Monday, May 31, 2010

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Fairhaven Bay & Return

Mrs. Trashpaddler joined me this morning for a trip to Fairhaven Bay in our new two-seater.  It was the maiden voyage for this boat and it proved very adept at providing us close encounters with wildlife.
At Clamshell Bank this Great Blue Heron hardly took notice of our passing...
 Similarly, this Musquash was more concerned with getting his breakfast home than our presence...
 At Conantum this White-tailed Deer paid us little heed as well...
We watched it feeding for several minutes before it casually sauntered off.

On our return trip we encountered several canoes and kayaks in addition to the fishermen we'd seen on the way upriver.

As trash patrols go, today was a bust and that was nice for a change.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sudbury River - River Rd. to Power Lines & Back

This quiet Sunday morning was enjoyed while trash patrolling the Sudbury River from River Road to the power lines near the Allen H. Morgan Avian Study Area.   Construction at the Route 20 bridge is just about complete as the photo at left shows.  The area looks nice and the boat launch was being used despite the silt fence still being in place.

Trash was light until Indian Point and the outflow of Heard Pond where the numbers began to add up.  Most of what was recovered today looked pretty old and may have been repositioned by the March floods.

A little ways past the outlet from Heard Pond, I came upon this unfortunate male wood duck...
 
It appeared he was unable to fly and also had trouble keeping afloat. A female wood duck was just around the bend and seemed to be staying nearby.


Not too far away was this large snapping turtle with a head as big as my hand...
Other wildlife seen today were eastern kingbirds, red-winged blackbirds, belted kingfishers, tree swallows, robins, red-tailed hawks, blue herons, a great egret, painted turtles, and mallards.

On the return trip the river was much busier with folks fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

Today's trash haul spread out on a rare section of rocky (less muddy) shore...
The count for the day was 114 and it broke down as follows: 46 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 68 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as tennis balls, a softball, styrofoam cups/pieces, plastic bags, and nip bottles.  YTD total stands at 2710.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Concord River - Egg Rock to Fox Island & Return

Since today would be yet another with no ice cream production, I decided to trash patrol the Concord River from Egg Rock down to Fox Island.  You won't find an island by this name on any map, but I believe the island pictured at left is the one so named by Henry David Thoreau and his brother John after they spent a night camping on it back in 1839.
They had reached this point after rowing about 7 miles from the village of Concord.  Their journey ultimately took them to near Concord, New Hampshire and became the basis for Henry's first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.

After launching my vessel at Egg Rock I began heading downriver and passed the point where Concord's Mill Brook enters the river via this beaver built structure...
Between Great Meadows and Davis Hill some trash was recovered and as I approached Rt. 225 the river began to open up...
About a half mile below Rt. 4, Fox Island was reached and I went ashore near some of its granite outcroppings...
My passengers whom had been enjoying the shady comfort of the fo'c'sle also decided to disembark and stretch their legs on the island while I enjoyed some lunch...
After lunch it was "All Aboard" and we began our trip back to Egg Rock.
We were joined for a few miles by Bedford paddler Leon G. who was introducing his new Epic 18-X to the Concord River.  Leon let up on the accelerator long enough for me to snap this photo...
Arriving back at Egg Rock I unloaded today's catch of 42 pieces of trash.  There were 27 recyclable containers (7 redeemable) and 15 pieces of miscellaneous trash such as the Igloo cooler, plastic bags, and nip bottles.  YTD total stands at 2596.
The photo was actually taken back on a small beach in Bedford and doesn't show 7 late and unexpected entries...

It was probably just as well no ice cream was made today as it would have been pretty tough to keep it from melting in the 95 + degree heat! 

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sudbury River - Egg Rock to Sherman's Bridge & Back

You can probably imagine how devastated I was upon finding that my ice cream making client wouldn't require my services today.  Apparently, folks aren't eating as much ice cream.  Oh well, I would just have to make do.  With such a beautiful weather forecast, I started thinking of all the places I'd like to paddle: The Taunton River, purported to be the longest undammed coastal river in New England; New Hampshire's Great Bay; Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay; Boston Harbor; and of course one of my all time favorites, Cape Ann.  I hemmed and hawed and finally decided that I wanted more time on the water and less time in the car.  The camping gear was left behind as well as my watch and shortly after leaving home I found myself launched into the Sudbury River and approaching Egg Rock.  I should say 'we' as two passengers had booked passage on this trip...
 They rode in the fo'c'sle and seemed to enjoy the voyage.

