Summer's Starts and Stops

 

The past week's weather was, for the most part, fickle as we were under the effects of a pinwheeling low pressure system that just didn't want to leave.  The repeating cycle of days had some amount of sunshine in the mornings followed by building clouds and a rain shower or two.

Working around the uncertain weather conditions allowed getting in some time on the Concord River (above photo), the Assabet River...

...the Sudbury River...

...and the Merrimack River where finally the feel of summer returned...

...and 80 degrees F. was exceeded.  Some welcome shade was found under the old Nashua and Lowell railroad where Salmon Brook enters the Merrimack...

Wildlife over the eight day period included an eaglet (one of a pair) stretching his wings on the Sudbury...

...and this adult eagle with a band on its right leg on the Merrimack...

A pair of deer on the Sudbury now in their lighter summer color...

This great blue heron along the Sudbury with a good-sized fish sliding down its throat...

An oriole alongside the Merrimack...

Some of the stranger things encountered were this colorful storm drain/candy cane along the Merrimack...

This fishing platform, or is it a sailing raft along the Concord?...

This floating-down-the-Concord egg with currency inside...

This Sudbury River launch site warning sign giving one pause...

Trash wasn't too bad and there were no miniature alcohol bottles (first time in awhile).

From the Concord/Assabet...

 From the Sudbury...

From the Merrimack...