Ice Art on the Assabet

 

The Assabet River's ice art was on display earlier this week following 5 days where the temperature stayed below the freezing point.  It was seen on the way upriver to Damonmill in West Concord, MA...

There were multi-layered ice shelves...

and...

 

...

Seething teeth...

and crystal-clear columns...

Finally this one stood out...

...and tempted me into getting perpendicular to the current in order to get a better photo.  This resulted in my taking a not-on-the-schedule Polar Plunge.  Fortunately I was dressed for immersion and able to get to shore.  Note to self: NEVER, EVER get perpendicular to the current in order to snap a better photo.  Sim card survived, verdict still out on camera.

Paid a second visit to the same general area of the Assabet yesterday under much milder conditions...

...and found nearly all of the ice gone.

Temperatures were in the upper 40s F. which may have caused this fly to awaken earlier than usual...

A pair of bony hands beneath the surface resulted in this bit of plastic...

It sort of summed up my week.

Trash gathered up included 6 miniature aka "nip" bottles...

Paddling past the Concord Reformatory's power plant...

...brought to mind the recent announcement of the facility being shut down by this summer.  There's quite a bit of property related to this facility which has been a prison since 1878.  Quite a bit along the Assabet River.