Monday, September 29, 2014

Three Days, Three Rivers: Pawcatuck, Thames, and the Long One

I was able to get an early jump on this past weekend of splendiferous weather.  Late Friday morning, with my boat, tent, and sleeping bag aboard, my car and I drifted down an un-crowded Route 395 which runs a little west of the Connecticut and Rhode Island border. Reaching Norwich, CT, a short foray was made into Rhode Island to the small town of Bradford on the Pawcatuck River.  Having launched at the Bradford Fishing Access I was soon paddling upstream on this river's calm waters (photo at left).

Another kayaker had just exited the river and mentioned having enjoyed his hour or so paddle up to the rapids and back.    I proceeded to do the same, and not another soul was seen until I'd reached Burdickville Road...
 ...where a guy was fishing from the bridge.  The river gets very shallow here, and just above the bridge were the rapids the other kayaker had mentioned.

Along the way was this old medicine bottle...

...and this attractive camp site...
It's part of the Burlingame Mgmt. Area and had room for several tents.

This 3.5 stretch of river passes under the high speed rail line between Providence and New Haven at 2 locations.  This was the more easterly of the 2 bridges...
 
The trains running through this area are electric powered and the sound they make is less a rumble and more a whoosh.  Several were heard, but none seen.

Back at Bradford a small trash haul was beached...
...and I was off to the Mystic KOA in N. Stonington, CT with just enough daylight remaining to set up camp.

On Saturday morning the river Thames was explored starting from the Stoddard Hill Boat Launch in Gales Ferry, CT.  Don't look for any signs to this boat launch, as there were none that I could find.  It's close to Storybook Rd. and that's what helped me in locating it.  As launch sites go, it's a nice one...
 ...though at high tide it might be difficult to fit under the low railroad bridge.  Shortly, I passed under it and out into the Thames River, aka Mohegan River, aka Pequot River, aka Great River.  Whatever its name, it's a tidal reach of some 15 miles from New London on Long Island Sound up to the confluence city of Norwich, CT.  I paddled with the tide up the upper section of river and soon encountered Poquetanuck Cove entering from the NE.  I passed on exploring the cove concerned the rising tide might prevent my getting back under the railroad bridge.  Continuing upriver I reached the Route 2A bridge where the Mohegan Sun casino came into view...

After passing the casino, on the river's west side, I passed under another railroad trestle to gain access to Trading Cove (where Native Americans traded with Europeans)...
 ...and was rewarded with this view...
This peaceful cove was a haven for osprey...
 
...and egrets...
...and herons...


After experiencing this magical spot I turned around to see the majestic Mohegan Sun from this perspective...
Then it was back to the river and further upstream.

I passed the former American Thermos Bottle Company facility on the river's east side...
I've probably owned a thermos bottle or two made there.  The facility closed sometime in the 1980s.

Shortly I reached the head of the Thames at Norwich's Chelsea Landing...
To my bow's left is the Yantic River and Holly Hock Island.  To the right is the Shetucket River which I paddled into and up until running out of water near Greenville...
This was where a canal returned to the river (left) from a dam further upstream.  The original riverbed was all rocks with little water to the right.  This was my turnaround point.  Approximately 2 miles further up the Shetucket is the location where Mohegan warriors captured the Narragansett sachem Miantonomo in 1643.  A little further past that spot is where the Quinebaug River joins with the Shetucket.

In the shallow waters of the Shetucket large numbers of good-sized fish were seen.  Some that I recognized were carp and striped bass.  Others were unfamiliar to me, but several fishermen mentioned shad as a possibility.

Heading back down the Shetucket, this view of Norwich was enjoyed...

Back at Chelsea Landing I ascended the Yantic River a short way, passing the Norwich Harbor sign...
The sign notes the harbor as established in 1659.  The Yantic flows to either side of Holly Hock Island where a marina and wastewater treatment facility are located.  Near the island's upper end, I turned with the tide and began my trip back to Stoddard Hill.  Along the way, I stopped in a cove where this old wreck lies aground...

My modest trash haul also aground...
I'd had perfect conditions for paddling the Thames and after returning to the KOA campground I enjoyed a second night of tenting in perfect conditions.

My newly acquired recyclables were welcomed into KOA's well equipped recycling program.

Day three called for an early start in order to meet up with Capt'n Dangerous and Ellen who were down from the Adirondacks.  We were to meet in Old Lyme, CT at the Ferry Road Boat Launch on the Connecticut River.  They found the location AOK.  Me, not so much.  What should have been straight forward somehow got me completely disoriented.  Finally, I threw in the towel and entered the address into the GPS. 

