An Ice-Free Fairhaven

Got an early start yesterday morning in order to beat the predicted rain.  Was pleasantly surprised to find the Lincoln (MA) Canoe Launch completely free of ice as it's often one of the last places to melt.  Got past this slap-happy beaver...

...and shortly reached the Sudbury River's Fairhaven Bay...

...where the stone boathouse at the far end...

...indicated the water level was still on the high side.  The high water combined with the lack of vegetation allowed access to the sanctity of Well Meadow...

...where this blue heron stood his ground...

Another place not usually accessible was the double-barreled outlet of Farrar Pond...

...which is located almost a mile upriver from Fairhaven.

A row of old sugar maples with their syrup-collecting galvanized pails...

A red-tailed hawk had his eye on something below...

An eagle nest showed little activity...

Once back at the Lincoln Canoe Launch, on its kiosk I noticed this photo (by Maury Eldridge) accompanied by a quote by Henry D. Thoreau...

Before Maury's untimely passing he and I would occasionally run into each other while paddling Fairhaven.  I miss seeing him out on the water.

Trash was on the light side except for two plastic bags full of wet clothing...

...and a baseball bat serving as a reminder of the upcoming baseball season.