The many parks along the Blackstone River are friendly places. While we don’t form firm friendships there, we do meet people. We chat about our dogs, life in the valley, the cameras we are carrying, how low the water level has dropped and has anyone heard about rain on the way?
It was definitely a “camera day” yesterday. The park wasn’t crowded, but there were a fair number of people all spread out along the paths. Everyone had a camera or at least a cell phone. Why — other than the brilliant weather — would so many camera-laden folks be out?
I’m glad you asked. Every years, a huge number of baby — really tiny — snapping turtles climb up and sun themselves on the floating branches and rocks in the river. It’s an annual event. During some years, there are thousands of these babies. They won’t all survive and grow up. The river can only sustain a certain number of turtles, but for these couple of weeks starting just about on Garry’s birthday, there are turtles everywhere.
We weren’t in the best place for turtling. You have to start at the other end of the path in River Bend. When you walk from there to where we were, you’ll see them covering every rock and branch in the river.
I only got one snapshot and you really can’t see what’s there, but trust me — they are turtles. If they weather stays this nice, we can go back tomorrow and get some better pictures. I’ll bring my really long lenses and we’ll have an interesting photographic exercise in take pictures of really small creatures from a considerable distance. I had a 24 to 400mm lens, but it wasn’t enough. We really needed to be on the other end of the path. It sometimes seems no matter what camera and lens I’m carrying, I wish I’d brought the other one.
Meanwhile, along the path, we met a lovely lady who eagerly took pictures of both of us. It’s so rare that we get a picture of the two of us together — and the pictures came out really nicely — that I wish I’d gotten her name so I could put it with the photos.
It was just a day along the Blackstone and its Canal in one of the few places where the river and canal run parallel to each other. These two contiguous parks hold a lot of our memories. Our own long walks and walking with friends. Pictures of us, our dogs, Kaity as a little kid. It’s hard for me to imagine how we survived the city.
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Categories: #BlackstoneRiver, #Photography, Anecdote, Blackstone Valley, Spring
BRIGHT APRIL DAY BY THE RIVER 
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Wonderful photos! You and Garry look great. Thanks for sharing your awesome adventures. 🙂 xo
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How lovely that you have turtles in your park, Marilyn. This is a lovely picture of you and GArry together.
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The turtles are a mixed blessing. These aren’t the friendly box tortoises with which I grew up. These are mean and we seem, to grow a lot of them. They are interesting, but don’t dangle your toes in the water! They will have them for a snack.
It IS a great pictures and I really wish I could credit her. We sort of forgot the whole “names” thing.
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All that was missing was an ensemble rendering of “Shall We Gather By The River”.
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In all the photos of the old stone bridge, I think this is the first time I’ve seen a car on the bridge! I actually thought it was a footbridge! These are lovely shots — and it’s interesting to see the turtles ~ ~ ~
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It’s a major point connecting the two sides of the valley as the Blackstone River runs down the middle of it. So everything goes across it, including trucks. They keep it in pretty good shape — so far. many of our bridge are in terrible shape. That whole infrastructure thing? We sure do need it around these parts!
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I see turtles.
We don’t get turtles over here.
That makes me sad.
I like turtles.
By the way … nice shots Garry.
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Thanks for the sentiments. I actually didn’t see the turtles, Marilyn did.
I was “experimenting” with my new camera, call it a “Probie day” for me.
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I don’t think you’d like these. Snapping turtles are nasty buggers and they get HUGE. We’ve had 300 pounders wander into school yards and NO ONE wants to mess with them. They have jaws on them which can shear off you hand or foot and necks like snakes. I once had to move a smaller one, maybe 10 or 12 pounds? But big enough to do serious damage. I was the animal control officer (oh so briefly) and the construction crew working nearby wouldn’t go near it. So much for the big brave boys in their working crew clothing. So there was me with big leather gloves. Clearly he had wandered across the street from where the river to the wrong side and had no idea how to get back.
I had thought to just pick him up and carry him, but his head snaked around and those leather gauntlets didn’t look all that sturdy to ME. So I sort of herded him. But NONE of those big tall guys was willing to go near him. And that was a LITTLE one. Those 300 pounders? They just empty the area and wait for them to leave on their own!
Not friendly. Not edible. THAT is why they warn you not to dangle your feet in the river. It’s not polluted, but it IS full of snappers and they will think your toes look like snacks.
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Drat! I figured you could eat those rascals. Remember that scene in Cool Hand Luke? That dude shoots a snapper. ??
As a kid I had a map turtle as a pet when we lived in Illinois. I got up one day and it was gone. I was told that it had somehow escaped, but I believe my Dad liberated it. It wasn’t much of a pet anyway. Didn’t purr or lick my face or anything. But at least it didn’t bite me.
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Snappers aren’t edible. Sea turtles are edible, though and some tortoises. Not these guys.
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“The Man With No Eyes” shot that snapper.
‘Yes, Boss, I got my mind right. You sure got that snapper, Boss’.
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That’s it Garry. Good one.
Hell of a movie too.
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How beautiful! Wish I could stroll along those paths with you two.
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Patricia, that would be so wonderful, you strolling along with us, singing a few of our favorite old tunes.
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Not only is it a nice place to stroll, but it is smooth and flat and makes for a relatively easy walk with lots of places to take great pictures. These are actually one park. Along the river, except where there’s a building (often an older one that has been rebuilt) or a bridge, it’s all parks. They all have parking and places to picnic. A couple of have little museums, too. Where you can swim or wade is restricted by the volume of snapping turtles. If there are a lot of them — and we sure do grow a lot of them — they warn you to be careful. Snappers love to bite!
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I love to swim, but not if I run the risk of being bitten by a snapping turtle. Better to stick to the strolling.
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A lovely place to hike!!!!
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Yes, cigarman, lovely place to hike, stroll, just take in a lovely day. Song of the day, “What A Wonderful World”. Oh, yeahhh.
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It has been a while before taking a stroll around my neighborhood. It used to be ultra safe, but in the last year, the homeless have set up a camp just a few blocks away by the river and also taken to walking the streets and yelling at people.Some even have threatened walkers. The police are dragging their feet on moving them on their way. It’s really disheartening all the way around.
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