Thursday, October 18, 2012

Closing a Gap on the Ipswich River

In order to connect two sections of the Ipswich River previously paddled, a new section of the river needed exploring.   So, after launching yesterday morning at the High Street (Rt. 97) access point, I headed upriver passing the Topsfield Fairgrounds before gliding under the Newburyport Turnpike (aka Rt. 1) seen at left.  The Topsfield Fair (held earlier this month) is said to be the oldest agricultural fair in America dating back to 1818.

My destination was the Rt. 95 overpass located about 2.2 miles as the crow flies, or 3.6 miles as the river winds.
Not being sure if duck hunting season has started in this region, I wore my blaze orange hat and gloves to be on the safe side.  The many wood ducks seen on the river would be wise to do the same...

The further upriver I went, the more obstacles I encountered.  Four beaver dams needed to be crested along the way.  However, if it wasn't for some good soul's chain-saw work, my trip would have terminated early due to the many blow downs such as this one...

 Speaking of trees, this one looked as though it was getting ready to walk away...
 
 
 
Just when I was beginning to doubt the Rt 95 bridge would ever be seen, it finally appeared...
 
 
Now, I've paddled and experienced the Ipswich River from Norris Brook Area (just upstream of Rt. 114 Middleton) to the Willowdale Dam in Ipswich.  Following a celebratory luncheon on a sand bar, my boat and I enjoyed an easier trip downriver which included sliding down those same 4 beaver dams.
 
Trash was fairly plentiful in the area downstream of the fairgrounds, and also at what looked to be a popular fishing/swimming hole located between Rt. 1 and Salem Rd. 
Today's haul looked like this...
 
 
There were 59 recyclable containers (24 redeemable) and 53 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam. fishing line, and a beach ball.  YTD = 5956 (which also includes this small haul Mrs.Trashpaddler and I scooped up from the bike trail in Chelmsford on Monday)...




3 comments:

PenobscotPaddles said...

Once you get those wood ducks to pu ton their little caps and vests I want a picture!

Mike said...

Actually, the wood ducks should dress out in their camo hats and vests or "get out of Dodge" all together?

Al said...

PenobscotPaddles and Mike, While I'll never (most likely) get such a picture, I did find an image of a bullet-proof vest wearing duck. He's a well known duck and appeared in the 1943 "To Duck or not To Duck". Wikipedia has a link to an HD version.