First one-way float trip! Cable locked kayak to a tree near the put-in at Bohannon Bridge in Brookline, NH. Drove car to end point at Pepperell Coverage Bridge, uber'ed back to start. Water levels where high due to 2 days of rain that week (Nashua River at E Pepperell gauge was at 1550 cfs, 4.2 ft; Squannacook at 240 cfs, 3.3 ft). First half of trip was through a marshy, reedy area. Very pretty, quickwater and a couple small drops. Saw some tiny yellow birds and a couple baby blue jays. Things got more woodsy and 'exciting' after passing under the W Hollis / Brookline St Bridge. Rapids increased their intensity and several tree blowdowns were challenging to navigate. 2 required portage. Saw many (8-10) fly fisherman along the way. Took my first official "swim" trying to pass under a blowdown just before Prescot Road bridge. I grabbed hold of the tree trunk, trying to pull myself toward the end with higher clearance but my kayak decided to keep going under at that spot and boom! I was in the water. Top moment of trip was running the rapids (class II?) where the Millie Turner dam was removed in Pepperell, scouting it first. 2 big drops followed by a 1/2 mile of continuous riffles. One final portage around a blowdown near junction with Nashua River. Current in the Nashua was too strong to paddle up against for 0.75 miles to my car, so I beached it and walked back along the rail trail and Lowell Road to car. A fun but occasionally dicey trip!
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