Solstice on the Assabet River

 

Yesterday's solstice sun was becoming obscured by clouds as I paddled back to the Assabet River takeout in Stow, MA.  Earlier in my paddle, and about an hour after the 10:58 am solstice, I encountered this eagle familiar to this stretch of the river...

 The eagle was gazing down upon this large congregation of Canada geese...

On the way to the Stow village of Gleasondale, several new homes are nearing completion by a bend in the river...

Upon reaching Gleasondale Mill the Route 62 bridge replacement project was noted to be moving at a faster rate with one half of the bridge span having been removed...

Proceeding past the bridge project afforded this glimpse of the waterfall above the mill's pedestrian footbridge...

On the way upriver quite a few photographs on Kodak paper were encountered floating in the water.  One photo depicts what I believe to be the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati...

Left me to wonder how and why the photos would've ended up in the river.  

Around 2 pm the day's earlier breeze subsided and blue skies began to take hold...

This hawk reversed positions to face the sun...

With less than two weeks remaining in December comes the realization that each paddle may be the last for 2021.  While more days like yesterday can't be guaranteed, I'd be grateful for just one or two more.  At least the shortest day of the year is now in the rearview mirror.

Trash gathered up along the way...