This past week's paddling got underway on Monday morning with an aquatic squirrel encounter. The squirrel seemed unusually calm (for a squirrel) as he swam across the Assabet River in Stow, MA. After briefly checking me out he continued on his way...
Though I've seen swimming squirrels on a couple of occasions I still consider it a rare event. Later in the paddle (while rounding a bend) I surprised 2 young river otters that vanished like ghosts.
While paddling the Assabet River between Elizabeth Brook and Gleasondale this stretch seemed an example of this year's muted fall foliage...
Any thoughts of ascending Fort Meadow Brook were dashed upon seeing a partially blocked box-culvert...
On Thursday morning I was joined by Christa in Concord, MA...
...for a trash patrol on the upper Concord River. Back in 2011 Christa and her paddling partner Nancy undertook a 9-day/80 mile paddling journey from Newburyport, MA to Northborough, MA via the Merrimack, Concord, and Assabet Rivers. Their direction of travel required paddling upstream from start to finish.
While paddling on the Concord we came across 2 partially submerged trash bags containing empty plastic water bottles and what looked to be bundles of undelivered advertising flyers. A similar bag was found in this same area back in August. Perhaps all 3 bags had been tossed from the Monument Street Bridge.
We went down the Concord to William Brewster's October Farm where in 1910 this masonry structure was built into the base of Ball's Hill to house his canoe...
Water levels continue to fall as indicated by the Egg Rock inscription...
Got this peek of the Assabet with the Reformatory Branch Trail running along the right bank...
Yesterday morning I wrapped up the week by paddling another section of Christa and Nancy's 2011 route...the Assabet River in Concord, MA above Route 2...
...as far as Route 62 at Damonmill...
Trash from Monday...
...from Thursday's paddle with Christa...
...and yesterday...
It's raining as I write this and the amount of rain predicted should soon have the rivers rising again.