After passing under a mostly trash free Heaths Bridge, I came upon this little guy out for his morning swim...
Who knew Chipmunks could swim all the way across a river?  There was no response when he was asked why.
Reaching Fairhaven Bay, I had it all to myself and there was no waiting for an outside table at the Brooke Island Bistro...
Sated after a great lunch, my engine soon propelled me to Sherman's Bridge which became my turnaround point for the trip...
 The return trip downriver was pleasant.  This Canada geese family split their parenting duties 50/50...
Trash wasn't too bad and the usual suspects were rounded up.  The count was 34 pieces of trash which broke down as follows: 14 recyclable containers (8 redeemable) and 20 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as styrofoam and plastic bags.  YTD total stands at 2554.  Oddest find of the day was a nearly full can of beer (encased in a nice 'chill holder' bearing a fishing motif) at the base of a shady tree.  Perhaps the guy was abducted by aliens?

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Assabet River - Egg Rock to Nashoba Brook & Back

Decided to trash patrol the lower Assabet River from Egg Rock to Nashoba Brook and take a look at the submerged dumpster found last week by the Karrs.  The opening photo shows the visible part of the dumpster as approached heading downstream.  It is located about 100 yards upstream from the Reformatory's treated wastewater outfall and is closer to the east bank than the west.  It is difficult to imagine how it came be in its present location.  Decals on the dumpster indicate it served a catering business located on Beharrell Street near Nashoba Brook.  My guess is that it was 'helped' into the flood-swollen brook back in March and was just buoyant enough to travel about 150 yards downstream.  Buoyancy may have been provided by the plastic bags of trash it still contains.  I would also guess it's size to be 1 or 2 cubic yards
 
On my way back to Egg Rock, I came upon this red-tailed hawk...
 I asked him to turn around and show his tail to the camera and he obliged...
Other wildlife seen today were blue herons, Canada geese, baby ducks, turtles, and Muscovite ducks.

Trash was plentiful today and included two automobile tires mounted on wheels.  Because they were still inflated it was possible to tow them back to my takeout location where they were left in the Concord DPW yard.   It is my hope that the DPW will be able to dispose of them.
The trash count for the day was 134 pieces and it brokedown as follows: 72 recyclable containers (14 redeemable), 62 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish consisting of a large block of styrofoam flotation, plastic bags, a dozen nip bottles, a frisbee, a plastic pail, styrofoam cups, etc.  YTD total stands at 2520.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Trash 'Mother Lode' Found in the Assabet River

About a week ago, David and Enid Karr of West Concord were boating on the Assabet River when they noticed a large submerged object.  David posted the following description on the http://www.concordma.com/ Discussion List: "On Saturday, Enid and I were enjoying the scenery along the Assabet River when we came across a bit more scenery than we'd counted on.  We spotted this item near the prison, upstream of the smokestack but downstream of Nashoba Brook.  I'd never expected to see one of these in the river.  I couldn't even guess what it was until we got almost to the point where I took the photo."  Enid clarified what the object was by saying "It's one of these, on its side, closed, but full and bulging.  Eeeeuuuwww!"
The Karrs wisely notified the Town of Concord and the dumpster company and report the authorities are working to have it removed.
Any trash paddlers encountering said dumpster, in the meantime, would be wise to heed Chief Brody's advice: "You're gonna need a bigger boat!"

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Assabet River - Cox St. to Gleasondale Dam & Back

 On this idyllic spring day there was no place I wanted to be other than out on this stretch of the Assabet River paddling through what the Native Americans called Pompocitticut.
Almost immediately after launching and heading downriver, this Red-Winged Blackbird proudly displayed his impressive epaulettes and senior rank ...
 He had his second in command paddle over to brief me on today's mission...
Other wildlife seen today were eastern kingbirds, 2 blue herons, a red-tailed hawk, a wood duck family, 2 Canada geese families, a musquash, and a huge snapping turtle dining on a green leaf.
Yellow Flag flowers are blooming ...
The shooting range in Hudson was unusually quiet today leaving me to enjoy listening to Mark Knopfler's new release "Get Lucky".  For the guys at the shooting range he sang..."You can still get gas in Heaven, and a drink in Kingdom Come, In the meantime, I'm cleaning my gun."

And in the title song ..."Now I'm rambling through this meadow, happy as a man can be, Think I'll just lay me down, under this old tree, On and on we go, through this old world a' shuffling,   If you've got a truffle dog you can go truffling,   And you might get lucky now and then - you win some,  You might get lucky now and then - yeah, you win some"   Today, I won some! 

