Moving Against the Current

Last Thursday I'd just finished paddling the mile or so of the Assabet River above the Powder Mill Dam in Acton and Maynard when I decided to take a look at the downstream side of the dam (above) before leaving the area.  After snapping the photo I saw a fish near the bottom of the falls leap into the air in an attempt to go further upriver.  He appeared to have re-entered the water about a third of the way up the falls.  I waited awhile in hopes of seeing another attempt, and recalled having heard recently that herring had been running up many northeast rivers.  Was the leaper I saw a herring?  I don't know, but seeing a fish leap that far into the air against an insurmountable flow definitely impressed me.  So much so that I returned the following day in hopes of seeing another attempt.  Watched for 10 minutes with no leapers.  The Maynard gauge stood at 3.5 feet on Thursday and had risen to 3.8 feet by Friday making successful leaps even more unlikely.

On Saturday, while out paddling on the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers and while returning to my starting point in West Concord, I encountered a fellow upriver paddler, Roger...

Roger mentioned he was paddling up to the Damonmill to see if it was possible to paddle through where the broken dam had been removed.  If he was game so was I, and it sounded like a worthwhile adventure on such a warm and sunny day.   We both worked our boats up to and through Westvale, and made it under the Route 62 bridge.  The water level must have been just right for my boat as I was able to hug the left side and make it past the old dam site for my first and perhaps only upstream passage. It hadn't been on my agenda for the day and I owe thanks to Roger for suggesting it.  I should also thank the leaping fish I'd seen on Thursday for providing additional inspiration.  I briefly celebrated my accomplishment with a view back downstream...

After mingling in Warner's Pond, the combined waters of Nashoba and Fort Pond brooks exited from one of the pond's two outlets...

Further down the Assabet Willow Island was submerged...

After reaching Egg Rock I headed up the Sudbury River and passed this recently expanded family of Canada geese...

By the time I returned to Egg Rock the day had warmed to the point that these intrepid souls appeared to be contemplating a plunge from the three rivers meeting spot...

Yesterday morning there was still enough warmth and sunshine hanging around to justify exploring a piece of the Nashua River...

...between Harvard and Lancaster.  This white-tailed deer was still sporting its dark winter coat...

At a spot where I've seen osprey nested in the past there were blue herons doing so...

High water levels allowed my seeing this waterfall from an unnamed tributary...

Lying along the river's edge was this deceased pike...

However, without a doubt, the strangest thing I saw along the river was this...

...brainy looking blob or perhaps just a mop head.