Sunday, April 24, 2016

Earth Day Exploit

I'd seen this area back in February when the Amtrak train I was riding approached and crossed the Housatonic River.  From the window I saw the river's expansive estuary leading to where it enters into Long Island Sound and knew I wanted to paddle these waters someday.  Once home I did a little research and discovered that the Housatonic River is 149 miles long making it the 4th longest river in New England.  One great source of information found online is A Paddling Guide to the Housatonic River in Connecticut published by the Housatonic Valley Association.  Very helpful info for the paddler planning a visit.

The area I'd be exploring once provided seasonal sustenance to the Wepawaug and Pootatuck Native American peoples.  The river was their transportation route connecting winter and summer villages.  Historian Wm. Howard Wilcoxson explained in his 1939 History of Stratford "Here upon the shores of the Sound they spent summer months in fishing and clamming...retiring in the winter months to the sheltered valleys of the inland wilderness where they secured their daily food by the hunters sport, and then in the spring of the year, they returned to their old seaside haunts."  Sounds to me like a great recipe for happiness.

On Earth Day morning I gambled that the predicted rain for late in the day would hold off long enough for my purposes, and drove to the Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area at the end of Court St. in Milford, CTFrom there I launched 3 hours before high tide (opening photo).  I spent the first hour paddling north and west around Nells Island before following the Housatonic proper out to and a little beyond Milford Point...
   ...to the lucky #7 lighted aid to navigation...
Like many other elevated structures in the river #7 did double duty as an osprey nest platform.

The day was a beauty and took on a summer-like feel.  Seas were flat with just a slight breeze from the south.

Several fishing boats including the Mr. Jake were working the area...
On this boat 2 crew members vigorously cranked a hurdy-gurdy type assembly to lift the traps out of the water.

Here I turned about and began what would become a 2-day upriver exploration of the Housatonic's 12 miles of tidal waters up to Derby Dam and the river's confluence with its largest tributary, the Naugatuck.  The incoming tide provided a nice assist and I found myself moving at 6 mph with only moderate effort.

In short order I was reminded to slow things down as my craft approached the busy Northeast Corridor transportation bottleneck formed by Route 1, Route 95, and the 4 track railroad bridge serving both Amtrak and the Metro North Railroad...

Traffic of all types zoomed noisily overhead while a major construction project occurred just below...

 
 
I emerged unscathed to a more tranquil setting alongside an eerily silent power plant...
 
 
This track vehicle was working on one of several low-lying islands on the river's west side...
...perhaps improving drainage. 
 
After passing under some very large power transmission lines I reached the Route 15 bridge...
 
 
The top of the tide was approaching and I would need to turn with it in order to make it back to the takeout while there was sufficient water.
While rounding Great Flats island just upriver of the Sikorsky Helicopter facility, I noticed a considerable amount of plastic flotsam on the river's east shore opposite the island.  With a good load of trash already onboard, I hoped to get some of it on Saturday when I'd be resuming my upriver trip from this point...
 
Made it back to the takeout 2 hours after high tide and found more than enough water.  It should be noted that this launch site is managed by the Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environment and intended for waterfowl hunting...
Best launching/landing times would be above mid-tide.
 
My modest Earth Day haul...
 
Clouds had moved in and with rain imminent I left with plans to find a night's lodging.  Hopefully, the rains would occur during the overnight hours. To be continued...

 





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