, I heard splashing and came upon these 2 moose as they swam to the river's other side...
They turned around, swam back across and then stood on the shore where the larger moose seemed curious as to the nature of my business...

This was at around 8:15am and other wildlife were active in this area as well:  belted kingfishers, a blue heron, and several sleepy mergansers.
As I neared the Big Eddy I lined my boat through some of the shallow quickwater spots before pulling up on the gravel riverbed.  Now the dread of the mile-long portage laying before me began to be realized.  It would take the better part of 2 hours and my back would feel it for much longer than that.  Then I saw Tina, the woman who helped me two days earlier.  Tina Cyr was vacationing here with her family and enjoying some fishing in hopes of landing some land-locked salmon.  When not vacationing, Tina is a whitewater rafting guide for Magic Falls Rafting Company and also an EMT.  Again, Tina kindly offered to help me with the portage of my gear and boat.  This time I gladly accepted her help and about 20 minutes later my boat, gear, and I were cruising the mile or so to Flagstaff Lake aboard her Toyoto Rav-4.  I learned that Tina has been guiding rafting trips since 1995 and that the trips she does on the Dead River, starting at Spencer Stream, cover one of the longest stretches of continuous whitewater in Maine.  To find out more about rafting on the Dead River check out Magic Falls web site.
Here's Tina at the Flagstaff lake boat launch...

I thank you!  My back thanks you!  My weary arms thank you! Now, with all kinds of extra time I could make some good progress to the south and west.  These loons reminded me to slow down a little and enjoy the scenery...
At Hurricane Island I stopped for a short lunch break and pushed on to the west reaching the site of Old Flagstaff Village by 3pm.  There are 2 nice campsites here and both were vacant.  Scattered about are remnants of the small community that existed here until 1949 such as this piece of machinery...
The site also afforded this view of the Bigelow Range across the lake...

And that fine Sunday came to a close with this sunset...

The weather forecast for Monday was predicting some strong gusts out of the northwest induced by Hurricane Igor's passing off of New England.  So, with that in mind, I broke camp early and began the 8.5 mile paddle to where my car was parked.   I hugged the northern shore to stay in the lee of any wind that might develop.  Not too far from where I had camped, an eagle saw me before I saw him and swooped down and up before I could fumble for my camera.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed his majesty and being briefly in his presence. Near the final part of my journey, I would end up paddling on some of the calmest water of the trip...
 Since returning home, I've done more reading on the Arnold Expedition and its interaction with a Native American named Natanis who lived in the Dead River valley.  Natanis secretly watched the expedition's approach without ever being noticed.  Much later when he joined up with the army of men, he shared how he had watched them all along.  One of the men asked why he hadn't revealed himself and Natanis answered "because you would have killed me."  Good enough reason for me!

*Note...clicking on any photo will enlarge it up 2 times.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Gone a Paddlin' on the NFCT

The time of the year has arrived when I get to explore a new section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.  Perhaps I'll run across the trail blazed by Benedict Arnold's expedition 235 years ago.  I hope to have an easier go of it then they did on their way to Quebec. 

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Assabet River in Maynard with OAR's Forces

Today, instead of conducting one of my usual skirmishes in the war on aquatic debris, I participated in the Organization for the Assabet River's multi-town major offensive.  This was the 24th Annual River Cleanup by this organization and it left me very impressed at just how much can be accomplished in a very short time by many able hands.  Priscilla, the Maynard coordinator, split her forces into 3 groups to target 3 sections of the river that flows through town.  Remembering the tire littered sandbar I saw last month, I decided to work with the contingent that headed in that direction.  With about a dozen sets of hands working simultaneously, those tires didn't stand a chance!  Doug and some others were digging them loose from the muck faster than they could be ferried to the impromptu landing area about 75 yards downstream.  Started by carrying 5 tires per trip (using Mrs. Trashpaddler's borrowed Scupper)...
 Later, was able to get to 6 per trip.  I lost count on both the number of trips and number of tires but am pretty sure the group rounded up between 55 and 60 tires from just this one section of town.
Meanwhile others in the group scoured the area recovering all sorts of stuff the Assabet River will be better off without.  A motley crew of Maynard young people stood near one of the piles they recovered...
 Also working with this contingent was Doug who dug out many a tire today...
After the cleanup, everyone gathered at the Elks parking lot to enjoy some pizza and soda.  T-shirts listing the names of the event's many area sponsors were provided to participants. 
While there the Maynard DPW stopped by to say that their tire-count from all 3 contingents was 88 and there were another 10 or so still to be picked up.  Throw in all sorts of other trash and it made for a satisfying way to spend a sunny Saturday morning in September.  An osprey chirped in his approval before launching from a riverside tree.
Check the OAR web site later for more information about the cleanup's results overall.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Sudbury River - Kellogg St. to Rt. 9 and Back

