PERFECT evening for a paddle - low humidity, great temp & very quiet (lots of cars near the launch, but everyone must have gone downstream)! Saw Egg Rock - the inscription was WELL above the water line this year. Also a nearby rock inscribed to George Bradford Bartlett. Wonderful songbirds in trees as we paddled upstream, including the haunting sound of 1 or 2 Wood Thrushes (great to have Mary along to help ID birds). Saw a goose family with teenage goslings at the start. Remarked at how low the water was compared to last summer - could see the high water marks on most of the trees on the bank. There were several trees down across the river, making crossing challenging but not impossible. Everyone hit a hidden stump or rock or dirt bar at some point. Lots of wildlife on the return trip: a beaver (or 2?) that swam near us back & forth, then disappeared, only to reappear further down near Joy and then SLAP the water with his tail as he disappeared again. A Great Blue Heron that kept flying downstream with us & landing, then flying off again when we got close. A/some Sandpipers. And finally back near our launch point, 3 huge deer grazing amongst the trees on the far shore. Joy got some photos & videos!