Balloons, Bottles, and Bucks

 

Closed out the month of June with a couple of "beat the heat" paddles this week.  The photo above was taken on the Merrimack River looking downriver towards the Rourke Bridge.  With temperatures predicted to reach 97 degrees F. later in the day, I'd launched before 6 am and shared the river with only 5 other boats...all solo rowers.  The river's east shore provided welcome shade as I paddled upriver passing the intake for the City of Lowell's drinking water treatment facility...

...and past Wicassee Island and one of its more stately shade trees...

Went as far as Tyngsborough...

...and its majestic span across the Merrimack...

...where I turned about and headed back to my starting point.  Off the water by 10:30 am.

Followed that same pattern on the Concord River a few days prior and believe it's the best way to enjoy paddling on these days of record heat and humidity.  All I have to do is think of the cold and frigid days of winter to have a better appreciation for the hot days of summer.  I'll take the heat...hands down. 

Came across some timely-themed balloons of which there were three:

One from Mother's Day...

...another from Father's Day...

...and one a few days early for our Nation's birthday...

Then there was this intriguing display of hanging bottles...

...artwork?

The Concord River provided three white-tailed bucks in one less-than-a-mile stretch.  The first two appear to be identical twins.  Buck 1...

...and buck 2...

...their recently sprouted antlers still in velvet.

A third buck less than a half mile away had the twins beat in the antler department...

He and I stayed eye-to-eye for a good bit of time with him occasionally stomping one foot or snorting...but never backing away.  Ultimately a power boat came along and off he went.

A bottle found near the bucks was appropriately embossed for the occasion...

 Other trash gathered up...