This morning's trash patrol was on the Sudbury River in Framingham.  I launched at Kellogg Street and paddled upriver to Route 9 and back.  The highway looks fairly small when viewed from the river.  The same can be said of the river when viewed from the highway.
I passed this shore fisherman along the way.  He wasn't saying anything about how he caught that good-sized bass...

His friend was rather stoic as well...



This bathtub looked strangely similar to the one in that Cialis TV ad.  Here, however, something must have gone horribly wrong...



I returned back to Kellogg Street with a haul of 97 pieces of trash.  They posed briefly...

Today's haul was made up of 44 recyclable containers (3 redeemable) and 53 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as a large winter coat, numerous plastic bags, styrofoam cups, and a few nip bottles.
My YTD total stands at 4732.

Last month I had the pleasure of being accompanied on a trash patrol by journalist, Maureen Costello.  At the time I was anxious that there might not be any trash to recover.  However, trash turned out to be plentiful but water to paddle in was in very short supply.  Maureen subsequently wrote an article about my trash paddling efforts that appears in today's Boston Globe Metro West edition.  It can be read at this link


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Sudbury River - River Rd. to Heard Pond Outlet & Return

Any remnants of Hurricane Earl appeared to be long gone when I launched onto the Sudbury River in Wayland early this morning.  Almost immediately after snapping the photo at left, I heard the distinctive call of an osprey, from the trees along River Road.  There basking in the sunlight was the caller...
He was one of a pair that were working the area between Rt. 27 and Pelham Island Road.  I later watched this osprey scanning the river for fish...
In fact, the river was busy with fish catchers of all kinds today.  Between River Rd. and Route 20, I counted 7 cormorants; 2 blue herons; the aforementioned ospreys; and 3 small power boats with 2 fishermen each.  While running this "gauntlet for fish" I began seeing very tiny and shiny fish leaping out of the water.  One group of these sardine-size fish leaped en masse into the side of my boat.  Ouch!
Upstream of the railroad trestle, I noted the new outlet for Wash Brook was running strong with run-off from yesterday's rain.  It is creating new flow patterns in the area of the trestle.
The brook entering the river's east side upstream of Pelham Island Rd. bears an impressive beaver dam...

Proceeding towards Indian Point, I found the water to be just barely deep enough for my boat to slide over the bottom.  Turkey vultures patrolled the sky in this area and a green heron was seen near Heard Pond.    Moving past the outlet from Heard Pond, I was confronted with this blowdown blocking passage upstream...
This became my turnaround point and I began the trip downriver with some help from a building breeze.  Near this spot I found the deflated remains of a small raft and a plastic milk crate which were carried topside.
Perhaps it was such trash adorning my deck that acted as camouflage and allowed me to get very close to this woodchuck enjoying some black berries for lunch...
 Before making landfall at River Rd., I enjoyed seeing the ospreys again as well as a kestrel and a hawk (perhaps a broad-winged).
My trash load for the day posed alongside my boat...
They numbered 73.  Of these 37 were recyclable containers (19 redeemable) and 36 were miscellaneous rubbish such as a traffic cone, the inflatable raft, milk crate, styrofoam cups, plastic bags, etc.  My YTD total stands at 4635.