Bits of the Assabet, Charles, Merrimack and Nashua

 

Approaching the confluence of the Nashua and Merrimack rivers (above) on Friday it was hard to believe the month of November was upon us.  Not too shabby a start...with temps in the mid 70's F.

My week started on Monday with a paddle on the Assabet River in Stow, MA...

Came upon this beaver dam a short distance below Gleasondale...

...spanning the river at one of its narrowest points.

A blue heron stood proud...

On Wednesday I launched into the Charles River at Woerd Ave in Waltham, MA where some lingering foliage was still to be found...

A wood duck also provided some colors of his own...

Norumbega Tower from Stony Brook...

Another tower stands in the river amidst the many converging highway routes 95/90/30...

A small island in the Lakes District...

On Friday, after turning the page on my calendar, I launched into the Merrimack River from the Greeley Park Boat Launch in Nashua, NH.   Headed downriver under a moody sky...

 

Took a right at the Merrimack's confluence with the Nashua River and paddled upstream to where things got too shallow and I could see the Jackson Falls Dam in the distance...

A closer look at the waterfall...

Turned around here and drifted with the current under the river's final two bridges.  Bridge Street...

...and railroad bridge...

Also checked out the railroad bridge at the mouth of Salmon Brook perhaps dating to 1840...

...and the piers that long ago supported the bridge/rails of the  Boston and Maine's Worcester, Nashua, and Portland division...

...before heading back upriver to Greeley...

 Trash from Monday on the Assabet River...

Trash from Wednesday on the Charles River...

Trash from Friday on the Merrimack and Nashua rivers...