Saturday, June 30, 2012

Joint Trash Patrol of the Nashua River

This morning, I joined forces with Denise Hurt of the New Hampshire Appalachian Mountain Paddlers Club in trashpaddling a roughly 4 mile section of the Nashua River between Mine Falls Park in Nashua and Runnels Bridge in Hollis.  Denise is one of the club's trip leaders and an avid paddler.  The club has approximately 1500 members and represents all aspects of the paddling community.  After hearing about my trashpaddling activities via Playak.com, Denise invited me to join her on the water and demonstrate, first hand, my trash retrieval methods.
  
We launched from Mine Park's boat ramp which, by the way, was one of the cleanest I've seen, and headed upriver.  The wildlife community was present and accounted for in the form of ospreys, belted kingfishers, eastern kingbirds, red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, Canada geese, mallards, goldfinches, painted turtles, an oriole, a cardinal, a cedar waxwing, and a musquash. 
These young osprey were waiting for their next meal to be flown in...

We also passed this loving tribute to a man who'd apparently derived much pleasure from his time spent upon the river...

This really is a beautiful stretch of river.

Trash was very spotty at first but began to pick up as we neared Runnels Bridge...

Upon landing, just downstream of the short rapids for lunch, we were surprised to see how trashed this area frequented by shore fishermen was.  A fifteen minute terrestrial patrol more than doubled our haul and Denise was pleased with the improved conditions...
Once everything was properly stowed between our 2 crafts, we began the return trip to Mine Falls Dam and found the scenery none too shabby...
Smiles were on the faces of all who were lucky enough to be on the river (or the golf course) that runs along the eastern shore.  A spectacular day!

Stopping to gather additional trash on the trip downriver, Denise was not easily dissuaded, regardless of the obstacles...


Back at Mine Falls our joint trash haul was disgorged from our boats...

The combined effort netted 70 recyclable containers and 166 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish that ran the gamut from bait tubs and nip bottles to a broken tackle box and small inflatable boat.  YTD = 3673.

Thanks to Denise for showing me this part of the Nashua River and jointly trash patrolling it.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Another Pleasant Daybreak on the Sudbury River



Early on this stellar, late June morning, I picked up where last Tuesday's upriver journey ended near Sherman's Bridge (aka Thunder Road) in Wayland.  I'd no sooner launched and began paddling upriver, than I came across this white-tailed deer who was taking in the sun's rise...

Then around the next bend, a stand-up paddler was also enjoying some early morning time on the river...

This type of paddling (SUP) seems to be growing in leaps and bounds.

The river was its usual beautiful self all the way up to the old Central Mass RR trestle in Wayland, where I turned around and began the trip downriver...
 
Two other kayakers I encountered informed me that the Pelham Island Road bridge was not presently navigable by boats due to the construction work.

Most of today's trash was found in the area of Rt. 27 at the bridge and the nearby River Rd. boat launch.  By comparison, the boat launch at Rt. 20 looked trash free which is most likely due to the trash receptacle maintained by the group "Big Heart - Little Feet".

Back at Sherman's Bridge the day's haul spread out in the sun...

There were 25 recyclable containers (15 redeemable) and 20 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, and numerous "chip" packages.  YTD = 3437


I returned home to historic news relating to the United States Supreme Court's ruling on Affordable Health Care.  Listening to all the political posturing reminds me of when I was much younger and heard older family members grumbling about  that "goddamn social security" calling it nothing short of socialism.  Hopefully, it would be difficult to find many folks wanting to repeal the social security mandate these days.   

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Greeting the Day in Fairhaven Bay



A nice early start had me positioned to greet this day in Fairhaven Bay.  However, low clouds were hanging tough and, for the most part, muted the sun's entrance.  I had launched into the Sudbury River at the Lincoln Canoe Launch and paddled down to and around the bay, passing the small stone boathouse along the way...

Having completed the loop around the bay, I headed upriver passing under Lee's and Sherman's bridges.  The usual wildlife were encountered such as tree swallows, eastern kingbirds, red-winged blackbirds, mallards, Canada geese, belted kingfishers, a beaver, and numerous blue herons such as this one in stealth mode...

The shallow and grassy areas were busy with carp squirming about, their dorsals often protruding above the water's surface.

