Connecticut River, Bradford to Orford

Yesterday, I kayaked the stretch of the Connecticut River from Bradford, VT to Orford, NH with Jane’s family. It was a trip down memory lane for me. My sister, Barb, (and sometimes others) paddled this stretch several times, camping near Piermont, painting several scenes each trip.

Looking toward Piermont, NH
Looking toward Piermont, NH

Approaching the Bradford  bridge
Approaching the Bradford bridge

We had a relaxing paddle,

Russ looking at the waterfall
Russ looking at the waterfall
Rick
Rick
Averil and her mom
Averil and her mom
Averil and Leslie
Averil and Leslie

did some bird watching,

Cedar waxwing
Cedar waxwing

Turkey vulture
Turkey vulture
Kingbird
Kingbird
Green heron
Green heron
Canada geese
Canada geese

but were very glad to see the Orford bridge.

Approaching the Orford bridge
Approaching the Orford bridge

We ended the trip with a stop for ice-cream in Fairlee.

Russ with an ice-cream cone.
Russ with an ice-cream cone.

First paddle of the season

My neighbor, Alice, and I paddled on the Connecticut this morning.

Alice
Alice

We saw some wildlife: some mallards,

Mallard pair
Mallard pair

some mergansers, a spotted sandpiper

female (common?) mergansers
female (common?) mergansers
Spotted sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper

and a large family of mallard ducklings

Momma mallard and many ducklings
Momma mallard and many ducklings