Sunday, December 9, 2012

Exploring the Assabet River's Mid-Section

This morning I was joined by a small contingent of RICKA (Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association) paddlers on a downriver passage from Rt. 62 in Gleasondale to Ice House Landing in Maynard.  Putting in (photo at left) are Erik, Jim, Frank, Paul, and Tom.  The rain received Saturday morning had helped to raise the river nicely. 
Our trip downriver was pleasant even though the promised sunshine didn't materialize until the very end...

Just before reaching Fort Meadow Brook, we encountered two folks in a canoe heading upriver.  Our group passed through the box-culvert and entered Fort Meadow Brook.  It's not every day that this brook sees this much traffic...

After returning to the Assabet, we continued downriver and witnessed Erik's indifference to the large croc near his boat's hull...
 
 
Paul's boat provided refuge for a recently escaped blue-winged teal (decoy)...
 
 
Other wildlife seen today were mallards, blue herons, bluebirds, a cardinal, a red-tailed hawk, a possible kestrel, a belted kingfisher, mute swans, and an osprey.
 
At Crow Island an airplane was practicing takeoffs and landings just above us...
 
At Ice House Landing, Erik allowed me to try paddling his Bell Yellowstone solo canoe.  While feeling a little strange, at first, for this long time kayaker, I soon began to appreciate the benefits of paddling in a kneeling position, especially considering my lower back and sciatica issues.  A very nice boat!
 
Our joint efforts at trash recovery resulted in this collection of riffraff getting to bask in the late-arriving rays of sunshine...
 
 
There were 16 recyclable containers (11 redeemable) and 8 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as fishing line, a flip-flop, and a nip bottle.  YTD = 6704
 
Even though the clouds hung tough, this is still one of my favorite stretches of the Assabet River...





6 comments:

suep said...

sorry to hear about your back pain - I too had a serious bout with sciatica this summer. Physical therapy did the trick,and it wasn't the first set of exercises we tried that helped - (bending straight backward)(that hurt even more) - it was more of a hips-to-the-side exercise that worked for me. Everyone is different, but try different stuff, it just takes time.

Meanwhile -- Erik and the crocodile ! too funny.

Erik Eckilson said...

Great trip as usual Al - thanks for showing us around. I can see why it's one of your favorite sections of the Assabet. Few more pictures here - including you in the Yellowstone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9220083@N07/sets/72157632210593230/

Al said...

Sue, Thanks for the exercise tips and glad to hear they worked for you. I've got some from my PT regime that help. However, once the sciatic nerve gets going it seems to have to run its course. I'm a lot more careful handling 55-gallon drums than I used to be.

Al said...

Erik, Thanks for sharing your photos. I'll have to be careful that a certain, loyal and devoted, kayak doesn't see one particular photo.
Enjoyed your account at: http://eckilson.blogspot.com/2012/12/assabet-run-stow-to-maynard-december.html

Access to Lake Boon would be easiest from a state launch site on Sudbury Rd. While one can paddle fairly close to Barton Rd. there is no easy way to get up to the roadway from the lake's outfall. I paddled Lake Boon from the Sudbury Rd. access back on 7/23/12.

PenobscotPaddles said...

Great. Crocodile shot. Must be one of the "lake placid" gators heading south for the winter.

Al said...

PenobscotPaddles, Could very well be. Those "empty" eyes really creeped me out. Kinda like a shark's eyes.