Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Skipper's Annual Report 2013

Back on the very first day of this year I looked beyond the tip of my boat's bow to a choppy Lake George in New York (above) and wondered what kind of waters I'd encounter in 2013.  Now I can safely say it was a year of very pleasant paddles on numerous streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and coastal ocean waters.

New waters visited for the first time included the Ashuelot River in NH, the Swift River in MA, the Otter River in MA, and Somerset Reservoir in VT.  Also, new sections of the Charles, Connecticut, Contoocook, Merrimack, Quaboag, Squannacook and Taunton rivers were paddled in addition to my usual haunts.

New confluences experienced were where the Asheulot meets the Connecticut and where the Otter joins the Millers.

Along the way I applied my brakes for 6294 (combined aquatic and terrestrial) pieces of trash and the composition of that trash was fairly similar to previous years:

Recyclable (but not redeemable) containers = 35%  (34 in 2012, 35 in 2011, 34 in 2010, 32 in 2009)

Recyclable and redeemable containers = 13%   (16 in 2012, 13 in 2011, 18 in 2010, 23 in 2009)

Miscellaneous rubbish = 52%    (50 in 2012, 52 in 2011, 48 in 2010, 45 in 2009)

In comparing the ratio of pieces of trash (aquatic only) recovered per mile paddled over the past 5 years I found the following:

2009 = 7.7 per mile (725 miles) (5584 pieces)
2010 = 12.4 per mile (511 miles) (6357 pieces)
2011 = 9.4 per mile (681 miles) (6410 pieces)
2012 = 9.9 per mile (643 miles) (6358 pieces) 
2013 = 8.6 per mile (686 miles) (5921 pieces)

The above is only my empirical data and there could be many explanations for changes such as more folks picking up trash and/or less folks littering.  Either way it's encouraging to see the trash per mile ratio decline.

My biggest haul (due to a plethora of Hooksett Disks) was from Ram Island in the lower Merrimack River...

...and the weirdest haul (mannequin's leg?) was from the Assabet River in Stow...

Four pieces of trash kept for sentimental reasons...
Left to right is a John Paul Jones whiskey bottle from the Assabet River, an ironstone pitcher from the Concord River, a "Squeeze" soda bottle and perhaps an old ink bottle, both from the outlet of Lake Wickaboag.

An additional highlight of 2013 was participating in the New Hampshire Appalachian Mountain Club Paddlers series of 6 trash patrols on the Merrimack, Nashua, Contoocook, and Squannacook Rivers.  The series was organized and led by Denise Hurt and on the finale we were joined by internationally recognized river advocate Marion Stoddart.

I also enjoyed participating in the OARS annual river cleanup closer to my home.               .

My most memorable day on the water was one in which 7 bald eagles were seen on a 9 mile stretch of the Connecticut River in my home state of Massachusetts.  This one stood out...


The closest I came to falling out of my boat was upon looking into this set of eyes while on the Annisquam River in Gloucester, MA...



Finally, as the waters 'round these parts slowly turn solid, I spend my days down at the depot watching train after train of wood pellets pass by en route to my voracious stove...

A Happy New Year to all my fellow aquatic and terrestrial travelers!
      

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Paddling with Clipped Wings


I thought my 2013 paddling season was over, but this morning's above freezing temperatures tempted me get out there one more time.  From the lower Sudbury River in Concord, I headed to Egg Rock and the Assabet River.  Unlike last week, when I was stopped by ice before the Leaning Hemlocks, this morning I was able to paddle another half mile before being stopped by ice at Dove Rock (opening photo).
After turning around I headed back downriver and encountered this hawk enjoying a meal of opossum (I believe)...
Not sure as to the type of hawk.  It's about the size of a red-tailed but the chest coloring looks different.

Next I headed down the Concord River, but ran into ice between the Mill Stream's mouth and the Old North Bridge.

Finally, it was back up the Sudbury River until stopped by ice upstream of Clamshell Bank (near Emerson Hospital).
Feeling hemmed in, I began my trip back to the takeout.  Near Route 2 this blue heron seemed to be pondering his next move...
Hope he's able to survive the blast of artic air predicted for this upcoming week.

As my last paddle of the year was winding down and I'd just passed the South Bridge Boathouse, I saw what I at first thought was another blue heron flying towards me.  As it got closer I realized it was an adult bald eagle and it flew only some 15' above my head.  I watched as it flew over Main Street and the commuter rail bridge before disappearing further up the Sudbury River.  It was the closest I've ever been to an eagle and a good way to close out the year.

