Patriots Day paddle. Very nice up-and-back trip on the Shawsheen River. Temps high 50s sunny. Water level was somewhat high (4.15 ft; 148 cfs on the Wilmington Gauge) due to mid April snow and rain. Toughest part of trip was two minutes into it, getting under the Route 3A bridge. Looked tight but navigable but in the very middle of bridge was a beam 6 inches lower than the rest, had to slide far down in my kayak, grip the beam and pull myself under and through. Took on a little water in that maneuver. The segments to the Middlesex Turnpike bridge (went over the yellow weed catcher) and massive Route 3 bridges were very marshy, very windy (twisty), and scenic -- Shawsheeen definitely means Serpentine. Many canadian geese, red-winged black birds, and turtles (small ones) everywhere. The section above Route 3 in Bedford got very narrow and woody, saw two pair of deer in this section before a shore-to-shore log became my turnaround spot about halfway above Route 3 and before 62 in Bedford. Note: shooting at the gun range near Middlesex Turnpike bridge is a little disconcerting, made me paddle a little more quickly through that section! Starting point: Akeson Playground (Route 3A), Billerica MA Turnaround point: Sherwood Drive, Bedford MA Trip time: approx 3 hours (2 up, 1 back) |
