Breakin' the Ice

 

The past week provided several decent days for getting out on the Assabet and Sudbury rivers.  On Monday I launched in West Concord, MA and paddled up to Damonmill passing the above pictured rock along the way.

On Friday launching in Stow, MA required a bit of ice breaking...first time since last winter.  Despite most of the sloughs being iced-over the day was a beauty...

Sunday morning required even more ice breaking than I anticipated as I forgot that the Lincoln Canoe Launch is in a slough and as a result was iced over...

...despite temperatures in the upper 50s F.  Kind of weird!

Friday's paddle on the Assabet brought me up to the now finished Route 62 bridge in Gleasondale...

At the bridge's northeast corner there appears to be a place intended for the launching of small boats...

While at the bridge I took a peek at the no-longer used tail race from the mill...

Encountered one of the Assabet eagles four trees away from the nest...

...a good sign.

Sunday on the Sudbury River I got in what might be my last look at a fully open Fairhaven Bay...

Also came across these two stick-built structures:

I wonder if eagles use the beaver's lodge as a stick source-like going to the stick store!

Monday's trash from the Assabet in Concord...

Friday's trash from the Assabet in Stow...

Sunday's trash from the Sudbury River...

...which included 1 miniature alcohol bottle with a fitting name for being out on the river...

Near the boat launch in Stow someone left these trash bags at the base of a tree...