My final trash haul was another sparse but lucky 7...
There were 5 recyclable containers (3 redeemable) and 2 pieces of rubbish.  Total for year = 6294

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Iceman Cometh

Yesterday, the first morning of winter, I awoke to temperatures still above 40 degrees and decided to see just how much damage last week's flash freeze had done to my local rivers.  After launching into the lower Sudbury River, I found open water to Egg Rock where ice has formed a tongue-like projection from its base where the Assabet and Sudbury rivers come together.  The Concord River was seen to be open past the Lowell Rd. bridge.  However, I decided to ascend the Assabet River where upriver progress quickly ended after going only 50 yards or so. The Leaning Hemlocks could be seen in the distance (photo above) but it would have taken considerable ice breaking to get there.  Instead I retreated to Egg Rock and began ascending the Sudbury River while following these hooded mergansers...


Approaching the Route 2 bridge the masonry work was seen to be deteriorating...


As Heath's Bridge (aka Sudbury Rd.) came into view things started to get crunchy...

...and all forward progress came to a halt just upriver of the bridge.  A fog-shrouded Fairhaven Hill loomed in the distance...
 
 
I returned downriver to my takeout location where this paddler's 2013 paddling season, more than likely, came to an end.  The last trash haul was a very modest one....a lucky 7 and brought the year to date total to 6287.  Of course, there's still a yearly report to work on and a hungry pellet-stove to feed.


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Winter Solstice in Annisquam



I suppose it was only appropriate that just a few minutes after the winter solstice one of Old Man Winter's coolest ambassadors would be encountered upon the rocks of Annisquam.  I'd paddled up the Annisquam River from a spot near Dun Fudgin' Landing and arrived at Annisquam Lighthouse just before the solstice at 12:11 pm...
I waited until 12:12 to snap the above photo of Annisquam Light and then turned about for the return trip.  That's when I saw the Snowy Owl gazing at me from the rocks.  After fumbling with my camera and having to make a quick battery change, the owl selected a better spot to pose...
I'd never seen one before and can only wonder what his/her presence portends.  Snowy owls have been making news lately by appearing at airports in Boston and New York.

For me it sure was good to be back on the water after enduring more than a week-long preview of just how bad winter can be.  Today winter haters such as myself got a temporary reprieve and enjoyed temperatures in the low 50's.  With my local rivers partly iced-over I decided to go tidal and was glad to have paddled upon the first high tide of winter.
  
Out on the river were numerous ducks such as common eiders, loons, mergansers, and buffleheads.

One of the few boats seen today was the working boat "Francesca and Carlo"...

Lunch was enjoyed on Wingaersheek Beach where finding a spot was no problem...

This elegant piece of artwork graces a riverside dock...

Before returning to Dun Fudgin' I paddled the Jones River behind Pearce Island and then to a small cove across from Stanwood Point.  It was there that things looked the most winter-like...
Chunks of floating ice were dodged as I entered the cove, and near the cove's head I encountered what may have been a coyote...
After he disappeared into the woods, I paddled over to my takeout near Dun Fudgin' where my modest trash haul enjoyed a moment in the sun...
There were 22 recyclable containers (3 redeemable) and 30 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as Styrofoam and plastic bags.  YTD = 6280
More than half of today's trash was found amidst the wrack where I launched.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

A Still Open Concord River

Most of last night's light dusting of snow had melted by the time I launched into the Concord River at Lowell Rd.  Above freezing temperatures and partly cloudy skies provided decent paddling conditions.  In fact, as I was preparing to get underway, voices were heard out on the river from a tandem kayak heading downstream.  The two fellows paddling told me they were heading to Lowell with a planned portage of the dam at Billerica.  They also mentioned (if I understood them correctly) their intention of paddling the last 2 miles of whitewater to the river's confluence with the Merrimack. 
I wished them good luck and watched them  head downriver...

They were soon out of sight, and hardly a ripple remained (opening photo) as I then headed in the same direction.

Just before the landing at Great Meadows I encountered this red-tailed hawk methodically plucking feathers from his next meal...
Later, on my return trip upriver the hawk was gone.  I examined the remains to find what seemed to be another hawk ensnared in the branches.

At Davis Hill and the long straight section of river I caught a last glimpse of the tandem kayak before turning about and heading back upriver...
Hope they made it to Lowell before running out of daylight.

Trash was on the light side today though I did recover an automobile tire near Great Meadows Landing. 

Soon I approached the Old North Bridge ...

Yet another blue heron taking a gamble by sticking around these parts...
If I had wings I'd be long gone by now.

My trash haul...
There were 18 recyclable containers (5 redeemable) and 9 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish including the tire and 2 mylar balloons.

