Monday, July 4, 2011

Sudbury River - Little Farms to Saxonville

It had been awhile since my last visit to Saxonville.  In fact, since the ice cream plant ceased operations and put a stop to my once frequent commutes.  So, early this morning I decided to re-visit Little Farms Road and get in a trash patrol before the heat of the day. 
The launch area itself was good for about 24 pieces of trash before reaching the water.  After getting my boat launched, I headed upriver and found things quiet and peaceful.  Water levels have dropped quite a bit and the river is revealing all her secrets:  the bottom is littered with approximately 24 automobile tires between Little Farms and Cochituate Brook.  There is easily a dozen or more within 100' of where the brook enters the river.  One tire from the riverbank was lashed to my aft deck.

This was the view (above the surface) looking into Cochituate Brook...

Between this point and Lake Cochituate, at the bridge carrying the Old Connecticut Path over the brook, is a historical marker.  In all the times I've passed over the bridge, I'd never stopped to check it out.  So, on this quiet holiday morning, at the completion of my paddle, I drove to the bridge and examined the marker...
  It seemed appropriate subject matter for this Independence Day.

One very noticeable difference in the river since my last visit was the missing bridge at Danforth Street...
Oddly, the much older (pedestrian only) bridge remains.

The trip downriver was enhanced by a chance encounter with a raccoon family...
Mother raccoon seemed nonplussed and went about her business while one of the youngters was most curious...
Other wildlife seen were a blue heron, a hawk, a northern flicker, a musquash, and a healthy looking crayfish.

Back at Little Farms, the day's haul of 107 pieces spread-out hullside...
There were 34 recyclable containers (6 redeemable) and 73 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam, and the 3rd tire of the season.  YTD total stands at 3762.

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