Trashpaddler: Three Streams in a Theme

On Monday the Sudbury in Wayland beckoned...

On Tuesday the Assabet in Stow called...

...and on Wednesday the Otter River in Gardner begged exploring...

The theme was plenty of clouds and plenty of water. Another theme to compliment the whole mood was my repeated playing of Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis on my listening device. The perfect soundtrack while paddling past this Canada goose atop a beaver's lodge on the Sudbury...

...and being escorted from the river into Heard Pond by this squadron of mute swans...

Remembering how beautiful this music was in the movie Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World it seemed only appropriate to hear it as I passed from the Assabet into Fort Meadow Brook's via the portal...

Once on the far side I paddled up to the abandoned railroad trestle and found a rare opportunity to pass beyond...

...to where an osprey nest stood tall...

...and its owner perched nearby...

A couple of heron? nests way up high...

While back on the Assabet this spring's cygnets stayed close to Ma...

Not to be outdone the Otter River had these tiny wood ducks...

While it was fairly novel to paddle into Heard Pond from the Sudbury and Fort Meadow Brook from the Assabet, my real exploring was done on the Otter River where new waters were being experienced for the first time and that's hard to beat.

Last week I'd explored the Otter River Headwaters paddling 3 miles upriver from Plant Road in E. Templeton. Yesterday my plan was to explore the next section of river downstream of Plant Road to the Cummings Conservation Area. Reading the Millers River Blue Trail Guide by the Millers River Watershed Association I saw mention of a 1/3 mile portage trail between the Otter River and Bridge Street. Thinking that launching from this trail would allow me to explore upstream and then back down, I scouted out the Cummings Conservation Area from the Bridge Street entrance. I followed a trail marked with blue ribbons but was never able to find any path leading to the river. So, it was from Plant Road that I started and headed downriver after ducking under the pipe-crossing...

...which had considerably less headroom last week.

Below Route 101 I came across a blowdown quite literally. From that point down, the Otter River winds its way with a wilderness look and feel. I passed under this frail-looking bridge...

...and was surprised when a vehicle actually drove across it.

The Pan Am Southern Railroad runs through the Cummings Conservation Area and crosses the river just before leaving it...

Ultimately I reached the old dam at Shoddy Mill...

...where there's no warning of any kind. Paddle past the pictured stump and you'll be airborne!

Back in the late 1800s the Otter River Company's 9 building mill complex straddled the river here. There are references to the site as R.S. Frost Co., Otter River Yarn Co., and Turner Shoddy Mills. It's said they manufactured horse blankets from shoddy or "rag-wool". All of the buildings are long gone with only the dam and some 1871? stonework remaining...

The mill's main building stood on the Templeton side where the only good landing spots are located. Unfortunately downriver travelers are greeted with a "shoddy" welcome...

At least I knew I'd be turning around and heading back upriver. Those planning to exit the river here would have to be creative.

The Blue Trail Guide shows a "Canoe/Kayak Access Point" being located before the dam on the east or Gardner side of the river. I did see a tree with some blue ribbons hanging from limbs but it didn't look like an easy spot to takeout or launch from. Perhaps water levels are just too high.

The Blue Trail Guide also shows a "Paddle Stop" (picnic area) being located within the Cummings Conservation Area, but I never saw any signs indicating its location. It may have been the spot with a fire ring at a sharp bend in the river where I did mange to pull out. If so, it just needs a sign.

On my return trip upriver the sun finally decided to put-in an appearance...