I also include here the haul from last Thursday's scouting of a boat launch site on the East Branch Ware River...
This one had 7 recyclable containers (3 redeemable) and 8 pieces of rubbish.  YTD = 6228

On the way home I noted many vehicles carrying rooftop cargo.  However, unlike mine, their rooftop loads were of the shrubbery variety.

Hats off to the citizens of Concord for beating back another attempt to repeal the town's ban on single use plastic water bottles (1 liter or less)!

Friday, December 6, 2013

A Spot on a Map


That's how it starts for me...just a spot on a map.  Well, actually it begins by scanning Google Maps (terrain and satellite views) looking for a stretch of water that might have escaped civilization.  If something seems to fit that bill, I next visit the University of New Hampshire Library's online collection of Historic United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps of New England and NY covering the 1890s to 1950s.  The map pictured above is from a USGS map dated 1940 and shows a section of the East Branch Ware River wending its way between and around some hills in a part of Massachusetts once known to Native Americans as Naquag.  A comparison of the new and older maps revealed that little has changed in this area over the years thanks in large part to the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife having created the Savage Hill Wildlife Management Area, thus preserving 452 acres to the east.
More online research found mention of a canoe launch, and yesterday I decided to scout the location for a possible future exploration by boat.  The launch was found and looked quite inviting...

Because this location is about 5.5 miles southwest of Mount Wachusett I was hoping to see its 2,000 foot high peak looming on the horizon.  However with yesterday's low-hanging cloud cover there was little chance of that happening.
I next drove north to where the river passes under Route 62 and found nearby a small parking area for the Savage Hill WMA...

Hmmm...could this provide a trail along the river?  Donning my blaze orange hat and grabbing my camera, I followed this nice trail along an old stonewall...
Savage Hill ascends steeply to the left and the East Branch Ware River lies to the right.  Lots of fog, a chipmunk, and a pileated woodpecker were also enjoying the area.  Then to my right a splash was heard and I saw this fellow looking in my direction...
Just an otter doing what he oughta and asking "Where's your boat?"

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Paddling to Populatic Pond

I'd been wanting to experience the Populatic Pond section of the Charles River for awhile, and today's nice weather provided a late season opportunity.  Once again I referenced McAdow's guidebook The Charles River: Exploring Nature and History on Foot and by Canoe and launched at River Road in Norfolk where the Mill River flows into the Charles.  After paddling the short distance downriver to Myrtle Street I turned about and began my trip to Populatic.  I expected there to be some ice, and found that only the north end of the pond, where the river enters and exits, had open water (photo at left).
Before reaching the pond I passed by "The Buzzards Bay"...
...where my logo felt right at home.

I also stopped to admire the work of an artistic beaver...

Heading upriver from the pond I paddled a much narrower Charles River and came across the lion's share of today's trash before reaching this sizable barrier...
The blowdown was located about half a mile upriver from the pond. 
No sooner had I turned around than sunshine returned and began warming things up in earnest.  Lunch was taken at a nice spot where the river runs parallel to Populatic Street in Franklin...
The site included a rustic diving log for those inclined to take the plunge.

The day's trash haul included an empty ice-cube tray (unfrozen) which I'll take as a good omen and a can of "Soda Shaq"...
There were 65 recyclable containers (25 redeemable) and 54 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish. 
YTD = 6186.

I take comfort in realizing that the "100 day countdown till spring" begins one week from today.

Monday, December 2, 2013

December's Upon Us


If I lived in another time and had a line of traps to check, today would have been an ideal day to do it.  The Assabet River provided a great work environment despite the calendar showing that December is upon us....no wind and above freezing temps.
I launched in Stow at Magazu's Landing and worked my way upriver to Gleasondale.  On the way I encountered this pair of hawks enjoying each other's company...

Further along were mallards, wood ducks, Canada geese, and a kingfisher. 

One unfortunate discovery was this deceased woodpecker...

At Gleasondale I poked out from under Route 62 and looked towards the dam which I could hear but not see...

On the return trip downriver I entered Fort Meadow Brook and soon came upon this cozy spot where the stage was set, so to speak...
If the stage director was present I didn't see him, but decided this would be a good spot to turnabout and return to the Assabet (glad to have worn my blaze orange gear).

The same pair of hawks, seen earlier, were now to be found in a different tree, carrying on their conversation...

My trap-line yielded this modest (except for the glamorous MM) haul...
There were 20 recyclable containers (10 redeemable) and 17 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish. 
YTD = 6067   It was good to get MM out of the river as she wasn't at all dressed for immersion.