Monday, November 3, 2014

Down to the Wire on the Assabet

Todays paddle from the Acton Canoe Launch down to Egg Rock on the Assabet River could be described as a) a dress rehearsal for the upcoming winter; b) one last trash patrol before tomorrow's vote on the Massachusetts Bottle Bill; c) taking advantage of recent rains allowing passage through the dam at Damonmill.

Of course it wouldn't have been possible at all without Mrs. Trashpaddler being willing to provide a ride back to Acton.  I could get used to this downriver only business.

Starting out with temperatures in the mid 40s and still gusty winds left behind by our weekend storm required wetsuit use for the first time this season.  The Assabet River gauge was at 2.10 feet and that level provided just enough water to clear most of the rocks until past the skating rink where protection from the northwest wind was found (opening photo).  Despite the fact it was quite gusty, what wind there was seemed to be at my back for most of the trip.

Passage through the dam at Damonmill was relatively easy at this water level...

Popping into where the mill's old canal returned to the river provided a respite from the current and a nice view of the canal/mill...

Before I knew it Route 62 in West Concord appeared...

I guess it seemed only appropriate that a true sign of the upcoming season was recovered from the river today...

The rest of the trash recovered...
The biggest portion of today's haul wasn't Styrofoam cups (there were 2), it wasn't nip bottles (there were 7), it wasn't plastic bags (there were 6), it wasn't containers carrying a deposit (there were 14), it wasn't the neoprene huggie (there was 1 that said "Ever notice that cupid rhymes with stupid?"), it wasn't Mylar balloons (there were 2), and it wasn't Bernzomatic torches (there was 1).  The biggest portion of today's haul (and almost every trash haul I see) consisted of containers that an expanded Bottle Bill would provide monetary worth to...
Poland Springs (aka Nestle) plastic bottles, Gatorade plastic bottles, Arizona Iced Tea can, Snapple plastic bottle, Nantucket Nectars glass bottle, Starbucks glass bottle.  Sort of looks like an American Beverage Association sampler...aren't they the group shelling out millions to convince us there is no problem with litter today?  Maybe in the future they'll be telling us how plastic actually enhances the environment and provides valuable nutrition.   Please help reduce litter by voting Yes on Question 2 tomorrow. 

2 comments:

Lis said...

Sad to see people fooled so badly yesterday. Noted Market Basket was making fulk court press this weekend to defeat the expansion. Wish they and others were willing to spend that much helping the environment v trashing it.

Al said...

Hi Lis, I also noticed that Market Basket joined the No on Question 2 campaign, albeit towards the end.

I won't be holding my breath while waiting for the beverage/supermarket folks to commit any of their resources for getting plastic trash out of the environment.

Hope they prove me wrong.