On the downriver trip, several yellowish birds were observed that I, at first, thought were goldfinches. However,  I now wonder if they were immature warblers or orioles...

This red-tailed hawk was very vocal while surveying his domain...

A modest amount of trash was encountered along a three mile stretch of river (and the launch area)...

There were 11 recyclable containers (6 redeemable) and 12 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, and the plastic pail.  YTD = 3392
 

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Visiting the French River in Oxford

This morning, some business brought me out to Nipmuck Country between Worcester and Southbridge.  Once those matters were wrapped up I looked for a new river to visit before returning home.  The French River sounded reasonable, and shortly I found myself at the Hodges Village Dam in Oxford.  This facility was built in 1959 by the US Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding.  Like other flood control dams, Hodges Village Dam only holds back the river during periods of high water, leaving the waterway close to natural the rest of the time.  After parking in the main lot at the east end of the dam, I wheeled my boat down to Bailey Bridge where there is access to the river.  Once launched, I took a look under the bridge and downriver towards the dam itself...

I then turned around and began heading upriver to the north.  It never ceases to amaze me how each river can have such a distinct look and feel.  The French River is no exception and is very pleasant, clean, and almost completely free of trash.

Of course, the Nipmuck people didn't refer to this river as the "French".   Early colonial records indicate they called it "Mayanexit" (possibly meaning "where the road lies").  It is a tributary of the Quinebaug River and the water I paddled in today will eventually reach the Thames River in Connecticut before emptying into Long Island Sound.

With the weather being a little on the warm side, it wasn't bad at all to do a little wading while portaging around blowdowns and an "up and over" at this beaver dam...

Once past the beaver dam it was clear sailing up to and a little ways beyond this bridge carrying the Midstate trail across the river...


About a quarter mile above the bridge, I turned about and began my return trip downriver.  I saw not another human soul during my time on the river.  There were, however, belted kingfishers, blue herons, red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, and a musquash or two.
Trash was few and far between...

Only 4 recyclables and 4 pieces of misc. rubbish.  YTD = 3369

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Spring's Last Sunrise on the Assabet River

Got out on the water a little early this morning in order to greet the spring's last sunrise.  Conditions were ideal and temperatures still quite comfortable, though it's predicted to get plenty hot later on.
I launched at Sudbury Road (aka Whitman's Crossing) in Stow and headed upriver towards Gleasondale.  At Fort Meadow Brook I couldn't resist entering and paddling up to the railroad trestle...

I returned to the river and was struck by just how peaceful it appeared...


Blue herons, belted kingfishers, eastern kingbirds, wood ducks, tree swallows, red-winged blackbirds, and musquashes were also awake and going about their business.

Nearing Gleasondale this beaver kept a wary eye on me as he swam past...
Oddly, he didn't deem me worthy of a tail-slap.

On the return trip, this fisherman was encountered who reported the fishing to be excellent!...


Also encountered were several recently installed buoys bearing the name of a new enterprise...

The related Web site indicates a canoe and kayak rental business which may operate at either Ice House Landing or Crow Island.  I'm not sure if it is up and running at this time.

Trash was nice n' lite today with the most egregious item being a child's diaper left at the Sudbury Road boat launch/fishing area...
There were 5 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 12 pieces of misc. rubbish.  YTD = 3361

I'll remember this spring fondly for the way it arrived so warmly back in March!
As a fitting tribute, I'll include this photo Mrs. Trashpaddler took of a lady's-slipper on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail on the last day of May...




