Dog Day on the Assabet

Yesterday was definitely a classic Dog Day out on the Assabet River in Hudson.  Air temperatures in the mid-nineties seemed to be no big deal.  My guess is that we all get acclimated to such warmth by this stage of summer...similar to the way we shrug off cold days in late winter.
I launched from behind the Fire Station in Hudson where I encountered OARS' board member Don Burn who was making an assessment of river access points.
The river was fairly stagnant upstream of the Hudson dam and has resulted in considerable aquatic plant growth, but the cursed dam does at least hold back enough water depth for continued paddling in late summer.

The photo above shows the serene-looking straightaway above Chapin Road (as seen while heading downriver).

Most of the trash encountered today was dealt with while heading upriver and was located where shore-fishermen access the river.  These recently discarded cans rest on top of the plant growth...

 ...and this ghostly lure hangs from a nearby tree...

Approaching Route 495 the strange dike-like structure is encountered.  With river levels low I was expecting to portage here.  However, the middle opening proved just adequate in depth and width for my boat to pass through.  Here's a photo of the opening taken on the downriver passage...

Next loomed Rt. 495...

...and to drown out the traffic noise I turned to my trusty shuffle which randomly selected Creedance Clearwater Revival's Green River for my listening pleasure...a perfect choice.

On a sandbar beyond the highway my trash haul posed before being packed away...

There were 43 recyclable containers (21 redeemable) and 35 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic and Styrofoam.  YTD = 4004

The trip back to Hudson was a slow one coinciding with the dwindling afternoon.  The footbridge at Riverside Park...

And finally my takeout behind the Fire Station...