Thursday, April 30, 2009

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Fairhaven Bay & Return

When I went to work early this morning I had no plans to get out on the river today. However, after crossing over the river on my way home from work I just couldn't come up with any reason not to do so. Shortly thereafter, I was launching my kayak into the Sudbury River and selecting "Slow Ahead" on the control panel. Before reaching Route 2, I watched an osprey sail across the sky, heading north from the Emerson Hospital area. At Clamshell Bank, I stopped for a brief lunch...

While eating, I thought about the thousands of clamshells that were found at this location and how it indicated native peoples habitation into the far distant past. I also found myself thinking about the most recent episode of the PBS series "We Shall Remain". The episode was titled "Trail of Tears" and was about the Cherokee people being forced to leave their ancestral homes and travel to lands west of the Mississippi River. The forced relocation was the result of a complex legal battle that centered on who had sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation lands. Competing for sovereignty were the Cherokees, the State of Georgia, and the Federal government. The U.S. Supreme Court got involved but wasn't able to decisively resolve the issue. Amazingly, a law called the "Indian Removal Act" was passed (barely) by Congress and subsequently executed by President Andrew Jackson. The Cherokee people were represented by their leader, John Ross who, oddly enough, was of 7/8 Scottish ancestry. He did an admirable job under difficult conditions. Another key person in the matter was a missionary, Samuel Worcester, who was from New England. After watching the program, and then reading about the principle characters involved, I can't help but think that this was the best and probably last opportunity for native peoples to maintain sovereignty over their own lands. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to do so.
Resuming my trip upriver, I paddled to Heath's Bridge arriving there with only 4 pieces of trash. However, some shore fishermen had left their day's worth of trash in a neatly tied plastic bag at the water's edge. I guess they figured their mom was going to drop by later and pick it up.
Leaving Heath's Bridge, I headed into a pleasant breeze and paddled past Martha's Point enroute to Fairhaven Bay. Reaching the bay, I took shelter from the breeze on the lee side of Brooke's Island, and decided to stretch my legs on the small island. At this large tree stump, I observed the remains of a duck or bird that had recently been ravaged by a predator...

Once relaunched I paddled out into the middle of the bay and then let the breeze push me towards this old stone boathouse...

After resisting the temptation to enter and take a short nap, I let the same breeze push me back downriver to my takeout location. My trash count for the day was 34 pieces. Of these, 14 were recyclable (12 redeemable) and 20 were misc. rubbish such as plastic bags, fishing line, etc. ...

YTD total stands at 1611.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Assabet River - Egg Rock to Pine Street & Back


The Assabet River proved to be an ideal location to drink in the midsummer like warmth during an afternoon trash patrol to Pine Street and back. After launching near Egg Rock I approached the Leaning Hemlocks and watched as a red-tailed hawk swooped down on a group of wood ducks. Fortunately for the ducks, the hawk came up empty taloned.
Shortly after the hemlocks, this muscovy duck crossed my bow (perhaps looking for a handout?)...


Upon reaching Willow Island I was greeted by a nice breeze out of the southwest. Wildlife was very active along the river. I saw 2 small herons that I believe were green herons. Also seen were great blue herons,red-winged blackbirds, cardinals, robins, small woodpeckers, mallards, Canada geese, musquash, beaver, a woodchuck and, finally, these three deer...

I believe it was a doe and her two yearlings. They were all very curious and the doe came a little closer while slowly stomping one of her front legs to the ground...

Then she turned sideways...

I began to pull back and was startled when an equally startled beaver tail-slapped the water about 3 feet from my boat. Oddly, the loud tail-slap had no effect on the deer. They just went about their business. This encounter occurred in a backwater located between Route 2 and the mouth of Nashoba Brook.
After passing under the Pine Street bridge, I turned around and let the breeze and current swiftly return me to my takeout location. My trash count for the day was 38.
Of these, 18 were recyclable and 20 were miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam, and a hanging plant pot. They all posed near the river...

