Shawsheen River - Billerica to Tewksbury

Nice, relaxed one-way paddle down the Shawsheen River on a warm 85F calm Labor Day weekend.  Water levels were medium-low (68 cfs, 3.07 ft on the Wilmington gauge).  This river section was about 80% marsh, 20% woodland with some houses visible along the way.  2 river-wide tree blowdowns required portage, several others were glide-overs or limbos.  Highlight was definitely passing through/under the old Middlesex Canal Aqueduct.  An impressive stone structure built in the 1800s still towers over the river.  Wildlife seen: heron, red-tailed hawk, wood ducks, Canadian geese, and many painted turtles.    

Start: Akeson Playground (Route 3A), Billerica MA

End: Knights of Columbus (Rt 38),  Tewksbury, MA

Trip time: 2.5 hours

Trip distance:  6 miles

Put-in at near Akeson Playground, new kiosk with river map

Calm mirror-like section

Turtle!

Out-of-place concrete dock in the middle of the marsh with an ominous sticker on it

Heron and hawk sharing this perch high above the river:

First portage was just above this section

Batter up!

Approaching Rt 129 bridge in Wilmington, Middlesex Canal Aqueduct is just beyond it

Middlesex Canal Aqueduct remnants

Looking back upstream at aqueduct towers after passing through

MBTA commuter rail bridge

One more tree limbo

Second portage of the day.  Climbed onto the downed tree log and dragged the kayak over to the other side.

One final challenge, squeaked through on the left in about 2 inches of water.. ramming speed!