Saturday, June 22, 2013

A Still Swollen Assabet

When the Assabet River is full and flowing fast, as it has been of late, it holds the right of way at Egg Rock thus forcing the Sudbury River to backup, spread-out, and wait.  Well, this morning the Assabet appeared to be relenting a bit and was finally allowing the Sudbury to pass on by. 
The inscribed rock at the confluence (Egg Rock) was fully submerged.  Compare today's view with this one of the same spot taken back in February when the whole inscription could be seen...
 Please try to ignore the other horrible states of water on display!

Ascending the Assabet brought me past a submerged Dove Rock and Willow Island to where the greenery seemingly came right down to the water...

These Muscovy ducks had taken to the trees in order to keep their feet dry...
 
 
Perhaps the smallest painted turtle I've ever seen...
...he was absolutely fearless and seemed to be saying "you want a piece of me?"
 
Reaching the confluence of Nashoba Brook and the Assabet, I went ashore and enjoyed this relaxing spot...
 
Pushing on still further I made my way up to behind the Thoreau School where I let the current swing my bow around, and then enjoyed the quick ride downriver.  It was on the downriver run that I saw the only other boaters today...two canoes...each paddled by a couple.
 
The high water levels of late had liberated a fair amount of trash from upriver...
There were 30 recyclable containers (5 redeemable) and 69 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish including plastic bags, nip bottles, fishing bobbers, and Styrofoam. 
 
This past Thursday Mrs. Trashpaddler and I continued our habit of bringing a bag and gloves with us while bicycling.  This haul is pretty typical of what we encounter...
Included are 11 recyclable containers (1 redeemable).
 
YTD = 3072
 



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