Sudbury River to Fairhaven Bay

1st river trip.  Decided to do an up-and-back trip on the Sudbury. Started from Lowell Road Bridge in Concord, went upriver to Fairhaven Bay then returned back.  Temp around 40F but light wind.  Going upstream, the current was steady but manageable.  Saw a beaver at work near Route 2 bridge.  Wind picked up after Route 2 bridge.  Fairhaven Bay was about 50% ice.  Could see the stone boat house from afar.  Brooks Island was iced in.  Landed for a nice lunch at the base of a Wright Woods footpath, the return trip to Concord was a breeze, going with the current and wind at my back.  One hiccup, at the Nashawtuc Rd bridge in Concord there was a white-covered floating weed trap across the width of the river, a pedestrian on the bridge yelled down "Go under it", good advice but just make sure to go under the sides of the trap (nearest the shore), the center was choked with weeds.  Round trip time approximately 3 hours. 

 

Lowell Road Boat Ramp launch

 Weed trap across the river

Beaver at work

 Mansion on the hill

Ice shelf on Fairhaven Bay

 Elm Street bridge

Warners Pond/Nashoba Brook

1st kayak trip!!  Had pond to myself except for a couple swans and one fisherman at the end. Temps high 40s. Light fog quickly burned off. Ran into some ice on northern pond, so headed south then west looking for Nashoba Brook entering the pond.  Eventually found it through the marshy west edge but ran into a low beaver dam.  Did not want to break my kayak on its maiden voyage, or dip my dry feet into the icy cold waters to get over the dam, so went southeast to check out the exit dam towards the Assabet.  Trip time approximately 1 hours 15 min.      MCI Concord nearby   Nashoba Brook beyond the beaver dam   Misty pond at the launch