Low Down on the Sudbury

This morning I found blue skies and cool temperatures on the Sudbury River between Fairhaven Bay and Sherman's Bridge.  Weir Hill (photo at left) was in view for most of my journey.
After launching at the Lincoln Canoe Launch I headed upriver passing this beaver lodge entrance originally intended to be swam into...

This shows just how low water levels are.

Nearby a blue heron seemed to be meditating in the early morning light...

But for the low water levels, there wouldn't have been much trash.  However, recently exposed cans such as this one were found near bends in the river...

At Sherman's Bridge I discovered why not another soul was seen on the river today...

Both sides of the bridge were taped-off requiring trailered boats to be launched several miles upriver at Route 20.  I understand that this inconvenience is minor compared to what some are experiencing during our government's shut-down and as a rule I try to steer clear of politics on this blog.  However, just this once I would like to make the following observation:  The folks that opposed a particular law fought the good fight against it and ultimately lost.  During the course of the fight, and in the subsequent drama they've now created, I've noticed that these same people are absolutely unable to utter the word "affordable" (as in Affordable Care Act).  To me that speaks volumes about where they are coming from and where they want to go. 

On my return trip I overshot the Lincoln Canoe Launch to visit Brooke Island in Fairhaven Bay.  There, I and my newly acquired passengers stretched our legs on the beach...

There were 24 recyclable containers (12 redeemable) and 19 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as a radio and the top to someone's barbecue grill.  YTD = 5060

In addition to the heron, numerous kingfishers, painted turtles, a sandpiper, a hawk and an osprey were seen today.

Changeable Day on the Assabet

With the weather forecast calling for windy conditions to develop ahead of a cold front, I decided to get out on the water early this morning.  After launching from Russell's Bridge at the Maynard/Stow line I headed up a calm and foggy Assabet River (photo at left).  Near the south end of Crow Island I yielded to a procession of mute swans...

Beyond Sudbury Road the fog began to clear and revealed some recently added homemade buoys marking the submerged pilings of the old railroad trestle...

There's probably 8 to 12 of these submerged pilings each about 8 to 10" in diameter...a hazard for any boat, but especially so for power boats.

Wildlife was plentiful today as is often the case on cloudy days.  The skies near Crow Island were patrolled by an osprey and a red-tailed hawk.  Kingfishers, herons, mute swans, and wood ducks were also seen.  Above Sudbury Road was a northern harrier.

At Fort Meadow Brook I couldn't resist a trip through the box culvert and up the brook to the old Mass Central RR trestle.  Not much color to the foliage in that area.
On the trip back to Russell's Bridge the foliage looked a little better...

When I landed on a wooded shore to sort my haul I noticed some droppings that had me wondering...horse? moose? or perhaps deer?  pellets are about 1.5 inches in diameter...

My trash haul...

...consisted of 33 recyclable containers (10 redeemable) and 30 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as bait tubs, bobbers, plastic, Styrofoam, and pieces of vinyl.  YTD = 5017

The bluest skies of the trip were seen heading down the last stretch of river en route to Russell's Bridge...

 The temperature had risen about 20 degrees and the breeze was now building.

NHAMCP Trash Patrol Series Finale

Today the New Hampshire Appalachian Mountain Club Paddlers held their 6th in a series of trash patrols organized and led by NHAMCP member Denise Hurt.  The series started back in May with each having been scheduled for the first Saturday of the respective month.  Previous patrols were held on the Nashua, Contoocook, Merrimack (2) and Squannacook rivers.  This month's target was a 2-mile section of the Nashua River in Pepperell between conservation land near the Kemp horse track down to the dam at East Pepperell.
Pictured above ( l to r) are participants Ruth, Sue, Marion, Denise, Sheila, Ron, and Betsy.

Joining the group today was Founding Director Emeritus of the Nashua River Watershed Association and internationally recognized river advocate Marion Stoddart...

In addition to helping with today's trash patrol, Marion was also collecting signatures for the Massachusetts Updated Bottle Bill ballot initiative which, if passed by voters, will provide a redemption value for non-carbonated containers of water, sports drinks, iced-teas, etc.  Those of us who reside in Massachusetts were honored to add our signatures to the initiative.

Shortly after we launched the skies brightened and cleared allowing this display of fall foliage ...

A riverside bench displayed the handiwork of a tidy litterbug...

...all the correct steps were taken except the final and most important one-"hauling it out"!

After a leg stretch near the dam we re-launched and headed back to our starting point...

...witnessing and hearing this mute swan flyover along the way...

