Nashua River - Petapawag to Squannacook's Mouth

Since the rain was holding off to the south, I decided to head west and trash patrol the Nashua River in Groton.  I launched about mid-morning at the Petapawag Canoe Launch near Rt. 119 and headed upriver passing under Fitchs Bridge, Rt. 225, and the Boston and Main RR trestle at the confluence of the Nashua and Squannacook rivers.  The two trestles are pictured below (first Fitch's)...

Fitch's Bridge was built in 1898 but is no longer open to vehicles or pedestrians.

The B & M Railroad trestle...

I don't believe it sees any trains these days.

The trip upriver had been a peaceful experience.  Wildlife seen were wood ducks, blue herons, belted kingfishers, red-winged blackbirds, sandpipers, a musquash, and a red-tailed hawk.

By the time I reached the mouth of the Squannacook River, my trash haul had reached 92 pieces and they posed hullside near the RR trestle...

The breakdown was: 46 recyclable containers (7 redeemable) and 46 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as styrofoam food containers, styrofoam cups, a can of spray paint, a plastic oil container with a few ounces of motor oil inside, and numerous nip bottles.  YTD = 2342

The trip downriver was a lot less peaceful as it was seemingly rush hour on the river...

There were 8 four-man shells being rowed by both men's and women's teams plus 4 coaches in small outboards.  It was amazing to see how fast the 4-man shells could leave me in the dust, even considering that I was doing about 5 mph.  Believe the rowers were from the nearby Groton School and they probably had launched from the school's stately boathouse...