Paddling with the Future

Lucky indeed was this paddler in being accompanied by his granddaughter early this morning on the Assabet River.  When mentioning possible start times for our river outing it was she who suggested leaving at 6 am and sure enough there she was, binoculars in hand, at the appointed time.

We launched from Lowell Road in Concord (opening photo) and checked the Egg Rock inscription...

...before beginning our ascent of the Assabet.  Water levels were good.

Near Willow Island I saw a doe with 2 fawns but they disappeared into the brush before my granddaughter could see them.  I was thinking that might have been our only deer encounter of the day. 

Then after finding these two poems floating face-down in the river...

 she espied another deer...

...and this deer allowed her slow approach...

A closer look at the accommodating doe...

I don't think words can adequately express just how privileged I felt at being able to share this moment with my granddaughter and I get the feeling she'll be having many more encounters with nature in the course of her lifetime.

Upon our return to Lowell Road we found a much busier boat launch than the one we'd left several hours earlier.  Mike with his electric motor-powered canoe was heading out for some fishing and photography while a group of paddlers from neighboring New Hampshire was preparing to get underway.


The items we removed from the river this morning...

The poems presented a dilemma of sorts in that while they compliment the river nicely we felt it would be better if they were posted at a river-side kiosk rather than floating face-down in the water. 

 

It was good to see a trash barrel had once again been placed at the boat launch.  Thanks to whomever was responsible.