Sunday, May 10, 2015

More Nibbling on the Nashua

Buoyed by yesterday's 3 mile upriver paddle from Still River Depot Rd., I decided to give another try to a downriver trip from Rt. 117 Cartop Boat Access in Lancaster.  I launched late in the afternoon of what was an absolutely beautiful day.  

A tree across the path to the river from the parking area was not a good omen.  Sure enough, no sooner had I launched and headed downstream than I encountered this bank to bank blockage...

Being the eternal optimist that I am, a muddy portage was undertaken with hopes it would be the only one needed. 
Back in the water things looked good for another quarter mile or so until after rounding this bend...
...another bank to bank blockage loomed...

Here I pulled my boat out and scouted a possible portage.  It didn't look good with no path, tons of poison-ivy, and some feisty mosquitos putting in their first appearance of the season.
So, I turned around and backtracked to the first blockage where ample plastic trash was available for the taking...

Only made a small dent....

Drove home while the sun was setting...car windows were down and with a temperature of 79 degrees F. thoughts of our horrid winter were fading fast.

2 comments:

Dan F said...

Wish I had checked your blog first before heading out to paddle today. Put in at 117 on the Nashua this morning, turned around at the first blockage, and paddled upstream a mile until that, too, was blocked.

Drove up to the Oxbow NWR and paddled upstream, and was very grateful for the recent saw work on some of the downed trees. Enjoyed a fast ride back with the current.

Al said...

Hi Dan, Glad you salvaged a paddle from the Oxbow.
Those blockages below 117 are tough with no easy portage routes. Hopefully, they'll someday allow a sharp chainsaw to open a canoe-wide passageway!