Saturday, December 26, 2015

A Strange Fair Haven

To say conditions on the Sudbury River were a little strange today would be an understatement.  The launch at Sherman's Bridge looked like it would on a Saturday in April, and was busy with boaters launching a variety of crafts.  I saw an electric-powered canoe and a gasoline powered TRYAK along with several bass-type fishing boats.

I headed downriver with plans to visit Fairhaven Bay.  Along the way I encountered several marsh hawks and this sun-worshiping blue heron...

Before reaching the bay I approached Lee's Bridge...
...and needed to decide which portal to pass through.  It was a fairly inconsequential decision and the low-clearance option was selected...
However, having recently seen the movie "In the Heart of the Sea"  I found myself thinking about how the officers and crew of the whaling ship Essex were faced with a far more crucial decision following the sinking of their mother ship out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1820.  They had no way to call for help.  No other ships were aware of their position.  They found themselves split between 3 small whale-boats and needed to decide in which direction to head in trying to reach refuge.  If, like me, you like a good seafaring story that's based on fact, you may want to check out this film while it's still in the theatres.  Check out the trailer.  Or even better check out the book the film is based on, In the Heart of the Sea, the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick.

I arrived at Fairhaven Bay to find unbelievable conditions for late December...

There was not even one crystal of ice anywhere in the large bay.  Four fishing boats were spread across the bay giving the appearance of a typical spring weekend.  One fisherman worked from his electric-powered canoe...

If this was the last paddle of 2015 it would make an ideal one for closing out the year.

Very little trash was found...


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Al,
I could not resist the exceptional day that was offered us.
May your paddle be at the ready come spring.

Mike in the green canoe

Al said...

Hi Mike, I wondered if that was you. Was anything biting out there in the bay? Happy 2016.

BERNIE said...

Happy New Year Trash Paddler and History Story Teller! Thank You for bringing us along for a vista view as well as an historical viewpoint.
Cheers,
Bernie, advocate for Green, Clean, and Community.

Al said...

Thanks Bernie and Happy New Year to you as well.

Anonymous said...

Not much biting that day.
The previous week I caught a couple nice largemouth bass.
Was thinking more of a recently departed fishing friend who left too soon.
Hope to see you in the spring.
Happy New Year.
Mike,
(In the green canoe)