Sunday, October 21, 2012

Assabet Awakening

Before ascending the Assabet River, I took a look down the Concord River from the confluence at Egg Rock (photo at left).  The day was just beginning.
On the Assabet things were calm and quiet.  About a quarter mile above the Leaning Hemlocks, a fox came into view as he patrolled the riverbank.  Once he saw me, he ducked behind a large tree with only his head in view.  Just as I snapped a photo he decided to head off in another direction...
 
 
As I approached Willow Island, movement was noted and this deer slowly materialized out of the low-hanging fog...
 
 
I watched as the deer successfully crossed the river without ever sensing my presence.  Two other deer would be seen further upriver.
 
Above Spencer Brook, this double blowdown required a short and easy portage...
 
The sun's illumination continued to build as I neared Rt. 2...
 
At the river's confluence with Nashoba Brook I turned around and headed back to my takeout.
 
Trash today was on the light side...
There were 12 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 18 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as styrofoam and nip bottles.  YTD = 5986
 
For all the ducks facing another duck hunting season, here's a link to one of their daffier brethrens' adventures.



3 comments:

Mark Mayall said...

That picture of the deer would have won OARS' photo contest last month, a shame the deadline has passed.

BERNIE said...

Nice Deer pic! I was on the shores of Lake Champlain on Saturday morning with a Rozalia crew (http://www.rozaliaproject.org/) for a few hours of litter picking along the shoreline.
There was a heavy fog such that I could hear geese flying by but could only see them when just overhead. Shortly before that I heard gunshots and though the duck hunters were probably better than a mile up the shoreline, I think I ducked (no pun intended). Wore my yellow vest till the fog lifted.

Bernie

Al said...

Mark and Bernie, Thanks for appreciating the photo. Seeing a deer crossing the river like that served to remind me that you never know what's around the next bend in the river!