Monday, October 28, 2013

The Charles Between Dams


Wanting to explore a new section of the Charles River had me studying my copy of Ron McAdow's The Charles River: Exploring Nature and History on Foot and by Canoe last night.  The section of river selected was the one he refers to as "Bays Region" between South Natick Dam and Cochrane Dam.
Early this morning I launched from Red Wing Bay in Needham, just above Cochrane Dam, and headed upriver. 

 
It was immediately apparent that there's still a little fall foliage left in places...


The cold temperatures required gloves which impeded getting at my camera in time to catch a photo of 3 white-tailed deer crossing someone's yard.

Fortunately, during this coldest part of the day, the wind had yet to awaken as can be seen approaching the Central Street bridge...

Further along was one of the longer straightaways paddled this morning...

Ducks (both mallards and wood ducks) were plentiful, yet I saw no hunters.

The largest concentration of trash was in the area of the Waban Arches which can be seen rising above Waban Brook...
The Waban Arches were built in 1876 to carry the Sudbury Aqueduct over the brook and thereby deliver drinking water to Boston.  I'm not sure if the aqueduct is still in use.

After paddling around the Elm Bank Peninsula I caught sight of someone's laughing choppers...
...actually on a stuffed animal of some kind.  They seem appropriate for this upcoming Halloween.

After rounding a few more bends I arrived at the South Natick Dam...
...where I turned around for the trip back to Red Wing Bay.  The wind was now very much awake and clouds associated with a passing cold front were rapidly moving in.

One nice touch noted on this stretch of the Charles River were signs such as this one...
...on most of the bridges displaying names of towns on either side, and the mileage from Boston Harbor.

My trash haul prior to classification...
There were 72 recyclable containers (19 redeemable) and 38 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish including a baseball helmet (appropriate considering the ongoing World Series).
YTD = 5490

Friday, October 25, 2013

Low Passage on the Sudbury

Skies were quite changeable over the Sudbury River today leaving little doubt that a new and colder season is upon us.  Glad I'd remembered to bring my hat with earflaps and a warm pair of gloves.
I launched at River Road in Wayland and headed upriver taking in the view eastward (opening photo) before reaching Rt. 20.
As with other rivers in eastern Massachusetts, the Sudbury River is very low on water and usually submerged piling stubs were on display at the old Central Mass RR trestle...

I'm not sure if it was the low water levels or the recent government shutdown that caused this old turtle to give up the fight...
 
 
 
Water channels deep enough for my kayak became increasingly hard to find behind Wayland High School and the # 7 buoy was high and dry...
 
 
The low water levels are also revealing some usually submerged commuter lanes for beavers...
 
 
At a spot above the outlet from Heard Pond which proved an ideal place to ford the river, my recovered castaways and I stretched out legs...
There were 52 recyclable containers (18 redeemable) and 40 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.  A couple of older bottles were: a Listerine bottle showing Lambert Pharmacal Co. and  stylish old 12 oz. Canada Dry bottle from the late 50's. 
Trash YTD = 5380
 
The trip back downriver saw blue skies returning at Indian Point...
 
Wildlife observed today were a red-tailed hawk, an osprey, a northern harrier, a blue heron, belted kingfishers, sandpipers, killdeers, cormorants, and a few ducks (real and imitation).
After passing Rt. 20 and en route back to River Rd. I came upon what looked like a duck festival.  Numerous floating decoys and a few others with wings in motion were staged in front of several well camouflaged hunters.  Here I was very glad that my hat with earflaps also happens to be blaze orange, and I'll plan to wear it for the duration of hunting season.   
  


Monday, October 21, 2013

Mt. Wachusett, Swift and Conn. Rivers

Driving home from the Connecticut River on Route 2 last night, and watching the "Hunters Moon" rise in the eastern sky ahead, I reflected on three nice days of exploring more nooks and crannies within my home state of Massachusetts.
Things got started in a way due to my having crossed the path, so to speak, of Mary Rowlandson while paddling the Millers River in Athol and Orange last week.  A large rock in the river called Rowlandson Rock is said to mark the spot where she and the large group of Native Americans who held her captive crossed the river in their journey to Northfield and the Connecticut River.  They would ultimately journey back east to Wachusett Mountain where her captivity came to an end at an even larger rock, called Redemption Rock, which Mrs. Trashpaddler and I visited this past Friday...
The inscription reads: Upon this rock May 2nd 1676 was made the agreement for the ransom of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson of Lancaster between the Indians and John Hoar of Concord.  King Philip was with the Indians but refused his consent.

