Monday, April 30, 2012

Full Ahead Slow on the Assabet River

Before ascending the lower 2 miles of the Assabet River this afternoon, I checked the inscription at Egg Rock to record today's water level.  Though the level has begun to drop again, it remains at an ideal level for paddling.
The blustery winds of the past few days were much tamer and temperatures were in the low 60's.
In addition to the usual wood ducks, mallards, belted kingfishers, and musquashes, there were these very recent additions to Team Assabet...
Ma and Pa seemed very proud and didn't mind my presence at all.

At the last blowdown before turning around, I encountered a floating television picture tube snagged by some loose wires.  Noting how nicely it floated, and since my direction would be with the current I decided to become a tug boat captain and tow it to the Concord DPW yard. Whereas yesterday when paddling in the Run of the Charles I asked my boat for all ahead full at maximum rpms, today it was all ahead slow at minimum rpm.

Pictured is the picture tube and other trash du jour...
There were 10 recyclable containers (2 redeemable) and 22 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam cups, a pillow, and the aforementioned picture tube.  YTD = 2190


Sunday, April 29, 2012

2012 Run of the Charles - Dedham to Brighton

The thing I was most proud of after completing this year's Run of the Charles was still having a hat on my head at the finish line.  On the stretch of river between Riverdale Park in Dedham and Moody Street in Waltham paddlers faced some very blustery headwinds.  Fortunately, those same unfriendly winds later became a welcome tailwind for the last 3 miles to Artesani Park in Brighton.

This was the 30th edition of the Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race. The event, hosted by the Charles River Watershed Association, celebrates the restoration of the river to the point where it can be utilized for many types of recreation. 

Above is a photo of the recreational class, in which I paddled, waiting at the start line.

Of course, while paddling in this event, I found myself wondering about the river's name.  Is it "Charles River" or "River Charles" and what might the Native Americans have called it?  Recently, I came across Captain John Smith's The Description of New England  written in 1616 and based on his earlier voyage in 1614.  He opens with this entreat to his patron:

"TO THE HIGH HOPEFVL CHARLES,
Prince of Great Britaine.
Sir:

O fauourable was your most renowned and memorable Brother, Prince Henry, to all generous designes; that in my discouery of Virginia, I presumed to call two namelesse Headlands after my Soueraignes heires, Cape Henry, and Cape Charles.  Since then, it beeing my chance to range some other parts of America, whereof I heere present your Highness the description in a Map; my humble sute is, you would please to change their Barbarous names, for such English, as Posterity may say, Prince Charles was their Godfather...."

The map he mentions shows the the river as "The River Charles".

Later in his Description of New England he provides the following:

"BECAUSE THE BOOKE WAS PRINTED ERE
the Prince his Highnesse had altered the names, I intreate the Reader, peruse this schedule; which will plainely shew him the correspondence of the old names to the new"

In the mentioned schedule Smith provides the old name and new name for 30 locations.  For the river many paddled today he provides the new name as "Charles River" and the old name as "Massachusets River".  I'm kind of partial to the old name, even if it is "barbarous".  After all, the river does lead to the homeland of the Massachusetts tribe.  Also, how can a river be named for a guy who never even saw it? 

When not thinking about such weighty matters, I did manage to scoop up a few pieces of floating trash "on the fly", so to speak.  They posed (out of the breeze) with this year's ROTC tee-shirt filling in for my still resting boat...
A lucky 7 bringing my YTD total to 2158
.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

History Made in Concord...Again!

For me, there was only one river to paddle this morning.  It had to be the Concord River and today's trash patrol was dedicated to the townspeople who dared to take what may, to some, be an unpopular stand.

It's been a little over 275 years since the historic events involving the Old North Bridge took place in the town of Concord, MA.  However, at last night's Town Meeting a ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles (one liter or less) was approved by voters.  Thus Concord becomes the first town in the United States to enact such a ban.

