"Nippy" Days Under July's "Buck Moon"

 

Started my paddling week on Monday by getting out on a beautiful stretch (photo above) of the Nashua River that I'd not yet paddled this year.

Stopped at the Bill Ashe roller-launch in Devens, MA where, despite being tempted, I decided not to take a chance of damaging my boat's composite hull...

Instead I drove about a mile or so downriver to Ice House Dam in Ayer, MA...

...at Walker Rd. where I used the portage takeout spot above the dam. 

Launched from the relative safety of the weeds while a pair of Berkshire and Eastern locomotives pushed a long string of auto-racks to the east...

Once out on the river I paddled into a refreshing breeze which seemed to be sweeping down the river from the southwest...

Eventually came across a fallen tree spanning about two thirds of the river's width.  Trapped between two of its limbs was this collection of plastic flotsam...

...where there were more than 150 "nip" bottles.

Wildlife encountered included this white-tailed buck feeding along the river while his new antlers are fast growing...said to be the reason for July's full moon being called the "Buck Moon" ...

This trio of ducklings appeared to be out and about on their own...

Once back at Walker Rd. the freight trains kept rolling by...

Closed out my paddling week on Friday with a morning paddle on the Sudbury River in Wayland, MA...

Cloudy skies, cool temps, and calm winds allowed for both vegetation and critters to begin the drying out process following Thursday's soaking rains.  Deer were out and about...

Saw my second white-tailed buck of the week...

Several large snapping turtles were seen adjacent to the river bank...

One had left the river behind...quite literally...

...perhaps also responding to the "full moon".

A pair of tree swallows were enjoying a quiet moment...

Saw my first button bush flowers of the season...

Openings in the cloud cover began to appear as I returned to the takeout...

Encountered two fellow kayakers while out on the Sudbury.  Roger in his Equinox and another kayaker in a Current Designs boat. 

Found this small whisky bottle laying at the shoreline (that cleaned up nicely)...

 ...embossed on the bottom "Full 1/2 Pint".  Probably been in the river for a long time.

Monday's trash from the Nashua River included 210 "nip" bottles...

Friday's trash from the Sudbury included 16 "nip" bottles...