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Had a wonderful paddle on a short stretch of the Housatonic River. We got up early, and my buddy Sully dropped  me off (he went off to Cranwell to play golf) at New Lenox Rd.  The launch, below, was  a little muddy , but to be expected after the significant drop in river level following recent heavy rains.  It was a beautiful morning, cold (41 F/ 7 C), with a light lifting fog over the river. It was one of those clear, crisp mornings which fills me with the absolute joy of being alive.  Getting onto  the river only intensified this feeling. 

Boat ramp in foreground

With the fall foliage at its peak in this area, the scenery on the banks and the surrounding mountains was  beautiful.

For an Australian, from a land of  'no deciduous trees' , every bit of color is a real treat.

Pulled up along the way  to find this cute track  alongside the river.

I only saw one other group of people on the river, a bunch of three canoeists fiercely paddling and talking. They whipped past me, and a while later they passed me going the other way. Clearly out for the fitness benefit as opposed to the peaceful, easy feeling side of things.

Egret

Very little wildlife- No mammals, and not too many birds, but this egret was having a fine time preening.
Saw one carp ( drat it all- they are everywhere)

Stonework on the Lenox Station footbridge

Footbridge at the take out point

Looking back upstream to Woods Pond

The end of the road and time to turn around..

Floating dock at the take out

I didn't realize that there was a Berkshires historic railway at Lenox, but I was unloading my gear, I saw the old loco pull in with a bunch of old carriages filed with rail buffs.  

A nice site for a railway station eh? Woods Pond in the background.