Earth Day Paddle 2026

 

On this Earth Day I launched into the Nashua River at the Seven Bridge Road (Rt. 117) Cartop Boat Access in Lancaster, MA.  The launch is located about a mile and a half downstream from where the Nashua River's North and South branches come together at the Meeting of the Waters.

Once launched I paddled about a mile and a quarter downriver and back.  Encountered this mess of plastic trash in that relatively short stretch of river...

...which included 204 "nip" bottles and more of those sunglass-wearing duckies bearing race numbers.

Happy Earth Day!

Drums Along the Assabet and a Double-Stacked Coachlace

Launched into the Assabet River in West Concord, MA before 7 yesterday morning and headed upriver under cloudy skies.  The Sunday morning quiet of that early hour was occasionally broken by the far-off sound of drums and a few bursts of gunfire.  Because it was the actual April 19th and not the official designated Monday holiday I knew it must be the Sudbury Minutemen on their way to the Old North Bridge in Concord.  When the State of Massachusetts, in 1969, changed the Patriots' Day holiday to the third Monday in April, the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute decided to stick with tradition and commemorate the event on the actual 19th day of April.

While awaiting their arrival in West Concord I made a quick trip up Nashoba Brook...

...wondering if a better view of them might be had at Commonwealth Ave.  However the current was a little too strong so it was back to the Assabet and up to Main Street's "Derby Bridge" (aka Harness Company Bridge) where the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute crossed over the Assabet River at about 9:25 am...

There I heard my first "Huzzah!" of the morning.   Knowing that the marchers would be stopping for refreshment at Barrett's Farm, I decided to paddle downriver and land on the riverside of the farm...

The river's good current helped me get there with time to spare before the marchers arrived.

A walk across the farm brought me to...

I'm not much of a video guy but tried to capture the arrival of the group's Ancient Fyfe and Drum Co. at the historic farmhouse...

The group rested there a bit before continuing another few miles to the Old North Bridge...

I headed back upriver passing this high-stepping deer along the way...

The previous Friday I launched on another cloudy morning at the South Meadow Pond Complex in Clinton, MA...

...and headed towards Coachlace Pond under an uncertain sky...

After passing through the culvert beneath the railroad tracks I paddled northward on Coachlace Pond to its outlet into Counterpane Brook (and ultimately the Nashua River's south branch)...

The serenity of the morning was soon broken by Norfolk Southern RR's double-stacked container train Z264 seen passing over the culvert...

...and soon the train stretched along the pond's western shoreline...

The containers had been loaded in Chicago approximately 42 hours earlier.

Once back through the culvert I encountered some ducks a little different than the ones I usually see...

I believe they're greater scaups but not really sure.

Trash found Friday on Coachlace, half of which was laying on the ground at the boat launch...

 Trash found along the Assabet on Sunday...

Assabet Serenity and Beating the Sea Breeze

 

The Assabet River in Stow, MA (above photo) proved the perfect paddling choice this past Sunday morning...a little cool at my early start but then warming nicely.  Wildlife included this calling red-winged blackbird...

...as  well as this calling eagle...

...and this parading wood duck...

Yesterday, I followed the weather forecaster's advice and drove 45-miles westward in order to get ahead of an advancing sea breeze from the east.  After launching into Quaboag Pond in Brookfield, MA I found a summer-like southwesterly breeze instead...

  I soon left the large pond and entered the East Brookfield River where this bald eagle welcomed me...

The eagle seemed to be watching the action under the roadway bridge where the river's steady current encountered the pond's windswept water from the opposite direction...

Headed up the East Brookfield...

...to the confluence of the Five and Seven Mile rivers.  From there I followed the Five Mile up to the CSX RR bridge where things got too shallow...

The Seven Mile was also too shallow with beaver dams...

My paddle back was a warm one with temperatures in the low 80s F.  Enjoyed the feel of summer.  The drive eastward saw the temperature drop 20 degrees F. and had me appreciating the accuracy of the weather forecaster's predictions.  "Go west old man".

According to the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) the whole area of Brookfield was purchased from the Native American sachem Shattoockquis (aka Shadookis) in 1665 in exchange for 300 fathoms of wampumpeage.  The MHS website also displays A New Plan of Several Towns in the County of Worcester 1785 by Rufus Putnam.  In addition to being a great map the plan also includes many historical facts.

Trash from the Assabet River on Sunday...

Trash from the East Brookfield and Five Mile rivers yesterday...

...included a HULL HUGR (boat fender) and an empty 40-lb bag of Anthracite coal with a picture of Saint Nicholas on it.  I'm guessing it alludes to someone having received a hefty lump of coal for Xmas?

 

Nashua Near Petapawag

 

Found bright blue skies and unseasonably cool conditions on the Nashua River in Groton yesterday.  Water levels are still a bit on the high side and the vegetation is yet to appear.  Plenty of wildlife activity with wood ducks all over the place...

Swimmers...

...and furballs...

Bald eagles were seen on the ground...

...in the air...

...in trees...

...and in the nest...

Thanks to the high water level and lack of vegetation, trash was there for the taking and included 42 "nip" bottles...

March to April Fools' Day

 

For my last March paddle I got out on the Concord River this past Sunday under bright sunny skies.  Despite the abundant sunshine the day struggled to warm as a brisk wind seemed intent on keeping things on the cool side.  Paddled from the Calf Pasture in Concord, MA down to Mass Audubon's Brewster's Woods canoe and kayak landing...

The landing and its adjacent trails make a great spot for taking a break.

Along the way I passed this good-sized beaver lodge at the river's confluence with Mill Brook...

...and the Old North Bridge under a clear blue sky...

Upon April's arrival yesterday I headed out to the Nashua River launching from Oxbow N.W.R. in Harvard, MA.  April Fools' Day provided some real warmth with temperatures nearing 70 degrees F....

Skies went back and forth between bright sun and dark clouds.  The gun ranges on the river's west side were silent.  

Sunday's trash from a 3.5 mile stretch of the Concord River was on the light side and included 12 "nip" bottles...

Wednesday's trash from a 2-mile stretch of the Nashua River overperformed with numerous plastic containers and "113 nip" bottles and 8 cigarette lighters...

My ugliest haul so far in 2026 and perhaps considered by many a "Fool's Errand".  Of course it would be less so if the State of Massachusetts would expand our Bottle Bill to include non-carbonated containers (juice, water) and miniature alcohol containers (aka "nips") so as to give these containers a monetary value which can be redeemed.  That ugly heap of plastic could be worth about $ 7.50 at our present 5-cents per container deposit or a whopping $ 15 at 10-cents per container.  I believe giving these containers a monetary value would greatly increase the likelihood of someone picking them up.  Without such a value they remain worthless trash and some folks seem resigned to watching them sail off into our oceans.  Am I wrong? (as the Dude's friend Walter Sobchak might say).