Sunday dawned steamy after the thunder storms of the 4th of July. It’s finally summer and the town is crowded with seasonal visitors, lakes are overflowing with boaters and swimmers, and the background noise of life in the country is a little louder. I was looking for a way to leave it behind for a while and just soak up some nature.
It has been too long since I threw my kayak in the back of truck and headed for the bliss of floating and drifting to the breeze. I risk my camera but ditch my phone and get in touch with sensory being, having little or no control over what I will feel, smell, see or hear.
Laura and I launched our boats into the Contoocook River in Peterborough and went with the flow. I have decided I much prefer kayaking rivers over ponds and lakes.
The Contoocook flows south to north and I did a stretch of it south of Concord in September of 2013 with a group of friends. That post is here if you are interested.
The Contoocook River originates in southwestern New Hampshire from Poole Pond in Rindge. It flows north for 71 miles to the heart of the state, Concord, where it joins the Merrimack River, which flows south and eventually into the ocean in Newburyport, MA. The significance for me is that I grew up in Newburyport, on the Merrimack, and now live in the Contoocook River Valley where I cross the river many times a day as it flows through my surrounding towns. I love to think that if I put a message in a bottle to my former self, set it adrift from here and raced to the shore, I might find it floating by, back at my beginnings.
I did a very small part of the river between its many dams in Peterborough in June of 2014. It is was quite rocky and swollen in many places; I definitely got my heart rate up. That post is here.
For such an easily accessible gem, it was deserted this holiday weekend. We were surrounded by high walls of lovely Elderberry bushes, lightly scenting the air, tiny pink flowers resembling Morning Glories dotted the banks.
Turtles were sunning and the most amazing Damsel flies were busily mating.
Some parts were more challenging as trees had fallen across the river and acted as small dams, creating rocky little rapids of raging foam.
We picked our way through the tough spots and had moments of leisurely drifting; not unlike daily life but with a chorus of King Fishers and birds too numerous to name.
Evidence of beavers stood out as silent sentries to our passing.
The river became wider and slower as we traveled further from civilization and our end point was this ancient trestle bridge.
It was a lovely summer day along the lazy river.
Therapeutic Misadventures 
It was great way to spend a Sunday!. I, too, was surprised we didn’t run into more people. Perhaps if we had, we wouldn’t have seen as much of the wildlife. The Damsel flies were amazing and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many of them in one outing. We will definitely have to do it again soon!
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I love that we can do “parts” of the river like taking little bites.
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You should send that note in the bottle, writing it is good for your soul. Great pictures, too!
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Thanks Mark. Perhaps I will write the note and set it free, never know what it will lead to !!
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Your pictures gave me a bit of river peace. Thanks.
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Thank you Susan! Glad you enjoyed it.
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Very nice. I loved canoeing in my early 20’s. Your descriptions of the peace and solitude – and discovery! – make me yearn to go again.
Is there much difference b/t using a canoe and a kayak? Is one easier or safer than the other?
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Thanks Julie. I think kayaks are a bit more stable and easier. Mine is small and very manageable and I like the fact that it doesn’t take two people to paddle. There are many different styles, you might want to check it out!!
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Just might have to do that!!
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There’s nothing like a day on a river. Glad you got to enjoy it!
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We mentioned you several times, Allen. As in “Oh Allen would know what that plant or flower is!”
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I like the idea of the message in a bottle and wonder what I’d write to myself. I’ve never been in a kayak or canoe but I often see canoeists on my river and wonder what it would be like. It looks peaceful.
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A canoe, and more so a kayak is like gently passing through and slightly above the water, gliding on your butt as it were through a world you can not see any other way. It is silent and completely relaxing! You would love it, Marie!
On another note, I am so far behind on my reading and apologize for not commenting lately on your wonderful posts. I will catch up this weekend.
Cheers!
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As you can see I’m way behind on mine too 🙂
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Nothing personal at all Marie, I just seem to run out of hours every day!!
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