Assabet River - Russell's Bridge to Gleasondale and Back

Today it was back to my local waters and time to make the transition from Maine to Massachusetts or from the realm of Wabanaki to that of Pompositticut.  The view at left shows the Assabet River in Stow and it stacks up fairly well to river views in Maine.  The weather was ideal.
This past Sunday, while in northwestern Maine I paddled up the Moose River, entered Halfway Brook, and paddled up it to a beaver dam just below a railroad bridge.  So today, it was almost deja vu to ascend the Assabet River, enter Fort Meadow Brook and paddle up it to a beaver dam just below a railroad bridge.
I had launched earlier at Russell's Bridge (White Pond Rd.) at the Maynard, Stow town line and paddled past several pairs of mute swans before reaching Fort Meadow Brook.  The price for entry to Fort Meadow Brook was to squeeze under this box culvert...

Once through, there is a large area of marsh divided into 2 sections by an abandoned railroad's causeway and trestle.  There is a large amount of debris piled up against the upstream side of the trestle and this is acting as a dam.  I don't know if it is the work of beavers or the accumulation of many previous years flooding getting caught on the trestle legs. The water upstream is almost a foot higher than the downstream side.  After pushing myself over the small beaver dam below the bridge, I approached the trestle and climbed up the embankment.  This is the view looking westward down the old Central Mass Railroad towards Hudson...

Obviously, trains have not been down this track in quite a while.  The ropes tied to the rails are holding hoses that were installed through the obstruction to allow the passage of some water.
This view is looking to the south across the flooded marsh.  Main and Chestnut streets (Stow) are in the distance...

Returning to the river, I continued upstream to Gleasondale and arrived there with 27 pieces of trash onboard.  Just below the Rt. 62 bridge, there were 3 forked tree limbs stuck in the ground to support fishing poles.  Around each one was a clutter of trash.  My count quickly climbed to 48 before beginning my return trip and grew to 54 by the time I approached Russell's Bridge and the takeout...

 Today's catch on terra firma ...

The total of 54 included 29 recyclable containers (16 redeemable) and 25 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as balloons, styrofoam, plastic bags, nip bottles, bait containers, and the large plastic tub.  My YTD total stands at 2751.
As I drove away from the bridge, there were some kids jumping off of it into the Assabet River.  I guess that makes it official that summer is upon us, once again.