Nashwaak River
Perhaps the best way to explore the Nashwaak River is in a kayak. Paddling is easy, but proper technique still requires a lot of practise. For an hour or two of paddling, I got away with brute force. And the exertion later helped knock me out faster than any sleeping pill.
The Nashwaak River empties into the Saint John River, just across from downtown Fredericton. While you “know” you’re in Fredericton, it feels as though you’re many miles away from civilisation. The only sounds come from your paddles, the ducks and cormorants, and the occasional beaver tail slap.
Fredericton is more of a town than a city (approximately 50,000 people). And because the rivers and forest are relatively plentiful, you can find bald eagles, beavers, geese, ducks, cormorants, and deer in what appears to be the middle of Fredericton.
No deer or bears for me, though we did see a couple of bald eagles sitting up above the Nashwaak River on one paddle up the Nashwaak.
And no wildlife photos for me because the only lens I used was a 35mm. While I paddled, I kept my camera in a ziploc bag. In calm waters, you would have to try very hard to roll a kayak.
On one paddle we did run into one of the Nashwaak beavers. He wouldn’t let me get close enough for a photo. For whatever reason, he made two attempts on this tree without finishing it off.
Above Marysville, the Nashwaak widens considerably. An old railway line, now a walking trail, follows the river north. The view above looks south towards downtown Fredericton.
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