From the river and the adjacent shoreline we recovered 286 recyclable containers and 189 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish which included Styrofoam, plastic bags, bait tubs, a Bell helmet, 2 automobile tires, some water chestnut plants, and a temporarily disoriented crayfish who was returned to the river. 
Hats off to Denise and the New Hampshire Appalachian Mountain Club Paddlers for their success with this project.

Concord River Ironstone

I was able to get out on the Concord River this afternoon and enjoy some more of this great early fall weather.  After launching at the Bedford Boat Launch I headed upriver and soon came upon this great egret stretching its wings a bit...

Oddly enough, a little ways past the egret I came upon a white ironstone china pitcher...

 ...near an old can of TAB.  The pitcher has the royal coat of arms printed on the bottom...

According to the Internet, this "Ironstone China" was made in England during the late 1800s for sale in America. 
At any rate Mrs. Trashpaddler wasn't nearly as impressed as I, and the item was relegated to the back porch rather quickly.

With the river's low water level a good amount of bottles were found...

There were 29 recyclable containers (8 redeemable) and 20 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish including plastic bags, bait tubs, etc.  YTD = 4954

Somerset's Better Side

Blue skies and mirror-like waters greeted us upon arrival at Somerset Reservoir in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest yesterday.  Adirondack Pirate Paddlers Captain Dangerous and Mrs. Dangerous joined me for a follow-up visit to this reservoir which we found cold, raw, and windy back on May 26th of this year.  We launched at the reservoir's south end and headed north towards Stratton Mountain (opening photo).

While driving in on the 10-mile long dirt/gravel road from VT Route 9, I stopped where a foot bridge carries the East Branch Trail across the Deerfield River and got this look at some riverside fall foliage...

Once launched and with the day's ideal paddling conditions it wasn't long before we reached Skidder Bay where we saw this eagle (immature?) regally perched on a small island...

The calls of a pileated woodpecker were heard along the reservoir's west side as well as sightings of a dancing merganser, and a belted kingfisher.

We continued to the extreme northwest tip of the reservoir where deep enough water for paddling comes to an end.  This is where the East Branch of the Deerfield River enters from its headwaters west of Stratton Mountain...

 

 

This made a good spot for our lunch break after which we headed in a southeast direction.  Mt. Snow and its many ski trails can be seen at the reservoir's opposite end...

Heading over to the reservoir's northeastern side the foliage provided a nice backdrop...

...and a pair of loons put in a brief appearance...

After visiting several nooks, crannies, and tributaries we made our way back to our launch site in the afternoon's building warmth and gentle breeze out of the south...



Somerset Reservoir is a beautiful body of water and I'm happy to report only encountering one piece of floating trash...a small white balloon (of sorts).

Biking the Bared and Bended Arm

Mrs. Trashpaddler and I recently enjoyed some early autumn biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  After starting out at Nickerson State Park in Brewster, and making a few loops round the bike rotary in Harwich we followed the spur to Chatham. Later we returned to the area closer to the trail's end in Wellfleet.  Venturing off the trail a bit brought us to Marconi Station where Cape Cod is said to be at its narrowest point...only one mile wide.  In addition to being the location of the first Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph Station...

another plaque there includes Henry David Thoreau's description (opening photo) of the area he called the "bare and bended arm of Massachusetts"...

 

Inspired by his words we biked beyond the trail's end at LeCount Hollow Rd to the interestingly named Cahoon Hollow and its environment of dunes, grass, and ocean...

The evening before we'd ventured by car to the opposite side of Wellfleet where the fruits of the sea made a fine menu choice...

...and the establishment's sign was found pleasing to a certain former librarian.

Just when it seemed the Cape Cod experience couldn't get any better this Wellfleet Harbor sunset graced us and a lone fisherman...

One of the best times of year to visit this special place.

 

Visit Your Local River Day

Yesterday many volunteers in the SuAsCo watershed descended upon their local rivers to spruce things up a bit.  The event was the 27th Annual River Cleanup held by the group OARS (Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers).
I joined with these other Acton residents (photo at left) in combing the section of the Assabet River flowing through our town for stuff that doesn't belong in a waterway.  We covered areas upstream and downstream of the dam at Powder Mill.  My thanks to Leo of Last National Wine Co. for allowing access to the impoundment upstream of the dam.
 
Some of the regulars observed our activities...

This was the litter collected upstream of the dam...

Most was found near the base of the riprap embankment that runs alongside Rt. 62.

Similar litter and larger items were found by the group working below the dam.

Post cleanup, our group journeyed down to Damonmill where pizza was enjoyed with the West Concord contingent.  They also had a good looking trash pile.