Scouting a Someday Portage

Got out on the Assabet late this morning to enjoy the after-effects from Sunday morning's torrential rains.  After launching at Magazu's Landing I headed downriver towards Maynard where the river is backed up (opening photo) by the Ben Smith Dam.
Reaching the dam I decided to scout the portage even though I had no intention of proceeding further downriver.  There's a nice takeout spot on the river's right side above the orange floats and once ashore there I followed a short trail around the dam.  The view back upstream from below the dam...

The bedrock, covered with moss in places, was once the floor of the falls...

Just a short distance below the falls is a nice put-in spot that would send a boater quickly downriver and under the Route 117 bridge...

However, since I had no plans to take the bumpy ride through Maynard I returned to my waiting craft and began the trip back upriver. 

By the foot of Russell's Bridge at White Pond Road this water snake caught my eye...

 

I believe it to be a northern water snake.

The Gardner Hill Conservation Land in Stow provided this idyllic spot to enjoy some lunch...

Once back at Sudbury Road I continued upriver to see if access to Fort Meadow Brook was available.  It wasn't, and I was surprised to see that determined beavers had totally blocked the box culvert...

Judging from the sound of pressurized water squirting through the blockage, my guess is that the water level must be high behind the blockage and further up Fort Meadow Brook.

 There were newly blossomed flowers along the river...

Trash consisted of the usual gang along with a deflated football, and a Mylar smiley face...