Monday, June 18, 2012

Some Interstate Paddling on the Connecticut River

For the first half of its approximately 400 mile length, the Connecticut River serves as the boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire.  Over the past three days my paddle blades have been dipping into the waters of both states, as I visited sections of the river above and below Wilder Dam.  The opening photo shows the bridge connecting Fairlee, VT with Orford, NH.  A visit to this part of the Connecticut River was suggested by my friend Captain Dangerous of the Adirondack Pirate Paddlers, and we scheduled it for Sunday.
I decided to head up a day early and check out the legendary confluence of the Connecticut and White Rivers; aka White River Junction.  In addition to waterways, this confluence became a major meeting place of railroads and highways.  I drove along one of those highways, Rt. 89, to the exit just before the Connecticut River and began looking for the Lebanon, NH Public Boat Launch.  In preparing for my visit, I'd checked the Connecticut River Paddlers' Trail Web site  to find access points and was provided what turned out to be accurate gps coordinates.  However, none of the roads shown on my map connected with the location.  So there I was behind a busy shopping plaza mid-day on Saturday with no clear idea of how to reach the boat launch.  That's when I saw a fellow, sitting in a lawn chair at the edge of the woods next to a beat-up vehicle packed to capacity with belongings.  I asked if he could help me in locating the boat ramp and he kindly provided detailed directions and alerted me to the road's very deep ruts.  As we talked, I noticed his vehicle had a decal stating "It's a good day to be Indigenous".  I asked if he was Abnaki and he answered "part Navajo, part Blackfoot".  The front end of his vehicle was badly damaged and he wasn't sure how he was going to proceed.  It was fairly obvious that he was living out of his car and down on his luck.  Nonetheless, he readily helped this complete stranger. 
The ramp is just upriver from the point where the Macoma River enters the Connecticut.  After getting underway, I paddled into the Mascoma just a bit and encountered this little fellow swimming across...
I hoped his successful river crossing was a good omen for both the Native American gentleman and myself. 
Turning upriver towards White River Junction, I began working to overcome a stiff current of about 2 mph.  After about a mile and a half I approached the legendary confluence...

Getting out of the Connecticut's strong current afforded me the opportunity to drink-in this view of the White River...


With another confluence knocked off my list, my boat was again on my car's roof, and we headed north passing the most likely source of the 2 mph current, Wilder Dam...

The river is navigable for 40 miles above this dam.
My next destination was The Pastures Campground in Orford, NH, about 20 miles above the dam.  This campground was ideal for my purposes, providing tent sites conveniently located next to a ramp from which to launch kayaks or canoes into the river.  The campground also has kayaks, canoes and pontoon boats available for rental.  After setting up camp, I had time for a late-afternoon paddle and followed the campground owner's suggestion to head upriver to Jacob's Brook.  Before the brook enters the river, it meanders about with no discernable channel.  Exploring the many shallow backwaters allowed me to encounter these mergansers (?)...


A white-tailed deer was also seen dashing into the tall marsh grass.

The next morning, Captain Dangerous arrived and we quickly shuttled a vehicle down to Wilson's Landing before beginning our downriver journey at about 11 am.  Where Clay Brook enters from the New Hampshire side, this scenic covered bridge carries River Road over the brook...
Back on the Connecticut we stopped at the Roaring Brook campsite for lunch...
This would make an excellent stop-over site for folks traveling up or down the river.

The day was rapidly warming as these soon to be plunge-takers attest...
We couldn't see how they got up there as no ladder was evident.

The Capt'n approved of this vessel's flag and serpent...
By the time we reached the river's confluence with the Ompompanoosuc River, we'd practiced trying to pronounce it the same way twice, without much luck.  The actual confluence has been modified by a railroad causeway.  After passing under the RR bridge (with more plunge-takers) the crystal clear and shallow waters of the Ompompanoosuc were appreciated.  A nice boat launch is just a little ways in on the river's north side...
Ompompanoosuc is said to be an Abnaki name meaning "mushy/quaky land".  After the Rt. 91 bridge the river narrows as seen in this view looking upriver...
We returned to the Connecticut and paddled the last half mile down to Wilson's Landing where the day's journey ended.
The Capt'n then headed back to his lair in the Adirondacks, and I spent another comfortable night at my campsite.  On waking this morning, I decided to make another visit to Jacob's Brook and found slightly higher water levels than those found on Saturday.  This allowed me to get past the sandbanks...
 and in doing so, proceed up to the falls above Rt. 10...
Any paddlers making the trip up to this point should remember to bring a nickel with them for the return trip toll...
Enroute back to the river, these blue flag were encountered...

Upon emerging from the brook, this vista of "The Palisades" looms over the river...
The narrow strip of land at its base is busy conveying Rt. 91, Rt. 5, and railroad tracks all following the course of the river.

Returning to the campground my combined trash haul for the 3 days gathered in the sun...
There were 20 recyclable containers and 23 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.  YTD = 3344.

This little old Boston & Maine Railroad caboose in the nearby village of Ely,Vermont  reminded me that just as with freight trains, all good things must come to an end...