Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Paddling to Rock Bottom (aka Gleasondale)

With Old Man Winter still sleeping-in, it seemed a good opportunity to get in another outing on the Assabet River.  I launched at Sudbury Road and headed upriver to the area pictured at left which was once known as Rock Bottom.  Today it is called Gleasondale, but I'm left to wonder if there might have been a connection between the name Rock Bottom and the meaning of the Native American word for the river "Assabet" (possibly "rocky place").
As I paddled upriver, numerous ducks, Canada geese, and a belted kingfisher were encountered.  I was a little surprised, however, to see this eastern bluebird...

A short detour was taken into Fort Meadow Brook and I returned to its exit sporting a newly found plastic milk crate...

 Proceeding upriver I came upon this recently deceased musquash...
Couldn't see any obvious reason for his demise.

My boat and I went ashore at Rock Bottom for a cocoa break and took this photo of the day's cargo...
With a few more added on the downriver run, the day's total was 97.  There were 58 recyclable containers (18 redeemable) and 39 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic, styrofoam, etc.  YTD total = 254

Once everyone was back onboard we began the return trip and approached this spot which looks to be a natural place to ford the river...


For the remainder of the trip downriver the sun had emerged from the clouds and backlit the scenery ahead...

Coming upon 3 mute swans, this fellow was the odd man out and was gaining altitude as he approached...

Back at Whitman's Bridge (aka Sudbury Road) it sure didn't look or feel like January...



2 comments:

BaffinPaddler said...

Oh my gosh. You see so many interesting and beautiful things on your paddles.

But what a big haul on one paddle.

It is all the more beautiful without all the trash!

Cheers from Canada. And thanks for your inspiration.

I think of the Trash Paddler every time I see something left behind on a land or water trail that doesn't belong there. And I think, "I should haul that away. He would."

Al said...

Thanks Baffin Paddler, I see you're enjoying more typical winter conditions up there in the Ottawa area. Regards, Al