Encouraging Signs Along the Rivers

 

Closed out the month of April with some paddling visits to the Nashua River in Groton, MA (Petapawag), the Charles River in Dover, MA, and the Assabet River from Ice House Landing in Maynard, MA.

The Nashua River on a cloudy and calm Friday...

Rocky Narrows on the Charles on a breezy Sunday morning...

The Assabet River's Ben Smith Dam under yesterday's sunny but breezy conditions...

 

Paddled past 2 eagle nests, one on the Nashua River and another on the Assabet River.  The Nashua nest showed no signs of activity and I was convinced it was abandoned until, once home, I zoomed a photo and found that an adult eagle was inside the nest and keeping a vigilant eye upon me...

The Assabet nest, though smaller, revealed already-hatched eaglets when two small heads briefly appeared...

A blue heron near Broadmoor along the Charles...

Turtles are now out in good numbers and included this guy who dwarfed the others...

Ferns are shooting up...

The Assabet River allowed an unexpected visit into Thanksgiving Pond thanks to the bridge beneath the rail trail having been cleared of debris...

The small pond at the mouth of Taylor Brook provided shelter from the day's gusty breeze...

Trash from Friday's time on the Nashua River...

Trash from the Charles River on Sunday...

...included this premium ice cream container from the "LITTLEST state"...

...and this ale can named for the "Long Trail"...

...showing that trash gets around.

The very small amount of trash found on the Assabet River yesterday...

Earth Day Harvest of Snagged Plastics

 

On Earth Day morning under fast clearing skies I paddled down the Nashua River in Lancaster, MA towards where large amounts of plastic trash have been snagged by fallen trees across the river.   The area is a couple of miles downstream from the "Meeting of the Waters" where the north branch from the cities of Leominster and Fitchburg joins with the south branch from the town of Clinton to form the Nashua River.  Previous attempts at removing this trash have hardly made a dent due to the limited capacity of my kayak and the distance between the fallen trees and the boat launch on Rt. 117.  However, on this occasion, Kurt Schuffels of World Farmers, Flats Mentor Farm allowed me to launch my boat from the farm's riverside property placing me closer to my objective.  Additionally, Todd Olanyk of MassWildlife allowed my use of a landing spot on the property of Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area, and also  handled disposal of the collected trash.  Their help allowed me to make a bigger dent in getting plastic trash out of the river. 

Water levels in the river had dropped to 2.3 ' on the gauge at Pepperell and were close to ideal.  This photo shows one of the larger snags as it looked on April 10th when water levels were higher...

My landing spot at Bolton Flats WMA...

...where I was able to unload my boat 3 times rather than just once.

The net result was this pile...

...which included 139 plastic bottles, 243 "nip" bottles, 10 glass bottles, 10 cigarette lighters, and miscellaneous flotsam including several "ducky race" escapees. Mrs. Trashpaddler and I then counted and bagged the trash for later disposal by MassWildlife...

 This Earth Day that had started cloudy and cool was now in the mid 70s F with plenty of sunshine.

        

Train at Coachlace and Concord's Rude Bridge

 

My past paddling week started on a cloudy, cool, and quiet Sunday afternoon in Clinton, MA.  I'd launched into South Meadow Pond which is connected with Mossy and Coachlace ponds. A light dusting of snow lingered on the hillsides...

After paddling S Meadow and Mossy I entered Coachlace and paddled to its unusual-looking outlet structure...

This black-crowned night heron seemingly held court over the area...

Wood ducks, common mergansers, and mallards were also present.

While paddling west on the pond the quiet was broken by the distant horn of an approaching train echoing off the hillsides as it followed the Nashua River valley.  The rumbling sounds of three locomotives grew louder as the westbound CSX freight train finally appeared...

...and passed alongside the pond pulling some 80 plus boxcars, tank cars, and center beams.

Once quiet had been restored I squeezed through the culvert beneath the tracks...

Plastic trash gathered up along the way...

On Thursday, two days before the April 19th festivities, I paddled to the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA...

Tomorrow the bridge will be hosting the 250th anniversary of the battle where ordinary farmers dared to rebel against a king's tyranny.  

The Minuteman statue depicts one such farmer looking across the river...

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

  Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,

  And fired the shot heard round the world."   ~  from Ralph Waldo Emerson's Concord Hymn

Signs of the expected crowds...

Not far from the bridge, in Mill Brook, stood this beaver lodge duplex...

Trash from bits of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers...

 

Bag of Bubbles

 

Kind of a fickle week around these parts.  On Sunday afternoon I approached Egg Rock in Concord, MA (above photo) under moody skies and warm temperatures.

Checked the Egg Rock inscription which showed decent water levels...

...before veering right and ascending the Assabet River.

On Thursday good water levels were also found on the  Nashua River in Lancaster, MA where this bend-maker imposed its will on me and the river...

The days between paddles ran the gamut from warm rainy days and wind to downright cold days with mornings temperatures in the mid 20's F. 

Trash found in the Assabet River included this tightly-packed plastic bag of bubble wrap...

Sunday's roundup with bubbles unleashed...

The Nashua River's trash was plucked from the trash traps at the river's many sharp bends...where the trash is laid out conveniently...

Thursday's haul included 71 "nip" bottles and a half dozen cigarette lighters...

Fittingly, for a fickle week, a white dusting of snow covered lawns and cars this morning.

 

More Firsts and Lasts

 

Closed out the month of March this past Monday with a winding up-and-back-down paddle on the Nashua River.  Launched from Oxbow N.W.R. at the bottom of Still River Depot Road in Harvard, MA.

After passing under an abandoned roadway bridge and a railroad bridge (still in-use) there are few signs of civilization.  One is this small stone chapel perched atop a riverside hummock ...

Though cloudy, temperatures were in the upper 50's F.

Trash (including 113 "nip" bottles) is often found in this stretch due to the many twists, turns, and snags...

My first paddle in April, on Friday, served as a shakedown cruise for the newest member of my fleet...

Did an up-and-back-down paddle on the straightaway section of the Concord River from the Bedford (MA) Boat Launch.  Temperatures were near 60 degrees F. at the start and later rose to near 70 with a fair amount of sunshine.

While heading upriver...

...adjustments were made to foot pegs and seat position along the way.  

Stopped at Brewster's Woods...

Next to the landing a beaver was exhibiting territorial behavior and slowly circled me...

Proof of this beaver laying claim to the place was his nibbling at the nicely-built wood canoe rack...

With things finally adjusted to my liking I headed downriver to Two Brothers Rocks...

Water levels on the Concord River were high enough to invite some paddling amidst the trees...

My new boat's first trash haul...