Also this morning, the multi-billion dollar bottled water industry and the Retailers Association of Massachusetts awoke to the proverbial good news and bad news.  Their good news is that, yet again, with help from their friends in the Massachusetts Legislature they've thwarted another attempt to include non-carbonated beverage containers in the state's bottle redemption program (aka bottle bill).
Their bad news is that 84 year old Jean Hill of Concord convinced many of her fellow citizens to re-examine the plastic water bottle issue, and after 3 years of discussion and thought, voters in Concord decided the negatives outweighed the advantages and enacted a ban on selling such single-use plastic containers.

Now, if the bottled water industry folks are looking for someone to blame, they need only look at their reflection in the mirror-like Concord River.  Had common sense been allowed to prevail years ago, and the bottle bill been expanded, it's possible this ban may never have come to pass.

So before paddling under the replica of the "rude bridge", I stopped to admire the Concord Minute Man statue...
 and thought about "the shot heard 'round the world".

This community now joins ranks with approximately 90 college campuses and the National Park Service's Grand Canyon in banning single-use plastic water bottles.

The bottled water industry doesn't see the need for such a ban.  In fact they like things just the way they are: they purchase a plastic container for about 90 cents, fill it with 16 ounces of spring water or highly filtered municipal tap water, glue a flimsy label on it, then ship it to "convenience" stores and gas stations to be kept cold until purchased by poorly educated consumers like you and me.  Of course at the time of purchase we think it's a value.  It's convenient, isn't it?  It's cold and light to carry and it's healthy H2O after all.  Once it's empty, however, we find ourselves carrying a worthless piece of trash that needs to be ditched.  We'd like it to be recycled but more often than not it goes into a trash barrel, or worse, gets left behind a tree, or under a bench, or perhaps in the river.  In our minds we hope that somehow it will be recycled into a new water bottle.  That way the loop is closed and we can get a good night's sleep.  However, this is a loop that never gets closed because new plastic water bottles are made from only "virgin" plastic and that means using more petro-chemicals,water, and electricity to make new bottles every day...a gross waste of resources that introduces more and more plastic waste into the environment.  Think of it as little more than "manufactured trash".  How can this be considered sustainable?

Other options that do close the loop are readily available to us: good old fashioned tap water in an insulated re-usable water bottle for a fraction of the cost.

Or, if you have to have "spring" water, sign up for home delivery of those 5-gallon (reusable) plastic jugs delivered to your home by bottled water companies and then fill your own insulated water container before you leave the house. 

The beauty of these two alternatives is that they don't result in mountains of disposable bottles.

By making such simple changes we can stop demonstrating over and over again the validity of P.T. Barnum's adage "there's a sucker born every minute".

Today's trash haul was collected in honor of Jean Hill and her eloquent way of asking us all to pause, think, and consider taking the long view...

The count of 41 recyclable containers (15 redeemable) and 19 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish was supervised by these two interested bystanders...

The section of river patrolled was from Egg Rock to Davis Hill and back.

Hopefully, folks in other communities will re-examine the bottled water issue and also consider taking the long view...

YTD = 2151

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Scouting a Bit of the Charles River (Pre ROTC)

With only 5 days left before the 2012 edition of the Run of the Charles (ROTC), I decided to scout the bit of the course between Route 16 in Wellesley and Route 30 in Weston.  I launched at the Norumbega Duck Feeding Area and headed upriver against a fairly strong current due to last weekend's big rain event.  Some residual effects of the storm remained in the form of ominous clouds, cool temperatures and blustery winds. The photo at left shows the dark-bottomed clouds above the Recreation Road ramp off of Route 95.  The clearance below this bridge has been reduced by staging related to a construction project.  It's about the same amount of clearance as the golf cart bridge, further upriver, provides.

Quite a bit of floatable trash was encountered along the way, and by the time I reached the parking lot below Route 16 some transloading was in order...


The hodgepodge included 83 recyclable containers (12 redeemable) and 52 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic-lined burlap bags (labelled sodium thiosulfate), bubblewrap, styrofoam blocks and cups.  The amount of single-use water bottles was significant and brought to mind how fearful the bottled water industry is concerning a proposed ban of such containers in the town of Concord.
Already, a few college campuses and a National Park have imposed such bans. To, now, have a town as historically significant as Concord enact a ban might cause folks all across the country to rethink the issue of single-use plastic bottles containing grossly over-priced drinking water.