My YTD total stands at 1577.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Charles River - Dedham to Brighton in Run of the Charles


As trash patrols go, yesterday's wasn't much more than a symbolic gesture. While I did help this one lone piece of flotsam complete its journey from floating in the river to a warm recycling bin in Acton, my main objective was paddling and portaging the 19 miles of Charles River between Riverdale Park in Dedham and Artesani Park in Brighton. The event, known as the 'Run of the Charles', is hosted by the Charles River Watershed Association and provides numerous ways for both canoeists, kayakers, and volunteers to celebrate a day both on and alongside a Charles River steadily regaining its former glory. The event consists of races that run the gamut from a 26-mile $ 5,000 Professional Flatwater Canoe Race to a 'bragging rights only' 24-mile Canoe Relay Race. For solo paddlers, like myself, there are three options: a 6-mile race without any portages; a 9-mile race having 3 portages; and a 19-mile race having 6 portages. The 19-mile event offers the non-professional paddler the longest journey through a wide variety of riverine environments but extracts a toll, of sorts, at the 6 portage locations. At these spots paddlers are required to exit and lift boats out of the water and up the riverbank where they begin carrying, wheeling, or dragging their boats the length of the portage. Then, it's lift again, place boat back into river and re-enter before resuming the journey. These maneuvers can be performed with athletic grace or comedic disaster. More often than not, it's a combination of the two! This year, I was lucky (unless, of course, a photograph surfaces showing otherwise) and was able to maintain some semblance of dignity. The very warm air temperatures limbered up my muscles and for a while I almost felt like I was 18 years old again. Of course that ended when, that night, I tried to sleep with a throbbing right shoulder!
Actually, however, I found the conditions to be fantastic: sunny and warm; ideal water levels; a headwind that provided some relief for the first half; many portages allowing for brief wading in the middle; and a nice tailwind to the finish line. It will probably be many years before those conditions are seen again at the 'Run of the Charles'!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Seek Ye Not Redemption in Massachusetts?


As I look at the composition of recently recovered flotsam it is apparent that the majority of beverage containers purchased nowadays are not redeemable and therefore have no monetary value in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The lucky few that are redeemable have a value so low that a large number of them go unredeemed, and our Commonwealth seems to benefit from that. Remember, the Commonwealth gets all those unredeemed nickels and it adds up to millions of dollars every year. It's possible the Commonwealth prefers that the deposit remain low and thus discourages redemption. If so, would this constitute a conflict of interest? Could such a thing happen here in Massachusetts?
Our Governor, Deval Patrick, has proposed, as part of his 2010 budget, a modification to the Bottle Bill that would apply the exceedingly humble 0.05 cent deposit to many of the beverage 'du jour' containers not presently included, and this will help things a little. It could help a lot, however, if the deposit was a dime, but that is probably asking too much. In fact, by the time the budget gets approved by the legislature his Bottle Bill modification may no longer be included. Such is the way things occur in our fair state. We musn't be hasty!
However, there is one thing the Commonwealth does fairly quickly and that is to develop new 'Scratch Tickets'. You name the theme and they have a 'Scratch Ticket' for sale. So while we're awaiting an updated 'Bottle Bill', how about developing an "Trashpicker's Dream" scratch ticket? This ticket would not be for sale and only be available at authorized 'Redemption Centers'. It would be given to those who bring in 100 non-deposit but recyclable containers. The ticket would be funded from the Clean Environment Fund which is, in turn, funded with the unredeemed deposits the Commonwealth receives. Think of all the litter that might disappear from the landscape at the hands of potential millionaires!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Charles River - Norumbega to Wellesley & Return

This weekend will see the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) coordinating two big events. On Saturday they will hold their 10th Annual Earth Day River Cleanup and on Sunday the 27th Annual Run of the Charles (ROTC) Canoe and Kayak Race. In anticipation of Sunday's ROTC, I trash patrolled the section of the river between Norumbega and the point where the event's longest portage ends in Wellesley. Hopefully, the CRWA won't mind my jumping the gun on the cleanup, as based upon my observations, there is plenty of trash for everyone.
I launched into the river at the Duck Feeding area and began heading upriver against the current and at times a strong breeze. The sun was in and out of the clouds and the temperature was in the fifties. In fact, today's weather was fairly typical ROTC weather. Sunday, however, will be quite atypical (if the forecasters are correct) and this paddler, for one, will welcome temperatures in the eighties.
After paddling under a multitude of highway and railroad bridges, I nearly had to duck in order to pass under this golf cart bridge leading to the 14th tee...

From this low bridge to Wellesley the river narrows and the current becomes noticeably stronger. Reaching the Wellesley put in, I could see the quickwater just ahead that had exited the Cordingly Dam. This made a good spot to land my boat and transload the 80 pieces of trash I had accumulated above deck. After this was done, I snapped a photo of the portage's last 75 yards or so...

On Sunday, there'll be less cars in the parking lot and numerous CRWA volunteers who will provide encouragement and directions to participants.
Now, with these positive images in my head, I began the easy run back downriver and was surprised to more than double the amount of trash recovered on the way up.
At Riverside Park, my boat was full to the gills, so it was 'everybody out'...

