Ice Art on the Assabet

 

The Assabet River's ice art was on display earlier this week following 5 days where the temperature stayed below the freezing point.  It was seen on the way upriver to Damonmill in West Concord, MA...

There were multi-layered ice shelves...

and...

 

...

Seething teeth...

and crystal-clear columns...

Finally this one stood out...

...and tempted me into getting perpendicular to the current in order to get a better photo.  This resulted in my taking a not-on-the-schedule Polar Plunge.  Fortunately I was dressed for immersion and able to get to shore.  Note to self: NEVER, EVER get perpendicular to the current in order to snap a better photo.  Sim card survived, verdict still out on camera.

Paid a second visit to the same general area of the Assabet yesterday under much milder conditions...

...and found nearly all of the ice gone.

Temperatures were in the upper 40s F. which may have caused this fly to awaken earlier than usual...

A pair of bony hands beneath the surface resulted in this bit of plastic...

It sort of summed up my week.

Trash gathered up included 6 miniature aka "nip" bottles...

Paddling past the Concord Reformatory's power plant...

...brought to mind the recent announcement of the facility being shut down by this summer.  There's quite a bit of property related to this facility which has been a prison since 1878.  Quite a bit along the Assabet River.

Disoriented On the River

 

Ordinarily I wouldn't gain access to the Sudbury River by launching into Heard Pond in Wayland, MA...but these are not ordinary times.  January is impersonating March and river levels are high enough that many bridges are short on headroom.  Thus, this past Thursday, Heard Pond gave me access to a good bit of the Sudbury River without having to navigate bridges.

After launching into the almost completely ice-free pond, a short paddle brought me to the pond's southern end where it was difficult to determine where the pond ended and river began...

Once out on the newly widened river the main channel couldn't be discerned...

It was disorienting to have many of the usual markers submerged and reminded me of the feeling one gets when enveloped in fog on the ocean.  Nonetheless, I was very happy to be paddling in January under blue skies with a temperature near 40 degrees F.

The Pelham Island Road Bridge confirmed I'd made the right decision in launching at Heard Pond...

The only ice I came across that day was on the far western side of the pond...

The following day, Friday, delivered more sun, less wind, and even warmer temperatures...45 degrees F.  I launched from a flooded Calf Pasture at Lowell Road in Concord, MA...

...and after visiting the fully submerged inscription at Egg Rock...

...headed downstream on the Concord River.  Enjoyed a hot cup of cocoa while just sitting in my boat riding the current which was moving me along at close to 2 mph.  The Old North Bridge had ample headroom...

...as did the Monument Street bridge around the next bend.  Nearly all of last Sunday's snow was nowhere to be seen.

The Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge impoundments could have been accessed by boat (though doing so is not allowed)...

...and the Dike Trail/Landing area was also submerged...

High water allowed taking a shortcut straight across the Holt rather than following the river's jog around it.  I emerged back into the river below Buttrick's Hill and came across this Common Goldeneye pair...

More rain last night was accompanied by even more milder air with temperatures near 60 degrees F. today.  Perhaps this is our "January Thaw"? 
 

Trash encountered Thursday on the Sudbury (in areas not usually accessible) included 104 miniature bottles (aka "nips")...

Trash found Friday on the Concord (in areas not usually accessible) included 15 miniatures...

Good article in today's Boston Globe by Beth Treffeisen about the Town of Plymouth, MA where  voters will decide whether or not to ban the sale of miniature alcohol bottles.  What would the Pilgrims have thought of these troublesome little containers being all over the place? 

Shoving Off Into 2024

 

Shoved off from shore on New Year's Day in Stow, MA and paddled the Assabet River under gathering clouds.  There was not a crystal of ice nor flake of snow to be seen.  Just the way I like it.  My hope is that a delayed winter will be a short winter.

A few hours later the clouds had dispersed and the afternoon proved a beauty...

The first person I encountered out on the river in 2024 was a duck hunter returning downriver in his kayak.  He reported having witnessed a spectacular sunrise several hours earlier. 

Two days later on Wednesday I launched into the Nashua River at Petapawag...

Here things were reversed with the morning's bright sunshine rapidly fading behind clouds.

One small island hosted this large nest...

An adult eagle was seen flying past the same island...

A fellow paddler I ran into at the boat launch mentioned having heard a deceased adult eagle was recently found in this area of the Nashua River.  I believe he said that birdshot was the cause.  If true, I can't imagine how one would feel upon discovering they'd mistakenly shot our national bird. 

Now three days into the new year, and after a few cold mornings, ice was beginning to take hold again in this large cut-off oxbow...

The first trash of the new year included one balloon and 7 miniatures...

Trash from Wednesday included 57 miniatures...