Days like this become numbered this time of year. I took advantage of a warmer than usual fall day to paddle on the Connecticut River. The river is just a few short miles from my house, so I can throw the kayak into the truck and be on the water in less than twenty minutes.
On this day, I paddled from North Walpole, nearly to Charlestown, up one side of the river, and down the other. Virtually no current! I stopped paddling to confirm this. I barely moved. The river was as flat as glass. From every point the view on the river is spectacular, and peaceful. I'm never disappointed when I go. As I made my way downstream on my return trip, this beaver popped out from the bank. He slapped his tail hard against the water, warning me to stay away, or warning others that there was an intruder in the midst. He swam around my boat at a healthy distance, and I could see he was a very large beaver.
The photo doesn't due him justice.
I saw King Fishers, and Great Blue Herons along the way. I noted how much the water had dropped over the summer. There were plenty of spots where I could have pulled on to shore and had a picnic. I thoroughly enjoyed carpe diem'ng.
