With my streak of 71 consecutive months paddling Massachusett's waterways in serious jeopardy, I decided to do whatever it might take to keep it alive. So with the necessary cold-weather paddling gear donned, my boat and I slid into the Sudbury River from a snow covered shore.
The weather conditions could best be described by the first lines of text on the memorial marker for George Bradford Bartlett...
"By the ancient hemlocks grim and gray, our boat drifts slowly on its way" The marker is located under the 'Leaning Hemlocks' on the Assabet River.
Prior to visiting that spot on the Assabet, I'd paddled down the Concord River from Egg Rock to Davis Hill and been pleasantly surprised by the large numbers of eastern bluebirds encountered. Capturing their beautiful shade of blue with my camera proved difficult as they wouldn't stay still very long. Eventually I caught this one lingering...
... and this one taking flight...
At one point I had a blue jay and bluebird in the same frame but was unable to click fast enough.
A small mink played peek a boo from the base of this tree...
Near Davis Hill this beaver lodge had a very wintry look...
The opening photo was taken near this spot and shows the view looking downriver towards Rt. 225. At some point before the bridge open-water gives way to ice.
Mallards congregated on Concord's Mill Brook...
Other ducks seen today were hooded mergansers and wood ducks.
A small haul of trash was recovered along the way...
There were 11 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 10 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.
YTD = 315
After dipping my paddle into the waters of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers today my streak has been extended to a 72nd month.
3 comments:
Glad you kept you paddling streak alive - we did pretty much the same thing yesterday
Sounds like you "Muskrats' were afloat at about the same time.
No need for bug spray or sunglasses.
I appreciate your commitment to your project. I could "feel" the cold in this post.
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