Medomak River Ice

 This is what the ice on the Medomak River looks like after the cold spell that we just had.

Note: the sections of salt water that a river runs into is called a "river".  In this case, the Medomak River, the fresh water section is about 3 or 4 miles away.)

The entire river was frozen, and from high and low tides and the wind, this  happens.

Still River after Irene

Riverton, CT - Here are some photos of the Still River after Hurricane Irene. We were extremely lucky, we did not lose power like hundreds of thousands did in Connecticut.

The Still River is very narrow and not a whole lot of water flows in it,the mean amount is 32 cfs(cubic feet per second), when writing this, about 9:30pm the flow is down to 5630 cfs. The high today was about 10,000 cfs.

High Water

We have had a lot of rain the last few days, not as much as Eastern New England but it got the rivers running high. This is in Collinsville near the former Machete factory.


This was a waterfall just off Route 8 in Colebrook, the rain made it extra white.

South Hadley Canal

South Hadley, MA - The Connecticut River was used as a highway to transport stones, hides, lumber, and other raw materials from the North and brought back Iron, Molasses, Sugar, Rum, and Manufactured goods. These items were transported by Flatboats which floated down the river and had to be poled or pulled back up. The round trip from Wells, VT to Hartford, CT took 25 days. The problem was around the South Hadley area, the river bed dropped 53 feet within 2 and a half miles causing rapids. A way to by-pass the rapids had to be found so a canal was built. The South Hadley Canal was the Nations first commercially operated canal. The canal was two and a half miles long and at the South Hadley Falls a unique way of getting the flatboats over the falls was built.

It was called the "Hampshire Machine" a 275 foot long, 30 foot wide, and 53 foot high stone inclined plain; it was capable of lifting 250,000 pounds. It took two years to build and was opened in 1795. Boats were floated onto a carriage and pulled up the inclined plain, waterwheels at the top supplied the power to pull the boats up; I believe a cable or rope was attached to the boat and the turning of the waterwheels would wrap around an axle and pull the boats up. The whole trip up the ramp took fifteen minutes. This model is located in the South Hadley Firehouse Museum.


This path brings you to a section of the canal still there. I walked down the path along the canal and did see "No Trespassing" signs so you can only go a short ways along the canal.


This part of the canal is still existing, there is a path from the Hadley Falls Canal Park(see bridge above ).


This is an overlook at Hadley Falls Canal Park, where you can have a great view of the Connecticut River and what is left of the canal.

A dam was built south of Northampton, MA to raise the water level to divert water into the canal. Citizens of Northampton brought suit against the canals proprietors in 1803, saying the backed up water caused them to suffer "fevers, miasma's(bad air caused by decaying material), and malaria". The inclined plain was close and a series of locks were put in in its place.

Autumn on the Westfield River

Russell MA - I took this photo off the bridge at the end of Main Street in Russell MA. Many of the leaves have fallen but there still is some good color.

Former Hitchcock Chair Company Building

Riverton, CT - This is the former Hitchcock Chair Company building, it is now Riverton Self Storage. I thought they could think of a better use of this building. The building overlooks the Farmington River which is designated a Wild and Scenic river. Every time I visited Hitchcock, I would look out the window and would think that I would love to live here. Well, at least your stuff will have a nice view.

Kayaking on the Winooski River

Richmond, VT - I took my kayak out on the Winooski River for a little paddle. The river was shallow and in some spots it was only a few inches deep; the kayak is sitting on the bottom in the photo.



There is a sign for you, "Stop Rock Snot". There is an invasive weed in the river called Didymo. You have to take measures so you do not spread it to other waterways.

Rubber Duck Race

Richmond, VT - I heard on the radio that there was going to be a rubber duck race in Richmond so I went to check it out. When I go there, I saw this tent where they were selling tickets for the event; money going to Richmond Area Teen Center. I wanted in on this so I bought a few tickets.




In the bucket are the ducks, ready to be set free.


Unfortunately, this section of the Winooski River runs very slowly so the ducks don't get spread out, most of them were in clumps like this. I did not win anything, oh well, at least it is for a good cause.

Francis L. Sheane Memorial

Cornwall Bridge, CT - Along the Housatonic River I found this memorial to Francis L. Sheane erected in 1948. I could not find anything on this person but from the plaque I take it he was an ecological pioneer.



A close-up of the plaque.

Granville Forest Kayakers

Granville, MA - I was in Granville State Forest taking some photos and short videos. I was on the side of the stream when I looked up and saw four kayakers on their way down. Unfortuately, I didn't have time to even think what I was doing but I did get a short video and a few stills.




Another kayaker coming down the stream.



I just caught this one as he passed me.

RIVER

I needed to get the photos going again so here is a photo I took of a river in the forest.

SCENIC ROUTE 8

Naugatuck/Beacon Falls, CT - Between Naugatuck and Beacon Falls Connecticut, just south of the Naugatuck Chemical, is what I think is the most scenic part of Rte.8. I think the reason why it is so nice is because it is too rocky to build so it has been spared being made into a place to put a factory. The Naugatuck River runs beside the highway and once was so polluted that the rocks on the side of the river were black from chemicals. Now it is being cleaned up and even stocked with salmon.

SEAGULLS ON THE FOGGY FARMINGTON

Collinsville, CT - I stopped by the Farmington River this morning and took this photo of seagulls hanging out on a sandbar. As you can see it was quite foggy today.

DOG PADDLE

Litchfield, CT - I was passing through Litchfield yesterday and I stopped at the Bantam River just long enough to catch this girl taking a relaxing paddle with her dog.

TRAIN TRESTLE OVER THE WESTFIELD RIVER

Chester MA - I was driving down the Keystone Arch Bridges Trail looking for the "Arch Bridges". I did photograph one(more on that in the future). Anyway the road got a little too rough (see photo below). I was afraid of ripping out the transmission of my wife's truck so I did not go any farther; the photo doesn't really show how rough it was. I had already done a lot of hiking and didn't feel like hiking too far so I went down to the river and found this railroad trestle crossing the river. It reminded me of a bridge in the mountains out West somewhere even though it was just the Berkshires.

RIVER IN BLACK AND WHITE

I was busy doing office work today so I did not get any new photos. But, I had this photo in stock, I just love Black and White.

FACTORY ON THE FARMINGTON

Collinsville, CT - Many of the factories of old were located on water to run the equipment and get rid of waste. This factory is located in Collinsville Connecticut and if nothing else makes a great b/w photo.

A WALK IN THE WOODS - ICY

This post was requested by Janey Loree, she liked my posting a month or so back and wanted to see what it looked like with ice. Well, here you go.

A WALK IN THE WOODS

Last weekend my wife and I took a walk in the woods. Here is a river that we walk beside; enjoy the river before it freezes over.