Since it was a nice warm day, and realizing that we'd never been to the top of nearby Mt. Wachusett, we soon found ourselves hiking up the Pine Hill Trail to the 2000' high summit where we drank in a commanding 360 degree view.  To the east could be seen John Winthrop's "City on a Hill" aka Boston...

The next day, Saturday, found my boat and me heading west of Wachusett to the Swift River Valley at Cold Spring Road in Belchertown...
After launching on a cloudy but warm afternoon, I paddled upriver towards the flooded valleys of the Swift River's three branches: West, Middle, and East.  Damming the Swift River in the 1930's created Quabbin Reservoir which was needed to quench the thirst of that same "City on a Hill". 

Along the way I passed these remnants of the so-called "Rabbit Line" railroad which followed the Swift River Valley in connecting Springfield and Athol prior to Quabbin's creation long ago...

After passing a fisherman, I began to note how incredibly clear the water was and that numerous rainbow trout could be seen swimming (sometimes alongside my boat's bow).  The view upriver inspired me to paddle on...
...which I did until a little past Cady Lane where shallow/swifter water, a fellow fly-fishing, and approaching twilight turned me back downriver.  The spot was a mile or two below Quabbin Reservoir in the vicinity of the Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area and the state's McLaughlin Fish Hatchery. 

What remains of the Swift River today emanates from deep below the surface of Quabbin Reservoir and apparently provides an ideal environment for trout and those who enjoy catching and releasing them.  However there is controversy regarding this section of the Swift River above and below Cold Spring Road where the river is backed-up by an old dam in Palmer built back around 1900.  Apparently the dam needs to be either repaired or removed and the cost is considerable for each option.  Signs such as this one were numerous on and off the water...


 I was a bit surprised to find this much trash in less than a two mile stretch of this beautiful river...
There were 18 recyclable containers (6 redeemable) and 13 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.

Leaving the Swift River, at dusk, I headed further west to Holyoke and spent the night within sight of the Connecticut River.

Early the next morning, Sunday, I met up with my good friend Capt'n Dangerous who'd journeyed down from Adirondack Pirate Paddler country to join me in paddling another section of the mighty Connecticut River.  We started in Sunderland at Rt. 116 just across the river from Mt. Sugarloaf where we'd left off last June...
...and headed downriver under sunny skies and a blustery breeze out of the west.

Below Hatfield the river swings to the west and we slogged for 2 miles into that blustery wind.  Our reward was found waiting where the river's next bend provided shelter...

At Elwell Island State Park we paused for lunch under the old Central Mass RR bridge...
 
The bridge is now used to carry the Norwottuck Rail Trail over the river, though temporarily closed for repairs.  Route 9 is just beyond.

Downriver the Holyoke Range of hills loomed...
 
 
Atop Mt. Holyoke sits the Summit House now part of the J.A. Skinner State Park...
 
 
On the west side of the river were Mt. Nonotuck and the Mt. Tom coal-fueled generating station which, by the way, didn't appear to be operating...
 
 
Another few miles and Rt. 202 and the Holyoke Dam finally came into view...
 
 
Our takeout point was on the river's east side at South Hadley Canal Park.  In subsequent reading I learned that the South Hadley Canal was one of this country's earliest canals, dating back to the late 1700's and for awhile used an "Inclined Plane" technique to raise boats around South Hadley Falls where the river dropped some 50' in elevation.  A good description of this interesting technique can be found at the provided link.
 
Very little trash was encountered on this section of river.  Only a lucky 7...
 
Due to the river's water level receding (dam release?) we needed to cross 30' of mud to reach the shore.  By now it was 5 pm and we'd added another 24 miles of the Connecticut River bringing our total to 110 miles or about a quarter of the river's 400 mile length.
 
After the reverse shuttle, darkness was rapidly closing in.  The Capt'n headed to the north and west and I back to the east and that good moon rising.  




Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Paddling Pequoig Waters



I first saw the sign (at left) alongside Route 2A in Athol several years ago and have been wanting to paddle this stretch of the Millers River ever since.  My previous visits started downriver in Orange and I never got far enough upriver...until this morning when I launched from Alan E. Rich Environmental Park in Athol...
 
