from Abbot Bridge Andover Waterfalls Ballardvale

Alice and Barbara had a delightful paddle from the Horn Bridge yesterday. There’s one obstruction closer to Dale St but we were able to get through it by bending as much as possible in our kayaks. If the river had been 2 inches higher, we couldn’t have gotten through. Next trip we will portage to Pomp’s Pond at the bend. After Dale St. the current is really strong, but I somehow got through it all the way to the dam. Along the bank on the left side was a very curious brown marten who ran along about 100 feet. Unfortunately I was paddling so hard at this point I couldn’t get its picture/video. We also saw a kingfisher, muskrat, ducks, turtles, heron, geese. Our leisurely paddle took almost 1 1/2 hours upriver, 45 minutes downriver. Can’t wait to go again, especially as the vegetation starts to unfold. There were 4 other people in sea kayaks on the river.

Barbara, thank you for sharing.