Branch River trip a quiet one for the most part

Fallen branches reflected in the river form concentric circles; below, shore erosion shows a varying terrain, and out on Northeast Pond motorboats and jet skis rule the roost. (Lebanon Voice photos)

ON THE BRANCH RIVER - A kayak trip down the Branch River between Milton Mills and its confluence with Northeast Pond in Milton is for the most part a tranquil paddle.

But not all of it.

There were at least three spots in the first mile that had enough currents, eddies and drama to make the challenge of staying dry just a tad interesting.

At one point while scraping a gravelly bottom the stern of the kayak began to spin around due to a strong current, threatening to overturn us.

I stuck my leg out into the shallow water and used my tandem paddle to negotiate around a fallen tree trunk.

Making our way clear I yelled a victory yelp ala that first encounter with white water in “Deliverance,” than found myself chuckling and scouting the shores for any toothless undesirables.

The river last Sunday was breathlessly beautiful – half sun, half clouds, illuminating a canopy of fallen trees bowing into the river from nearby banks. The glass-like surface of the still river reflected the fallen limbs and branches in geometric patterns that were dizzying almost in a vertigo-like phenomenon.

The only sounds save for a few chirping birds was the dull din of traffic out on Route 125 and the low rumble of a jump plane out of Skydive New England.

It’s tough to truly escape civilization, even when you try real hard.

But at least for about an hour there’s nothing to see but vegetation, the river and the ripple of wake left behind our slow-moving kayak.

While the currents in a few places upstream were troublesome, just a short while down the river, there is none.

Fast-turning leaves float aimlessly in the still waters.

A little over an hour into our paddle, we spy a pair of pair of kayakers headed up river. A few minutes after that, a family putters by in a small pram with an outboard motor.

Within another 10 minutes we pass the first camps along Northeast Pond Road as we head closer to Northeast Pond. Just prior to the pond a wide marshy area unfolds to the left, a beautiful bit of nature.

Pretty soon the camps turn into summer cottages and year-round homes and we know our quiet little river paddle is over.

It was nice while it lasted.