Paddle # 14 Elm Bank 5/17/10

I met Sandra & Ken at Elm Bank and Pat would meet us after luncheon meeting she had at Wellsley College for her docent group. We put in and went down river to Charles River Road bridge then came back for lucnh and tour the gardens. Then Pat came about 2:00pm and we went upriver to the South Natick Dam. Very nice paddle.

Paddle # 13 Redwing Bank 4/18/ 2010

We put in kayaks at Redwing Bay in Dover. The 29 acre Charles River Peninsula reserve is a hidden gem on Fisher Street near the Cochrane Dam with a great boat launch and walking trails, filled with purple martins, hawks, and milkweed. This section of the Charles is laden with hidden coves and can be very challenging to navigate. It's anything but a straight line through Dover and Wellesley. We pass under the Central Street railroad bridge and along a wider, slower portion of the river going by fields, farms, and estates. We cross Charles River Street and enter Elm Bank Reservation.

Saw 2 Beautiful white swans and several Big Blues.

Paddle # 12 Elm Bank 10/10/2009

What a discovery! Elm Bank , home of The Mass Horticultural Society.Elm Bank Reservation has two nice launch areas, one on the little canal near the bridge, and another on the corner, where the canal meets the Charles. This is also a nice area to walk along the river. A little way downstream, Waban Brook and the Waban Arches will be on the left. Another mile or so is the Charles River Street bridge. There is another sign on this bridge that reads "36.8 miles to Boston Harbor". After the bridge is the Bay area where the river forms many small bays you can easily get lost in, at least temporarily. After the river bends to the right and runs parallel to Centre Street, look for the next launch area on your left. We had been there before kayaking. Great put in . We went upriver for about a mile. Lots of pretty houses. Saw ducks and geese. Came back for lunch at put in. Talked to fishers. Perch and bass. Then went down river 1/2 mile. Started to rain turned around.

Paddle # 11 Bridge Street 10/1/2009

Sept 2009 Was our first venture on the Charles. We put in at Dwight St. in Medfield.

Very flat area but pretty. Shooting range could be heard loudly. We spent about an hour there and then headed for Bridge St..

Very pretty and easy put in by the bridge. We went downstream for about a mile and a half.
Went by Peters reservation on right (a Trustees of The Reservations Site) and then The Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary on the left. We saw 4 other kayaks. A big buck deer was dead in the water by a big fallen tree.

Paddle # 10 Quaddick Reservoir 10/12/2009

We left the house at 7:30am and had a leisurely ride to Chepachet, RI, where we had been the week before for the barn tour. Stopped for breakfast at a diner and then arrived at the Quadick at 9:45 . Ken & Sandra had just arrived. They are always early!
Absolutely pristine body of water! Like a mirror. We headed to the unsettled north end after an easy put in. Saw Mallards, Osprey and Great blue. Went about a mile up and back. Had lunch at nice table. Then went down lake to bridge which opened to lower reservoir. Decided to save for next time.

Paddle # 9 Ponkapoag Pond # 4 10/10/2009

Windy & choppy! Only stayed an hour. We parked at the Synagogue where the vaccuum boot slipped off . But fixed it and got home.

Paddle # 8 Quinebaug River Brimfield 9/13/2009

We met Bill & Naomi at their place on Sherman Pond in Brimfield at about 8:00am. After some consternation we loaded their canoe on Bills truck. The Holland Pond put in was only about 3 miles. So we unloaded and while the girls stayed with the boats Bill & I drove down to Brimfield dam to leave the Saab for the return.It is a beautiful 5 mile trip down to E. Brimfield dam which forms quite a large body of water. We were on the water for about 3 hours. We stopped half way for lunch at a pretty rest stop amid a tall pine grove.Saw lots of Canadian Geese, 2 Great Blues and many turtles. Bill & Naomi worked very hard steering the canoe because of a stiff breeze the first part of trip but became much more synchronised towards the second half.The upper half had a great deal of millfoil and lillies which made for slower travel but the bottom half was much deeper and cleaner. It was quite exciting to come out on the reservoir at the end.We saw the stanchions where the "railway that never was" was supposed to be.

Paddle # 7 Whitman Pond 9/10/2009

Genevieve and I went on Whitman Pond, the famed end of the “Herring Run” in Weymouth. Was very windy but not as windy as Hingham harbor where we had started out to go but changed our minds and came here. Put in at Sean & Gingers back yard. Saw Great Blue fly overhead. Gen said it flew over their house every day on way to “Herring Run”. Pat met us there and left for Plymouth with Aimee & Bridget. Ronan was upset but he has settled down. Met Max, Sean and Gingers new cat. He is gunmetal grey. About 7 months old .Very cute! Loves chasing laser light that Ronan was demonstrating until the battery died.

Paddle # 6 Ponkapoag # 3 9/5/2009

We did Ponky for 2 hours. Very calm water. Lots of people at camp beach swimming and boating.
Carts worked well. Will start log.

Paddle # 5 North River #1 9/1/2009

Put in at Dwights at 11:45 am, midway high tide. Went upstream about a mile and a half just past route 3 bridge.
Stopped for lunch at Couch Beach. Very easy sandy put out.
Saw 1 Cormorant. Stopped at Couch Beach again on way back for dessert. It was surprisingly easy to land and disembark . Stopped for beer with Dwight. He was having an off day. May do dinner with he and Pat at Satuit Tavern next week.

Paddle # 4 Ponkapoag Pond #2 8/23/2009

We did Ponky again at 3:00 pm for 2 hours. Delightful day. One cart performed beautifully! Other needs final glue up. Saw several Cormorants sitting on rocks. Three other boaters fishing.

Paddle # 3 Canton Reservoir # 2 8/18/2009

Pat & I went out on the reservoir for 2 hours. Her cart broke down. Will rebuild.
Very pretty day with nice breeze
It was fun setting up Saab and racks in cellar.

Paddle # 2 Canton Reservoir #1 8/10/09

Went solo at 2:00 pm for 2 hours. Tough carry for 200 yards. Cart needs perfecting.
Toured whole body. Went by Wampatuck golf course and Mass Hospital school. Saw new pergola school had erected.

Paddle # 1 Ponkapoag Pond #1 8/3/2009

Paddle # 1 8/3/2009
Ponkapoag Pond Canton, Ma.
We arrived at Ponkapoag at 7:00am for our 1st outing with the Old town Vapors. Carried yaks the 100 yards since I hadn’t made carts yet. Spent 2 hours navigating the perimeter of the pond. Very peaceful. Great view of Big Blue. Went by the cabins and the boardwalk where we had passed the rare “Red Cedar” grove when we walked with Sandra & Ken in June. We weren’t able to reach the ponds edge then because of high water. Now from the water we saw that the observation deck was no longer there. Saw 3 Cormorants and 2 Great Blue Herons! Very relaxing and comfortable paddle! We like it!