Thursday, August 28, 2014

Quinsigamond's Upper Half

Having yet to explore the upper portion of Lake Quinsigamond, I launched early this morning from the Leo R. Corazzini Memorial Boat Ramp in Shrewsbury off of N. Quinsigamond Ave . The facility is a good one with ample parking, portable toilet, and a paved ramp.

Lake Quinsigamond is a natural glacial lake approximately 4 miles long that runs in a north south direction separating Worcester and Shrewsbury.

After launching I paddled over to the lake's west side at Coal Mine Brook and headed in a northward direction.  Trash along the shore was plentiful and at one point I encountered a fellow recovering redeemable containers using a remote grabber-type tool.  His patrol was of a terrestrial nature.
 
Arriving at the lake's north end I thought of historical records that mention Ephraim Curtis' 1670s trading post. It is said to have been located "on the Connecticut Road, to the west of the head of the Lake Quinsigamond".  It may have been located near the left side of this photo...
I passed under the Lincoln Street Bridge into a marshy area mostly covered in water lilies...

Sewall Brook and Poor House Brook flow into this area.  This immature hawk (red-tailed?) watched over the proceedings...

Returning to the lake proper, I passed under a busy Route 290 and, a still tree-covered, Wigwam Hill...
From this point south the lake's shoreline is mostly developed on both sides.

A group of 6 kayakers were encountered heading in the opposite direction...
The Route 9 bridge, under construction, can be seen behind them.

This power boat was being used for some kind of inspection along the shoreline...
Near Regatta Park a mute swan appeared to be shooing away a yellow duckie...

Just south of Route 9, Ramshorn Island Park proved an ideal spot for lunch...

I continued to the south to Kings Point, resisting this ice cream temptation along the way...



My trash haul for the day...

There were 50 recyclable containers (13 redeemable) and 87 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish that included a higher than usual percentage of plastic bags and Styrofoam cups.  YTD = 4138

Once again there were plenty of containers that presently are not covered by our state's Bottle Bill.  Single-serve bottled water, Gatorade, and Arizona Iced Tea containers numbered 32.
 

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