After the group portrait, I repacked the boat and found there wasn't room for even one more bottle. The count for the day was 185 pieces of trash. Of these, 125 were recyclable containers (30 redeemable) and 60 were rubbish (styrofoam, plastic bags, etc. The most egregious find of the day was a one-gallon plastic gasoline container that was nearly full of gasoline! Fortunately, the cap was on tight. Other odd items were a wooden nutcracker and a plastic motor yacht. YTD total stands at 1539.
Leaving Riverside Park, my kayak and I felt very small while passing under the series of high bridges in the vicinity of Rt. 95 and the Massachusetts Turnpike...

Monday, April 20, 2009

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Pantry Brook & Back

With all the activities related to Patriots Day occuring in the vicinity of the Old North Bridge this morning, I decided to head in the other direction and trash patrol the Sudbury River up to Pantry Brook and back. Launching into the river at 7:30 am, I began my trip upriver through some low-lying fog until reaching Heath's Bridge and the first trash of the day. Just downstream of the bridge were 10 pieces of trash that were most likely from last season. However, on the upstream side there was a fair amount of recently discarded material. New and old assembled on the beach prior to boarding...

Leaving Heath's Bridge, the sun began to break through the low clouds and through my ear phones was heard the recently added "Promontory" from "The Last of the Mohicans" soundtrack. Instead of Fort William Henry looming ahead on the side of a hill it was Fort Fairhaven...

The dastardly Magua would be wise to think twice before trying any mischief here lest the CCTV camera, mounted on the dock, reveal his movements...

Not a soul was encountered crossing Fairhaven Bay and about half way between the bay and the Lincoln Canoe Launch, I came upon this odd scene...

I stowed the pillow below deck and began heading towards Lee's Bridge, while wondering just how a pillow with pillow cover still attached could end up on the river's muddy shore. Before reaching any conclusions, I came upon a green trash bag filled with 4 more pillows. These four were soaked and heavy so they were kept on deck until I could land my kayak at Lee's Landing...

Here, I drained as much water as I could and squeezed them into the aft storage compartment. A red-tailed hawk circled overhead. Underway once again, I began seeing more ducks, mostly mallards and a pair of cormorants. Red-winged blackbirds and tree swallows were also plentiful. Reaching the mouth of Pantry Brook, I paddled up to the barrier and shortly a hot cup of cocoa was sitting on my table...

Following my 'mug-up', I started heading back downriver and found it fast going in places with a brisk wind at my back. In the vicinity of Martha's Point, paddling was hardly required, allowing me to admire the scenery...

Between here and my takeout location, was encountered the only other boat I would see, a canoe with two paddlers. It appeared they might be training for next Sunday's 'Run of the Charles' paddling event.
My trash count for the day was 45 pieces of flotsam. Of these, 22 were redeemable (recyclable) beer cans/bottles. The balance were wads of fishing line, plastic bags, styrofoam cups, pillows, etc. Hopefully, there isn't a mattress and boxspring floating out there somewhere!
YTD total stands at 1354.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Eagle Feathers Galore

YouTube has some amazing compilations of images set to music. One that I keep returning to is found here
It is the creation of LonelyMoonRise who is from Bucharest, Romania and was influenced by the fictional Native American character 'Winnetou' in German literature. It is set to the music from the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" (The Gael) written by Scottish fiddler, Dougie Maclean. I believe the last line in the movie was "Once, we were here." I like the way it links to the WGBH television series titled "We Shall Remain."

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Sudbury River - Rt. 27 to Pantry Brook & Return

I awoke this morning thinking that it must be close to the time of year that the Haynes Garrison House, near the Sudbury River, came under a fierce seige by Indians during 'King Phillip's War' 333 years ago. Of course, the fact that I just recently watched the first episode of WGBH's We Shall Remain series may have had something to do with it. The episode documented the descent from friendship into war between the Pilgrims and Wampanoags. Amazing to see how the mutual respect and loyalty established between Massasoit and Edward Winslow was destroyed by their respective sons, Metacom and Josiah Winslow, in just one generation. I decided to stop and check the monuments to the event on my way home from work. Just after passing the Wayland Country Club, I drove up to the old four-arch stone bridge that takes a narrow road to nowhere. At the east side of the bridge there stands a granite monument marking the spot where the men from Concord, who had responded to the alarm and fell into an ambush, were buried...

The monument shows the date of that event was April 21, 1676, so I am only a few days early.
The men were trying to make it across the river and wide marsh to the Garrison House located about a half mile to the west...