Returning to Cox Street, everyone disembarked and smiled for the camera...
Today's haul totaled 88 pieces of trash that brokedown as follows: 32 recyclables (4 redeemables) and 56 pieces of rubbish consisting of nip bottles, the mate to last weeks elaborate wine jug, styrofoam cups, plastic bags, soccer balls, a windshield snow scraper, a milk crate, and possibly Manny's old sneaker.  YTD total stands at 2386.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Sudbury River - River Rd. to Pelham Island Rd. & Back

 Today's trash patrol was a return trip to the old railroad trestle just upstream of Route 20 in Wayland.  Nobscot Hill appears prominently in the western horizon and is pictured at left.  The beaver lodge close to this spot had a guest lounging on the front porch.  I wonder how the beaver family would regard this visiting water snake...
 Further downriver these sandpipers were out and about.  Not sure if they are lesser yellowlegs or greater yellowlegs and the third, smaller sandpiper may be a different type...
Other wildlife seen were turtles, blue herons, red-winged blackbirds, and a few ducks.
Most of today's trash was recovered from the pile-up behind the old Boston & Maine railroad trestle.  This is how it looked after today's work...
 This is the same spot back on May 4th...
 These tires and block of styrofoam flotation were floated down to the boat launch area at Route 20 and placed alongside the roadway leading to the launch...
 I notified the Wayland Dept. of Public Works and hope they will be able to properly dispose of them.  The remainder of the day's catch returned to River Road with me and posed for this photo...
Total for the day was 55 pieces of trash.  Breakdown: 28 recyclable (2 redeemable) and 27  miscellaneous rubbish such as the tires, flotation, a basketball, nip bottles, plastic bags, etc.  YTD total stands at 2298.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Essex River Race

Conditions looked good yesterday morning as our group of paddlers in the sea kayak class began following the Essex River's serpentine route to the sea.  The pesky breeze gave only a hint of what we would encounter after passing Conomo Point.
Upon entering Essex Bay and heading towards the northwest, we encountered the mighty power of Aeolus, keeper of the winds, and he was favoring only those heading in the opposite direction.  One of the gusts that whipped by us was later clocked in Boston at 37 miles per hour. 
My daughter was paddling in her very first race and doing a good job of defying the mighty Aeolus's power.  At one point he ripped her paddle right out her hands, but she recovered, lowered her head, and paddled onward. 
The post-race chowder tasted sweet for all the paddlers and rowers that completed the 5.5 nautical mile course.  Race organizers, the Cape Ann Rowing Club, noted that a record 150 boats were entered in the event; everything from paddle boards to 6-man seine boats. 
The only trash served up was one buoyant tennis ball that may have escaped from the cow-hide bag a crew member on Odysseus's boat was seen untying.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Assabet River - Cox St. Hudson to Orchard Hill in Stow

Conditions late this morning were just about perfect for trash paddling the Assabet River in Hudson and Stow.  It was my first visit to this stretch of river this year and also my first since the big floods of March. While there was ample trash it wasn't as bad as I had expected.  There was, however, a considerable number of plastic bags stuck to tree limbs, stumps, bushes. etc.
The usual gang of critters were present: red-winged blackbirds, a blue heron, eastern kingbirds, a few ducks, some small sandpipers, a musquash, and tons of turtles.
Just downstream of where the river hangs a sharp left to go around Orchard Hill, I came across this fireman's hat.  Most likely just a toy.  At any rate, there was no sign of Engine 7...
The obstacles across the river in this area sometimes require portaging.  Today, however, I was able to easily paddle around them and would have had clear sailing all the way to Gleasondale, I suspect.
I turned around near this beaver lodge and began the trip back upriver...
Back at Cox Street, the day's catch was unloaded from dry bags and my ship's aft hold...
The group in the forward hold escaped being in the photo by being very quiet. They were ultimately discovered while loading the boat onto my car's rooftop. The trash count for the day was 139 pieces. The breakdown: 52 recyclable containers (5 redeemable) and 87 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish (27 plastic bags, 21 nip bottles, a boat fender, an elaborate wine jug, and assorted pieces of styrofoam).
My YTD total stands at 2243

Friday, May 7, 2010

Sudbury River - Lincoln Canoe Launch to S. Bridge & Return

Sure was a nice day to be out on the river!  After launching at the Lincoln Canoe Launch near Rt.117, I trash patrolled downriver to Concord's South Bridge and then retraced my paddle dips.  The photo at left was taken on the return trip as I approached Fairhaven Hill.
A little further upriver, this Great Blue Heron appeared both graceful and majestic in flight...

