Paddling on the Shady Side

With another heat wave upon us this past week I found the best way to beat the heat was by getting out on the water as close to sunrise as possible.  Doing so allowed me to be off the water before the hottest part of the day.  The early morning starts led to watching the sun rise over the trees this morning on the Nashua River at Petapawag in Groton, MA...

...and a Thursday morning encounter with this white-tailed deer on the train tracks in North Chelmsford, MA near the spot where I launched into the Merrimack River...

Fortunate for the deer I wasn't a train.

While the tree-lined shores of the Merrimack River offer considerable shade, its Stoney Brook tributary provides a different sort of shade encountered while paddling beneath the length of the pictured mill building...

...which may have been the coolest place around...

Back on the Merrimack I paddled down to Pawtucket Falls, a location that played a significant role in Native American history as well as in setting the border between the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  In 1741 the border between the 2 states was set to be 3 miles north of the Merrimack River from its mouth to a point 3 miles north of the "Great Falls".  From that point the border eventually leaves the Merrimack and runs westward to New York state.

Prior to the arrival of English colonists it is said that Passaconaway, the powerful leader of the Pennacook federation, maintained his wigwam about where this church stands today...

 

Passaconaway's lodge was near the head of the falls and close to the fish ladder, perhaps suggesting he knew where the most fish would be caught...

Shade was also in good supply this morning on the Nashua River...

Tuesday's paddle on the Assabet River was under a cloudy sky where these sunseekers nonetheless were reaching out...

The two fledged Assabet River eaglets were present and accounted for...staying 4 trees over from the nest...

The week's trash:

Tuesday's included a single-mast sailboat missing its sail...

Thursday's was heavy on plastic...

Saturday's included 35 nip bottles...

Most of the nip bottles were found at this trash trap...

Up To and Around Cape Ann

 

Above is a T-shirt that really tells the story.  From the event's first 3 miles in the Annisquam River described as "There's deep water here somewhere" to the need for "Channeling Howard Blackburn" during the longest and toughest stretch along the Back Shore, the shirt was spot on. 

 

The 2021 Blackburn Challenge was held this past Saturday in Gloucester, MA.  Somehow the Cape Ann Rowing (and paddling) Club met the challenge of these COVID times and came up with a modified plan that, though scaled back in some regards, still allowed participants to row or paddle the nearly 20 miles around Cape Ann.  

For me this was a special Blackburn as it was my 30th, and to mark the occasion my wife and I splurged with a stay at Gloucester's Beauport Hotel which stands right at the Finish Line.  This afforded me the opportunity to launch, and later finish, at the same spot...a complete 360 degree circumnavigation.  The view of Gloucester Harbor from our balcony...

Before heading to Gloucester a Wednesday paddle on the Concord River provided an encounter with this immature black-crowned night heron (or possibly a bittern)...    

Trash encountered along the Concord...

We Have Liftoff!

 

Yesterday morning I paddled to the Assabet River eagles nest for my 10th visit since first seeing an eaglet's head in the nest back in mid-May.   Upon my arrival I heard the previously non-fledged eaglet calling out, most likely for food.  A short time later one adult eagle and the fledged eaglet glided towards the nest...

With both eaglets vying for space in the small nest I watched as jostling ensued (perhaps over food) and the 2 eaglets fell to the ground.   The adult remained by the nest and called to the pair...

The fledged eaglet soon appeared 4 trees over from the nest tree on a low limb and called out...

After awhile the previously unfledged eaglet appeared in the same tree and the 2 eaglets reunited (opening photo)...thus proving that both eaglets can now fly.  What I wouldn't give to know what they were saying to each other.

The river level had dropped enough to allow access through the box culvert into Fort Meadow Brook ...

...allowing a short trip up brook to the old trestle...

This brookside flower enjoyed the early morning sunshine...

This green heron was also encountered along the Assabet...

A small amount of trash...

On my way back downriver I again passed by the eagles nest and noted one eaglet had returned, and appeared to be patiently awaiting the next food delivery...

It won't be long now before the eagle family leaves the area and the nest will once again sit silent and empty.  I have greatly enjoyed the privilege of being able to watch the whole nesting process... something I never would have expected to occur in my local area.  

Nips and Nests

 

Started this past week with an early Monday morning visit to the Assabet River eagles' nest where both eaglets were found staying close to the nest...

That's the fledged one above the nest while the unfledged eaglet is out of view behind the nest.

Later the fledged eaglet returned to his own tree where wings were extended to seemingly catch the breeze...

Nearby and within sight of the nest several river otters were hanging out.  Fumbling with my camera resulted in only one image being captured...

Water levels have dropped considerably with the Fort Meadow Brook box-culvert almost passable...

At Gleasondale the Route 62 bridge project continues...

On Wednesday I paddled the Sudbury River between Little Farms Rd and Saxonville where another nest neighborhood exists in a cut-off section of the river.  The nests appear to have ospreys and great blue herons in close proximity...

...like the old expression two's company...three's a crowd.

Paddled up to the downriver end of the Saxonville Mills where the river was shallow and moving at a good clip...

Saw my first Cardinal flower of the season...

...reminding me that summer is beginning to wane...even though I'd prefer it wouldn't.

Finished the week with a Friday morning paddle in the Nashua River's Oxbow NWR northern end.  Launched from the Bill Ashe Boat Launch in Devens, across the river from Catacoonamug Brook.  Paddled about 2.5 miles upriver...

...to where the light at the end of a tunnel drew me in...

...to where an unnamed brook falls into the river...

Trash was light on one Monday...

 ...and a bit heavier on Wednesday with sheets of plastic found draped on tree limbs...

...with Friday's haul including 70 nip bottles (from that 2.5 mile stretch of river)...

One of the more effective trash traps on the Nashua...

The oddest find of the week was this elaborate piece of glassware...

Perhaps Cheech and Chong were canoeing in the vicinity.

Enjoying High and Wide Waters

 

The Egg Rock inscription being fully submerged this past Wednesday translated into high and wide conditions on each of the three rivers emanating from this spot.

Unusual to see the Assabet River sporting so much green vegetation and high water levels in mid-summer...

 

Ideal conditions for this fast growing mushroom...

...which dwarfed an old engine manifold.

Spent a little time around the Concord River's Old North Bridge...

...and Old Calf Pasture...

The higher water levels had trash on the move.  These downriver drifters settled in for a rest at this spot...

...which 6 days earlier had no trash.

One odd find was a 1942 Hood milk bottle floating upside down.  It cleaned-up well...

Left me wondering where it had been hiding all these years.

The week's trash...

While out on the river I also enjoyed listening to the most recent addition to my shuffle's trashpaddling playlist.  It's the song "I Have Been Around" by Marty Stuart from the Johnny Cash tribute album "Forever Words".  Great tune to listen to while paddling against the current...the video's pretty good too.