After turning away from the monument to head back to my car, this mess of carelessly discarded trash littered the ground...

It consisted of yards of masking paper, 40 nested Solo cups, and miscellaneous trash. The next person to visit the site will find it a little improved...

Upon arriving at the River Road boat launch, this little mink was curious as to my doings...

Once on the water I paddled over to and under the four-arch stone bridge where the monument is located...

I looked across the marsh to where the Garrison House was located and thought of those men's desperate but futile attempt to reach it.
Moving away from the bridge and Garrison House area, the river and marsh unfolded before me to reveal a beautiful scene. If Zorba the Greek had been with me, I could imagine him saying "Boss, we've got a splendiferous day for a trash paddle!" and he would have been absolutely correct...'twas! Wildlife was plentiful and trash was scarce. A group of 12 mute swans were enjoying this section of the river...


Following the river's many zigs and zags brought me to where this nice looking musquash lodge presented itself...

And shortly after, I floated under Sherman's Bridge and enjoyed the strong scent of creosote which I find quite aromatic. Another set of zigs and zags brought me to a beaver compound with two good sized lodges in fairly close proximity. The smaller of the two had been adopted as a nest site by a Canada goose...

Stopped at Weir Hill for a lunch break and then paddled the last bit to Pantry Brook. There, despite the relatively high water levels, the impoundment behind the barrier was not accessible. A new beaver lodge has been built just downstream of the sheet piling barrier and the new residents have decided to stop the brook from flowing into the river. Their recent construction work is evident near the staff gauge...

This became my turnaround point and I began heading back upriver with the northeast breeze mostly at my back. Other wildlife observed today were red-tailed hawks, red-winged blackbirds, mallards, wood ducks, great blue herons, gulls, a musquash, and a lone turkey vulture. Having once again enjoyed the fragrance of Sherman's Bridge, I paddled upstream to where this vista lay in front of me...

Near the Route 27 bridge I recoved about half of the flotsam I would see today. The stretch of river between Rt. 27 and Pantry Brook had been remarkably free of flotsam!
Reaching my takeout location a modest haul was displayed...

My trash count for the day (combined terrestrial and flotsam) was 72. Of these 3 were redeemable, 55 were recyclable, 14 were plastic bags, styrofoam, paper etc.
My YTD total stands at 1309.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Assabet River - Egg Rock to Thoreau School & Back

This afternoon's trash patrol on the lower Assabet River was the first of the year where my paddling jacket could be left in the car. At the launch site, I wasn't the only one 'messing about in boats' under the mid-day sun. Larry Z., a longtime local canoeist, was launching one of his lightweight wood canoes. He's been building and racing canoes for many years.
Once afloat in the river and past Egg Rock, I headed upstream on the Assabet. Passing my favorite faux coyote and noting his head was on right once again, I knew that all was right with the world...

Trash was plentiful on the way upriver as were sightings of wood ducks. Other critters observed were a red-tailed hawk, a small mink, a small snake that swam across my path, Canada geese, cardinals, mallards and the usual gang of Muscovy ducks.
Reaching Pine Street, I noted that the bridge project looks to be nearing completion...

My goal was to continue upriver to Damondale or Westvale but a blowdown/snag just past the Thoreau School stopped me about a half mile short. It would have been OK going upstream but may have been tricky on the way back down. The swift current flowing by at this spot made quick work of turning my bow downriver and soon I was retracing my paddle tracks back towards Egg Rock.
At Willow Island I saw a bottle in a small snag and upon retrieving it, noticed a very small hand sticking out from the branches. My paddle blade brought out a faux small child that soon had its small arm wrapped under a bungee for the ride to the takeout...

Once on land again, the gang of landed flotsam assembled for a portrait...

My count for the day was 106 pieces of flotsam. The breakdown was as follows: 62 bottles/cans (18 redeemable, 44 recyclable); and 44 pieces of rubbish (plastic bags, styrofoam, etc.). YTD total stands at 1237.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Concord River - Egg Rock to near Ball's Hill & Back

This afternoon's beautiful spring weather made for an enjoyable trash patrol of the upper Concord River. After launching into the lower Sudbury River I paddled to Egg Rock where the additional and swifter current of the Assabet River joins that of the Sudbury to form the Concord River. Between Egg Rock and the Old North Bridge I gathered up 15 pieces of trash mostly in amongst the trees where the high water levels allowed access. Before reaching the bridge I visited this stately beaver lodge located between Concord Lumber and the Old Manse...

Returning to the river's main channel, I paddled over to the boathouse for the Old Manse...