Other wildlife seen today were red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, musquashes, turtles, mallards, and Canada geese.  Also saw several good sized fish rise above the water's surface for insects.
Today's trash haul was a modest 24 pieces that included large chunks of flotation (styrofoam), plastic bags, aluminum and plastic containers, and a Carson Irrigation Control box cover.  The box cover may have come from Nashawtuc Country Club which is just a little further upriver.  I'll hold on to it for a while in case someone wants it.
The breakdown: 6 recyclables (2 redeemable) and 18 miscellaneous rubbish.  YTD total stands at 2104.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Single-Use Container of Bottled Water - Friend or Foe?

 The subject of bottled water was debated by many this past week and opinions ran the gamut. The opening salvo occurred, appropriately enough, in the historic town of Concord, Massachusetts where town meeting voters authorized a new by-law that will outlaw the sale of single-use bottles of water.


My understanding is that the bill’s proponents grew frustrated with the state legislature’s failure to act on modifying the state’s very much outdated Bottle Bill. Now, in case you’re not from Massachusetts, you should know that our state legislators could never be confused with our famed Minutemen. In fact these state reps would have waited hours, or perhaps days, for favorable poll numbers before taking any risky action in April 1775. It is also significant to note that the three speakers of the Massachusetts house prior to the present one have all been federally indicted. The words lobbyist and malfeasance pop up over and over. When I see the esteemed group in session, all I can think of is the song “Send in the Clowns”. But I digress.

Concord’s bold vote against single-use bottled water was only a few days old when a coupling ruptured on a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) pipeline disrupting the supply of drinking water to 2- million people in the Greater Boston communities just to the east of Concord, and temperatures were in the 80’s. Affected residents had two choices for potable water; either boil tap water, or resort to the more convenient bottled water. Needless to say for the next several days bottled water in any kind of container became a most valuable commodity and Concord’s impending ban on what others were finding an essential item for survival looked unwise at the least. I wonder if the bottled water folks have stopped dancing yet! All the progress the "Take Back the Tap" movement had made was dealt a serious setback.

So is a single-use container of bottled water our friend or our foe? I believe the answer is both. There are clearly times when a single-use bottle of water is a good option. Those times are when the local tap-water is unavailable or not meeting the health requirements of regulating authorities. There are other times, however, when bottled water is selected only for its convenience, as opposed to bringing water from home.  After all, we’re basically lazy creatures. Walk by a soccer or baseball field after a game or practice and you will see how those single-use containers are handled once they’re empty. Those little plastic bottles don’t look so friendly anymore.

From my perspective the problem is obvious: the single-use plastic container has no value once it’s empty and therefore is about as close to ‘manufactured trash’ as possible. Bottled water’s cousins, sparkling water, soda water, and tonic water, all have a value when empty and the containers, as seen in this photo, are identical...

 How is it that our legislators can't see the inconsistency here?  Could it be the Mass Retailers Association and the Bottled Water Industry have their ears?  Or perhaps they just figure most folks are ignorant of the problem and happy to stay that way.   What's such a big deal about a few plastic bottles in the bushes, rivers, and streams?

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sudbury River - River Rd. to B & M Trestle and Back

 This morning was one those occasions where it was just too nice to pass up a quick trash patrol of the Sudbury River in Wayland.  I launched at River Rd. and paddled downstream to where the original course of the river passed under this old stone-arched bridge.  Finding only a few pieces of trash, I turned around and headed upriver and was pleasantly surprised to find very little trash between River Rd. and Route 20.  Skies were sunny and the air temperature was in the 70s.  Eastern Kingbirds and red-winged blackbirds were plentiful and I saw my first batch of mallard ducklings.
When I reached the trestle that carries the unused tracks of the Boston & Maine Railroad (Central Mass. Branch), I discovered where all the trash was being held captive...
 All but one of the passageways through the structure were blocked with a massive raft of driftwood and trash.  There were two tires, a propane tank, and a large amount of flotsam.  I concentrated my efforts on the flotsam and after about an hour's work, my boat was loaded.  Would have been a good place to employ the "Come Hither" but unfortunately it recently went yonder.  A replacement is in the works.
There were quite a few glass bottles today.  Considerably more hard liquor containers than beer or wine.
I arrived back at River Rd. just as the skies were clouding up.  The day's catch posed briefly for a portrait...

 The 111 pieces of trash brokedown as follows:  60 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 51 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as stryofoam, plastic bags, nip bottles, a cooler top, and fishing gear.  The fishing gear included clumps of monofilament line, bobbers, and a very realistic looking Slugo eel.  After including the 3 pieces from Sunday's paddle on the Essex River, my YTD total stands at 2080.