Aug 29 – Lovers Leap Paddle in Bridgewater, CT
Leader: Russ Faller

We paddled 6.5 miles upriver on this flatwater section of the Housatonic River to the Lovers Leap narrows. We left our boats and took the old dirt road to the top of the hill. At the viewpoint down the river, we had a leisurely lunch and group chat before walking to the 1895 iron suspension bridge over the narrows. This bridge is a beautiful example of Victorian design and we discussed the unique design.

Some of us thought of Lillinonah, the Native American, who fell in love with a white settler who had ventured westward to find his fortune. They were talking about marriage, when the settler decided to travel back home to tell his parents the news. Bur he severely overstayed his leave and Lillinonah began to worry. Her worries turned into severe anxiety and despair, thinking that her lover had abandoned her or, worse, got himself killed by bandits or a hostile tribe along the way. She became suicidal. Lillinonah took her canoe and paddled over the Great Falls. The settler arrived just in time to see his loved one slip into the wild crush of raging water. He jumped in to save her. But by all accounts, they were never seen again. We can only hope that they died in a lover’s embrace. The Great Falls no longer exist due to a dam built downstream of the narrows.

We returned to our boats to paddle back to the Bridgewater landing and our cars. 

It was a beautiful day on the Housatonic with power boats pulling water skiers and rafters, people swimming & fishing. There were lots of herons and swans. A swan family of 2 parents, with 7 young, swam gracefully across the river as we paddled by.

Paddlers were: David H, Rick C, Cindy T, Carol D, Sam D. & the leader.