Ipswich River Park in N. Reading

Today the winds finally let up a little and the early April sun made short work of warming things up.  As I drove west on Rt. 62, I decided to check out Ipswich River Park in North Reading to see if there was a decent boat launch there.  After finding such a launch, my boat and I were soon heading upriver from Central Street.

The section of the Ipswich River I was paddling today is the furthest upriver I've been, and beyond the boundaries of Masconomet's Agawam territory.    According to Ancient Indian Trails and Canoe Routes provided by the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds, this area may have been within the Pawtucket and Wamesit region (prior to 1630).

Just a little ways upstream of Central Street this garter snake was basking in the morning sunshine...

I would have thought the air temperature was still too chilly for reptiles.

Between Central Street and Chestnut Street the ghostly remains of yet another old Boston and Maine Railroad branchline were navigated through...

 

 

Those pilings once supported the rails of the Salem and Lowell Railroad.  This section was abandoned around 1939.

 

 

Upstream of the old RR bridge was someone's very humble abode...

 

After paddling through the large culvert under Chestnut Street my ascent was stopped by a blowdown before reaching the confluence of the Ipswich and Martin's Brook.  Now heading downstream with the current it wasn't long before I was back at the park where the river widens for a short distance...

 

 

It was in the section of river immediately downstream of the park that most of today's trash was encountered.  Once again, though, my progress was stopped after less than a quarter mile by another blowdown. 

 

Enroute back to the boat launch I came upon these three sun-worshipers...

 

 

As I exited the water a fisherman named Hal was just arriving and asked if I'd seen any fish.  I mentioned having seen several near the Central Street bridge, and after only a few minutes Hal caught this trout...

 

 

 

My trash haul enjoyed a moment in the sand and sun...

 

Today there were 22 recyclable containers (5 redeemable) and 20 poieces of miscellaneous rubbish including nip bottles, plastic bags, and an old shoe.  YTD = 1316

 

One unusual thing encountered today was a box offering use of a life preserver for anyone who may have forgotton to bring one along.  I have never seen this before.  It is a very nice gesture by someone inspired by an unfortunate tragedy...