Sunday, January 13, 2013

Apparitions on the Assabet

There were many apparitions on the foggy Assabet River in Concord, MA today.  Willow Island (at left) was one, and a partially submerged (deceased) white-tailed deer (6-point buck) was another.  Numerous ducks also stepped into ghostly roles, as well as my boat and I when it was our turn.
The day started with visions of 50 plus degree warmth that never materialized.  Perhaps that's why boat #1 preferred to stay in cozy hibernation.  Fortunately, boat #2 jumped at the chance to ascend the Assabet River from near Egg Rock.  Though this was my 2nd paddle of the year, it was my first on local waters.

Approaching Egg Rock, while still on the Sudbury River, I encountered 2013's first piece of local aquatic trash.  Ta-da...
 
...a single-serve Poland Springs plastic water bottle...the exact type of container that is now outlawed in the Town of Concord.  Contrary to popular belief, Concord did not ban the sale of bottled water (as has been reported in numerous news articles).  What Concord did ban was the sale of bottled water in single-serve polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers holding 1 liter or less, such as the one pictured.  These containers have the unique ability to drop in value from $1.00 plus to absolute zero after just 15 gulps.  The vast majority of them do not get recycled, and even those lucky few that do can never be used in the making of new plastic water bottles.  Is there an award for "most unsustainable product"? 
 
At any rate the 'outlaw' was joined by others of its kind and many law-abiding containers during a trash patrol up to Nashoba Brook and back.
 
The double blowdown above Spencer Brook offered passage through an arched portal...
 
 
With some saw work the portal became a little more open...
 
 
 
The river level has dropped quite a bit since late December's rains...

 
 
Back at the takeout, the first local haul of the year posed on some still fairly green grass...
 
 
There were 24 recyclable containers (8 redeemable) and 46 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as nip bottles, plastic bags, balloons, footballs, and polystyrene containers.  YTD = 161
 
The Wachusett Octoberfest beer bottles served to remind how relatively close the Native American named hill is to the local (and also Native American named) Nashawtuc Hill.  On a clear day Wachusett might be visible from atop Nashawtuc Hill.  Today was not such a day!





2 comments:

suep said...

Wachusett Beer !
And left as trash !

[Insert photo of Crying Indian here.]

He's an old friend from the '70s:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_America_Beautiful

Al said...

Ah yes, my all time favorite Public Service Announcement (PSA) that aired some 42 years ago. Possibly the face that launched a thousand trash patrols.
Can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM, or just google "crying indian".
"Some people have a deep abiding respect for the natural beauty that was once this country and some people don't. People start pollution. People can stop it."