At any rate, we were soon launching into the mighty Connecticut River near the point where it empties into Long Island Sound...
We headed downriver towards Griswold Point, passing under the long bridge carrying Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor...
The bridge was down to allow this Amtrak train's passage...

It was still slack tide when we reached Griswold Point and looked across the river towards the lighthouses on the Old Saybrook side...

Once the incoming tide got started we explored the Back River behind Great Island...
...causing fiddler crabs to run and hide...

Once back on the river proper we proceeded upriver beyond the Rt. 95 bridge and Calves Island.  With such incredible weather power boat traffic was increasing by the minute so we headed into Lord Creek where more tranquil waters were found...

On our way towards Lord Cove, near Goose Island, we encountered this immature eagle who'd also found serenity there...

There were small cliffs between Calves and Goose Island...

The skies above were busy with osprey, turkey vultures, and a few eagles. 

A small bit of brackish trash...
Mylar balloons proving, once again, that what goes up must eventually come down.

I still can't believe just how great the weather was these past three days. For late September in New England it was like a dream come true.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Summer's Last Afternoon on the Water

My work left me close to the Charles River on this last afternoon of summer, so I launched from Rt. 27 in Medfield and paddled through the Rocky Narrows.
 
On my way I encountered a green heron (at left).

A major construction project is underway at the Medfield State Hospital site and extends down to the water's edge...

These turtles had the right idea on this beautiful afternoon...

After passing through the narrows I turned about and begin heading upriver as the deep rumbling of an approaching train caught my ear.  Paddling past King Philip's Lookout brought me to the railroad bridge just in time to see two CSX locomotives pulling a good sized freight train...

Before landing at Rt. 27 I took one last summertime look downriver...

My last trash haul of the summer...
That's a lot of missed recycling opportunities for just 1.5 miles of river, and doesn't reconcile with recent television ads telling us we don't need an updated bottle bill because most folks have access to recycling programs.  Do the folks paying for those ads actually get outside and look around?  Maybe they just never look down.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

OARS Annual River Cleanup

Today the organization OARS held their 28th Annual River Cleanup.  Folks (and herons) all over the Assabet, Concord, and Sudbury Rivers helped to clean the waterways in their respective communities. 

I trash paddled the impounded portion of the Assabet River (above the Powdermill Dam) in the town of Acton...
The town line with Maynard can be seen in the distance.

While paddling along the shoreline collecting trash from the rocks and bushes, I came across this H.P. Hood milk bottle dated 1931...

Once my boat was fully loaded I returned to shore and began unloading and sorting the trash...
There were 97 recyclable containers (13 redeemable) and 46 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as Styrofoam, plastic bags, nip bottles, basketball, soccer ball, and a plastic tricycle.  YTD = 4561

The 24 containers that would be covered by our Bottle Bill if Question 2 passes are shown here...

While emptying my boat's rear hold, a stowaway was noted...
I've always heard that crayfish in a river or pond are an indicator of good water quality.  Hopefully his presence bodes well for the once degraded impoundment.

Other members of the Acton contingent worked the river downstream of the dam and they removed a good amount of heavy objects from the river...

The old milk bottle cleaned up nicely and awaits the milkman on my stoop...

 

Friday, September 19, 2014

Nashua River Above Squannacook

Paddled a new bit of the Nashua River today launching at Rt. 2A in Shirley.  Launching here is a bit challenging requiring one's boat to be lowered down a steep bank.  The use of a rope makes this task much easier and safer, especially if alone.  I'd used the launch site once before for gaining access to the lower Squannacook River which is only a short distance downstream.

After launching I headed upriver towards Ayer...
 It is a scenic stretch with relatively few signs of civilization.

One of those few signs...
Fortunately, there weren't too many of the above.

I've long been intrigued by the Native American named brook "Nonacoicus" when seen on maps. Today I finally got to paddle past its confluence with the Nashua...
It didn't look too inviting from a navigability perspective.  Nonacoicus is said to have meant "earthen pot" or "earthen kettle".

Another tributary seen today was Mulpus Brook...
What little flow it was contributing to the Nashua was crystal clear.

After paddling about 2 miles I reached the MBTA Fitchburg Commuter Rail bridge (near Macpherson Rd. in Ayer) just in time to see Train 418 heading inbound towards Boston...

At this location my vessel was run aground...
...until after lunch anyways.

The trip back down was pleasant with the afternoon warming nicely.

My trash haul for the day...
There were 34 recyclable containers (10) redeemable and 36 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as nip bottles, Styrofoam, and a Mylar balloon.   YTD = 4418

One interesting find was a 1938 D-Patent hobble-skirt coke bottle (New York) which looked surprisingly new after cleaning...