Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Another Pompositticut Daybreak




With the sands of summer moving fast to the bottom half of the season-glass, it was nice to greet such a warm morning as it dawned on the river.  The moon was still visible on my right as I paddled upstream on the Assabet from Sudbury Road in Stow.  Water levels are still quite high and the current remains strong and steady.  A pair of green herons were seen first followed by an osprey, a great egret, and this beaver heading home after a hard night's work...
Later, numerous wood ducks, blue herons, turtles, and mute swans would be seen.

The sun was just clearing the treetops and there wasn't a cloud in the sky as I continued upriver...

Just before reaching Rt. 62 in Gleasondale, this recent blowdown blocked most of the river...


One benefit of such high water was being able to paddle to within eyesight of the footbridge and dam...

The downside of the high water was all of the trash it has on the move.  There was a fair amount of it snagged behind fallen tree limbs.

High water may also have played a role in this bee's nest being broken...
A tree swallow kept trying to hover near the nest which was still buzzing with bees.  The bees soon had him flinching and leaving the area.  I'm not sure if he was after the bees, their honey, or the many berries around the nest.

Once back to Sudbury Road, I continued downriver to Crow Island and enjoyed this view...

The Assabet River flowing through Stow is the section that I find most pleasing to paddle.

In the backwater below the island an automobile tire was partially afloat.  It topped my haul for the day at 85 pieces and joined the rest hullside for a photo...
Today's haul was composed of 42 recyclable containers (11 redeemable) and 43 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as styrofoam, plastic bags, nip bottles, parts of a brute barrel, and the tire.  YTD total stands at 4934.  Thanks to the Stow Highway Department for allowing the tire to be added to their used tire inventory.
 

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