With all trash secured, the trip back to Norumbega was a swift one and blue skies were winning the battle...
   YTD = 2091

Friday, April 20, 2012

Sudbury River in Wayland and Earth Week Stuff

This morning's patrol of the Sudbury River in Wayland proved challenging for anything trying to stay afloat.  The # 7 buoy, pictured at left, is losing the battle.  There was barely enough water to keep my hull from scraping bottom in places.  Hopefully, the rain being predicted for the upcoming weekend will remedy the situation.
After launching at River Road, I headed upriver and encountered 2 automobile tires in the first mile.  Also encountered were red-winged blackbirds, Canada geese, mute swans, great blue herons, killdeers, and many musquash such as this one...
This musquash seemed to be enjoying the low water levels, and I suspect the herons were finding better than average fishing since the fish had far fewer places to hide.

The Canada geese in this photo are enjoying some elevated water levels where beavers created a pond from damming Wash Brook...
They also get to enjoy a nice view of Nobscot Hill in the distance.

The Pelham Island Road bridge is undergoing some construction work.  This view is looking downriver...
On the bridge's downstream side is a newly constructed structure for carrying a pipe or conduit across the river.

My turnaround point was about a half mile upstream from the Heard Pond outlet where today's catch stretched out hullside on recently exposed gravelbar...
There were 30 recyclable containers (13 redeemable) and 28 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam, and the aforementioned tires.  Thanks to the Wayland Highway Dept. for helping to properly dispose of the tires.

This Earth Week also saw a Monday terrestrial walking patrol...

and a Tuesday trashpedalling of the Nashua River Rail Trail...

Totals for these two patrols were 26 recyclable containers (8 redeemable) and 20 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.
YTD = 1956



Sunday, April 15, 2012

Assabet River 'Round Orchard Hill

Temperatures in the 50's greeted this paddler early this morning upon launching into the Assabet River in Hudson at Cox Street.  The trip downriver to Gleasondale Dam was a slow one as there was quite a bit of trash along the way.  Things were nice and quiet until about 9:15 when gunfire erupted at the nearby shooting range.  Once started it never subsided and could be heard all the way around Orchard Hill.
Surprisingly, the wildlife seem used to it and wood ducks, painted turtles, Canada geese, red-winged blackbirds, and red-tailed hawks went about their usual business.  This turkey seemed particularly unconcerned...

Beavers were sleeping in after what looks like some recent hard work...



That's a good sized tree perhaps 16 to 18" in diameter.  Nearby, work has already started on two more big ones...


Perhaps Mr. Beaver is going to build a log cabin?

My trash haul for the day was substantial for such a short (1.8 mile) stretch of river...

There were 108 recyclable containers (30 redeemable) and 79 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as nip bottles, plastic bags, styrofoam, and plastic toys.  Today's 187 would be combined with these 15 picked up yesterday, while biking on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail...

 YTD = 1852


Thursday, April 12, 2012

A Bit of the Mighty Merrimack and Powow Rivers

Having a little business on the north shore this morning, I decided to do some paddling on the mighty Merrimack River in Newburyport and Amesbury, afterwards.  Another blog, Kayak the Merrimack, in a 10/10/2011 post had mentioned the Cashman Park launch site in Newburyport and its proximity to 4 islands in the tidal section of the river.

Upon my arriving at Cashman Park, skies were sunny and there was a light breeze from the north/northeast.  As launch sites go, this is one of the better ones I've run across (at least during the less busy times).  There is parking for both trailer towing vehicles and cartop haulers.  Another welcome feature is a clean portable restroom.
This photo is looking back at Cashman Park from near Ram Island...
 
Once I'd reached the river's north side, I headed upriver behind Ram, Carr, Eagle, and Deer Islands.  The tide was still ebbing some 4.5 hours after high tide.  Three ospreys and 2 red-tailed hawks were seen on and over Eagle Island.  After passing under the Spofford St. bridge, which is being rebuilt, I approached the Route 95 bridge (seen in the opening photo).  Those big puffy white clouds looked a little ominous.