As launch sites go this is one of the best I've seen...
The park includes a map/description of the Millers River Blue Trail, a log book, a boat ramp ideal for canoes and kayaks, and hiking trails through the historic Cass Meadow.

While my intentions were to paddle, in a relaxed fashion, to specific locales on the river, many other paddlers visit this section of the Millers River in springtime to participate in this annual event...
Their trip downriver is a quick and wild one as can be seen in any of several YouTube videos.

After launching I paddled a short distance upriver through some shallows to the confluence of the Millers and Tully Rivers...
The view (above) is looking up the Tully from the Millers.  Here I turned around and began heading down the Millers.

The Indian Meadow area mentioned in the opening picture was reached near and opposite the Athol Wastewater Treatment facility.   This exhibit of nature's handiwork was on display by the meadow...

Below the railroad bridge I passed Rowlandson Rock named for Mary Rowlandson who was taken captive by hostile Native American forces during the conflict known as King Philip's War (1675 to 1676).  Near this spot it is said that a group of 2,000 Native Americans (men, women, and children) and their captives crossed the river on hastily built rafts thereby eluding a pursuing colonial militia who were unable to make the crossing.

After a straight section, and passing under the Daniel Shays Highway, the river passes through a series of bends.  Rounding one of these bends a group of 3 river otters were encountered.  This guy seemed to be the boss...
 They were patrolling the river less than a half a mile above my turnaround point at Cook's Cove...
 ...where the waters leaving Lake Rohunta enter the Millers via Mill Brook.

My return trip upriver started with passing through the area where the otters had been seen...
It was one of the prettier spots I paddled through today.
 
While there wasn't much in the way of sunshine today, there was no wind at all and temperatures were comfortable.

The trash I'd been collecting enjoyed some beach time on a small islet below the railroad bridge...
There were 44 recyclable containers (22 redeemable) and 78 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as Styrofoam cups, bait tubs, plastic bags, mylar balloons and nip bottles.  YTD = 5250

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Too Inviting Nashua River?

Yesterday's sunny skies and fall foliage drew many folks, including Mrs. Trashpaddler and me, to the Nashua River.  Unfortunately for one automobile driver who was temporarily distracted (according to news reports), his car decided to take the plunge into the river and disappeared into 20' of water.  The accident happened on Pepperell's Canal Street just upriver from the Pepperell Dam.  The driver was able to escape through his driver's side window which, fortunately for him, was open.
The above photo was taken from the Nashua River Rail Trail on the opposite side of the river and shows crews preparing to retrieve the car from the river.
 
Meanwhile our bicycles stayed on terra firma...
Only 7 pieces of trash were encountered along the trail.   Five of them were empty plastic non-carbonated beverage containers which might someday have a redemption value if we update our Massachusetts Bottle Bill. 

Sunday, October 13, 2013

No River for Deep Drafts



The day looked promising as I approached Egg Rock this morning.  I guess my mistake was putting on a pair of sunglasses.  That was it, the sun soon disappeared and didn't come back... not even for a curtain call. 
At Egg Rock the inscription was high and dry...
...showing that water levels in the SuAsCo basin are very low.

While passing through the Leaning Hemlocks I encountered this small turtle...
It's a type of turtle I don't recall having seen before.  So far, I haven't had any luck in determining what kind of turtle it might be.

With such shallow conditions, getting upriver of Spencer Brook and the old Reformatory RR bridge location required rock dodging and some occasional sand paddling.

It was upriver of that location that an old six-sided bottle and a large turtle carapace (of a plastic variety) were found.  Both can be seen on the right side of my trash haul...

There were 24 recyclable containers (10 redeemable) and 24 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as bait tubs, plastic bags, etc. 
Oddly, the old six-sided bottle was found floating (neck up)...

 
...no markings on it other than a small embossed 4 near the base.
 

Yesterday at the Lowell Road Boat Launch a couple of folks signed the citizen's initiative petition to update the Massachusetts bottle bill.  A quick terrestrial patrol produced 20 pieces of trash, some of which were displayed as samples of non-carbonated versus carbonated beverage containers...
 
 ...bringing my YTD total to 5128
 
 
On this past sunny and warm Friday Mrs. Trashpaddler and I pedaled the Norwottuck Trail...
 
 
...Belchertown to the Connecticut River and back.  The trail was found to be clean as a whistle and we were surprised to see that this order board signal at the Amherst depot still remains...