This is the view looking towards the rear of the Old Manse from the boathouse dock...

Next, I approached the replica of the 'rude bridge that arched the flood'...

This location will be fairly busy in about 10 days or so when the events that occurred here 234 years ago are remembered once again.
At Flint's Bridge, construction workers were busy working on the bridge repair project. I would later retrieve one of their hard-hats about a half mile downriver. Trash began to pick up downstream of the bridge. Most of the trash was on the east side of the river and was only accessible because of the high water levels. By the time I reached the Great Meadows Landing, I had more than 80 pieces of trash either under of or on top of my deck. While in amongst the trees, I did surprise a few wood ducks.
There were several other boaters on the river today. The triyak motored by and later Leon G. and two fellow kayakers paddled by as they returned from their trip to Fairhaven Bay.
A little ways before reaching Ball's Hill I turned around and began the pleasant trip back upstream. On the way, I encountered a belted kingfisher near Flint's Bridge.
Arriving at my takeout location my trash count for the day was 119. There were 45 pieces of rubbish and 74 bottles/cans. Of these, 26 were redeemable. It is often difficult to determine the redeemables because the deposit information is on the plastic label and most of the labels are missing. After disembarking my ship, the motley group posed in the sun for this portrait...

My YTD total stands at 1131.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Sudbury River - River Rd. to Power Lines & Back

With today being 'Opening Day' for the Red Sox and all, I decided "what the heck, it's a good day for a trash patrol"! Soon after launching into the Sudbury River at River Road, I watched the best weather of the day retreat to the east...

Heading upriver I passed under the bridge construction project at US Route 20 and noted how much the temporary span rumbles and actually moves when a heavy truck passes over it. Hope it lasts until the new bridge is finished!
Next came the old Central Mass. Railroad trestle and after passing under it, I could look to the west, up the Wash Brook marsh and see Nobscot Hill in the distance...

Further up came the Pelham Island Road bridge and Sandy Burr Country Club on river left. A little ways past the golf course, just where the river bends sharply to the right, I saw a creature moving quickly down a sloping bank and into the river. From a distance I could see it was about the size of a beaver, but the long tail was prominent, its hind quarter was arched and it sort of slinked along the ground. The only animal I have seen that moved that way was a river otter.
Between that spot and Heard Pond, I came upon numerous Canada geese, mallards, a few wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds, cardinals, a good sized hawk perched in a tree and a group of at least 8 mute swans.
Trash began to pick up shortly after passing this beaver lodge...

The bulk of today's trash was in the area before and after the sign denoting the Allen Morgan Avian Area. Came upon a bowhunter's arrow driven into a tree at the river's edge. It reminded me of how I've often seen deer in this stretch.
As I approached the outlet from Heard Pond, I saw the slinky creature again as he made for the water from the side of a small hill. This time I watched as he swam into a shallow backwater and then moved quickly through the shallows as if trying to catch a fish. Next he popped up onto the marsh grass and took a short cut to save going round the oxbow. While I'm not positive, I am fairly sure it was an otter. Much bigger than a mink. I have seen river otters in SUASCO waters only twice before. On New Year's Day in 2005, I saw a lone otter at Egg Rock and on April 7, 2005 I encountered a pair of otters a little downstream of Saw Mill Brook on the Concord River. Considering all of the signs warning of mercury in the fish, I wonder how the otters are doing healthwise.
The rain had started at around 11am and became steady as I reached my turnaround spot where the power lines cross the river. After a brief 'mug-up' of hot cocoa, I began heading downriver and at the outlet from Heard Pond, I noted that the river's water level might be high enough to allow me my first access to the pond. Cautiously, I threaded my way through the trees and came upon a structure that looked like a crude bridge...

Drawing closer to the pond's open water, I recovered about 6 empty bottles and finally emerged onto the pond where this group of mute swans were whiling away the day...

It appeared as though they were being buzzed by tree swallows but they didn't seem bothered and were making some sounds that I've not heard them make before. Almost like clicking sounds.
At this point the rain had stopped and skies actually brightened a bit. In fact, there was no additional rain until after I had made it back to my takeout location. Once there all of the rounded-up escapees exited my ship's hold and assembled for this group shot...

My count for the patrol was 111 pieces of flotsam: 86 bottles/cans (21 redeemable) and 25 plastic bags, coffee cups, balloons etc. Under our present 'Bottle Bill' this batch of flotsam would have netted only $ 1 dollar and a nickel whereas if all the bottles and cans had a nickel deposit (as proposed) it would have netted $ 4 dollars & thirty cents. YTD total stands at 1012.