Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The Merrimack to Tyngsborough Bridge

Paddling under the Tyngsborough Bridge (aka "the Carpet Bridge") is something I've long looked forward to.  The weather forecasters had led me to believe it was going be relatively balmy today.  It wasn't.  But nonetheless it was pretty decent considering it's December.  While temps were on the raw side, there was no wind to contend with.

Prior to reaching the bridge, I'd launched into the Merrimack River at Southwell Park in Chelmsford, and the river level had dropped quite a bit since my last visit...

Once underway, I headed upriver and soon was paddling alongside Passaconaway's beloved Wickasauke Island.  On the island's west side this rock garden stands exposed...
 
On closer examination, several casualties of the propeller variety, such as this one, were seen...
 
Perhaps the once great Pennacook sachem is extracting some revenge for having been swindled out of the island.
 
After paddling about 4 miles upriver the Tyngsborough Bridge loomed ahead...
 
It really is a beautiful sight from the river.  The bridge was built around 1930 and just recently reopened after undergoing extensive repairs.  A temporary span built alongside is now being dismantled.  The opening photo was taken from the upstream side.  I'd always heard this bridge described as "the Carpet Bridge" due to the carpet business long located at the bridges east footing...
 
 
My trash haul for the day posed hullside back at the landing...
 
There were 26 recyclable containers (7 redeemable) and 26 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, a small propane cylinder, a syringe, and 2 more Hookset Disks (1023 disks TD).  Most of the beer cans recovered today were transients from New Hampshire and thereby not redeemable here in the flatlands of Massachusetts.  YTD = 6680




1 comment:

BERNIE said...

Nice bridge photo with mirrored image on the water.