Trashpaddler: Three Wishes on the Merrimack

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Three Wishes on the Merrimack

Some summerlike weather returned recently for an encore performance allowing for several enjoyable paddles on local waterways such as the Assabet, and Concord rivers. However it was my paddle this past Monday morning on the Merrimack River that was the most special. As the above picture shows clouds were just beginning to break as I paddled away from Southwell Park in North Chelmsford a little before 7 am. Sticking close to the shore brought this cluster of blue wildflowers in view...

Nearby a blue heron achieved perfect balance on one leg...

As I approached the Rourke Bridge...

...I thought wouldn't it be great if a freight train made its passage along the river...and shortly such a train's horn alerted me to one approaching from the west. A short wait resulted in witnessing this PanAm Railways locomotive 7534 pass under the bridge...

...pulling a long string of 80 plus cars en route to Portland ME.

Having my first wish granted I turned about and began heading upriver with a sweet summer-breeze at my back.

Passed this river-clean-up project vessel seen at rest along the river's east side...

Seems a well setup craft for retrieving all manner of trash from the river.

Proceeding further upriver I took the nearly mile-long Wickasee Canal...

...passing just east of its namesake island and noting the sign...

...which all visitors see before crossing the bridge to the island.

At the Tyngsborough Bridge some welding-work was being done on the west side...

With the workers on an aerial lift stationed close to the railroad tracks I figured any chance of seeing the Nashua local freight was slim to none...but soon the sound of a train's horn alerted me to PanAm Railways locomotive 503 bringing 20 or so freight cars down from Nashua...

They were doing about 10 mph as they passed Sullivan's Ice Cream. The tracks are quite close to the river in places...

So now I was two for two in wishes granted. Dare I expect a third...and then while passing between Wannalancet's grave site and his most favorite place, Wickasee Island, a bald eagle flew above the island and perched in one of its tallest white pines...