Monday, December 5, 2011

Concord River - Egg Rock to Bedford

Each time out on the water at this late point in the year, I'm left to wonder if it might be the last before the waters start icing over.  If today's trip down the Concord River was to have been the last of the season, I couldn't have asked for a better note to end on.  After leaving the Egg Rock area, I trash patrolled down to the landing at Bedford.  Along the way, I encountered this mink between Great Meadows Landing and Sawmill Brook...
This tree was his castle and he kept popping up out of the turrets...

At the Bedford Landing my passengers and I stretched out on solid ground...

There were 43 recyclable containers (16 redeemable) and 20 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish. 
YTD = 7194.
One unusual find was this old bottle found upside down with the neck wedged between some roots...
 The cap appears to be porcelain with a red rubber seal. 

Someone insists on having a trash bag at the Bedford Landing, despite the fact that animals can easily open it at the bottom...

The mink assured me it wasn't him.

On the trip back upriver, I encountered Lisa H. paddling her QCC 600 near the Old North Bridge...


And just before reaching Lowell Road, another mink...


Finally, back at Egg Rock, the sun was setting behind Nashawtuc Hill...


This spot could truly be called "Mattawa" as it is where the waters meet.

5 comments:

Erik Eckilson said...

Wow - those mink pictures are pretty cool. Saw two beavers last week on the Nipmuc, but never a mink (or a river otter). You always manage to get some great shots.

Mark Mayall said...

mink or fisher?

Al said...

Mark, I'm no expert but think the small size and white markings near the chin indicate mink. The one popping out of the turrets was first seen swimming in the river, though I guess the fisher can also swim. Whichever they are, they are very curious and fairly bold.

Lisa said...

Hi, Al, I gave the trash bag a decent burial today, took it and a tire directly to the transfer station. Inside the trash bag (I didn't dig too deep because of the yuck factor) there were hundreds of shot bottles. At $2.50 each (some had price tags) they must have cost at least $500. Can't understand what type of person does his drinking that way! Recycled much but not all. -Lisa

Al said...

Lisa, Nice work! The "Nipster" is a strange and secretive drinker.
Why he would dispose of the bottles that way is difficult to understand.