Just before passing Salisbury Point, I saw this bald eagle soaring...

After returning my gaze to the shore, Lowell's Boat Shop caught my eye...

Their Web site states "A National Historic Landmark and working museum dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the art and craft of wooden boat building."  Many a fishing dory has been born inside those walls.

A little further upriver I came to the confluence of the Merrimack and Powow Rivers and passed under the center-wheeled bridge which carries Main Street over the Powow...

The river soon gets narrow and shallow as can be seen in this photo...
At the point where the Powow splits in two directions, I turned around.  Once back at the confluence, I went ashore at Alliance Park and enjoyed some lunch.  In addition to this location's pre-contact Native American significance, it also played an important role in the early days of shipbuilding as these two plaques attest...



The sunshine was fast giving way to much darker clouds and a rapidly building breeze as I relaunched my boat for the return trip to Cashman Park.  Shortly after getting underway, the skies let loose with a barrage of hail.  Sure glad I wore my winter gear including a hat with earflaps as those hailstones had some stinging power!
The hail gave way to steady rain as I approached the Spofford St. bridge...

The trip back downriver was much faster than the trip up and as I approached my destination, several claps of thunder inspired even more acceleration.  That'll teach me to never again complain about the lack of meaningful rain!

Today's modest trash haul would have no moment in the sun...
There were 6 recyclable containers (2 redeemable) and 16 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as styrofoam, plastic bags, a smiley face balloon, and 8 Hooksett disks.  These disks are from the Hooksett, NH Wastewater Treatment plant and are still being found 13 months after their accidental release some 40 miles upriver.
YTD (trash total) = 1650

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Sudbury River - Lee's Bridge to Sherman's Bridge

This morning's trip up the Sudbury River from the Lincoln Canoe Launch to Sherman's Bridge brought me past the mouth of Pantry Brook.  The photo at left attests to how much lower the river level is compared to the brook these days. Usually, at this time of year, the river and the brook are at nearly the same height.  On April days during many previous years, I've been able to paddle over the sheet piling dam into the upstream impoundment.  Meaningful rain will be most welcome!

Wildlife continue to return from winter locales such as these tree swallows...

And this killdeer...


Year rounders such as this busy musquash were seen out and about on the river...


There were also red-tailed hawks, red-winged blackbirds, belted kingfishers, blue herons, a great egret, mallards, wood ducks, and painted turtles.

Trash was fairly sparse with most being recently exposed by the dropping water level.  Once back at the Lincoln Canoe launch today's group of 34 posed hullside...
There were 15 recyclable containers (12 redeemable) and 19 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam, a flower pot, and some bubblewrap.  YTD = 1628

The canal leading into the boat launch is very silty and turbid lately...

Possibly the discoloration is due to the twin beaver lodges in the canal, and submerged traffic going in and out of the lodges?



Saturday, April 7, 2012

Assabet River in Pompositticut

The Assabet River was looking very nice this morning when I paddled from Russell's Bridge (White Pond Rd.) to Fort Meadow Brook and back.  The cool and calm conditions at the start gave way to cool and breezy conditions upon my return.  However, the sun was out the whole time so, I'm not complaining. 
Wildlife was plentiful with most being seen in the sky or trees above the river.  First there was this wood duck in a tree...

Followed by this Osprey enjoying a breakfast of freshly caught fish...

Higher up was this hawk...

and this turkey vulture...

Closer to the river was this blue heron...

At the mouth of Fort Meadow Brook today's batch of trash stepped out onto terra-firma...

A rather diverse ensemble: a snow shovel, plastic pail, bait tubs, nip bottles, a mylar balloon, whipped cream cans, and a wild-haired mermaid.  Breakdown was 10 recyclable containers (2 redeemable) and 28 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.

A terrestrial patrol near Fort Pond Brook in Acton with Mrs. Trashpaddler last Thursday contributed this bunch...
This group was comprised of 18 recyclable containers (3 redeemable) and 29 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.  YTD = 1594

While loading my boat back on my car, a fellow came along conducting a terrestrial trash patrol of White Pond Rd.  He was participating in the town of Stow's Cleanup Day.