As temperatures climbed well into the mid-80s over the weekend and the National Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings, residents of Middleboro and Lakeville found creative ways to beat the heat.

The National Weather Service advised residents to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.” Many took that advice — and a few added ice cream and the river to the list.

Former Lakeville resident Foxy Goodstone returned for a weekend visit and to check on the Nemasket River, after finishing a book on the subject.

“On my visit back I just wanted to make sure I got to sit here by the river, the weather is incredibly hot but there’s plenty of shade over here, I am sunblocked up, in the shade and reading a book,” Goodstone said.

The Carpenter family, all Middleboro residents, also found refuge by the river.

“Seeing the water, hearing the water, it’s a great place to come,” Matt Carpenter said.

After their riverside break, the family planned to head to Joyful Scoops in Middleboro — though Lori Fallon and Kevin Godin had already beaten them there.

“We have a friendly little kitty here at the ice cream stand,” Fallon said, nodding to the stand's outdoor cat weaving its way across the table in front of the couple. “It was kind of hot out so I looked up ice cream stands and Joyful Scoop sounded good.”

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to continue rising through Wednesday.